The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-09-16
YER MONT LEADS
THEM ALL IN THE
DAIRY BUSINESS
Secretary Baiiey's Book De-
Scribes Our Resources
FARM AVERAGE is HIGH
Soil Also Is Second to None and Prl'
ces fer Products Are
Good

The second of the more important
publications of the publicity depart
ment of the Secretary OF States of
fee TO be issued this year is Yer
mont Farms" containing more than
1875 pages which has just come from
the press, the printing having been
done by the Caledonian Press of st.
Johnsbury. The greater part of the
book is devoted to a setting forth in
considerable detail of the resources
and opportunities or Vermont agricul
tllre. This is followed by long list
OF free publications having bearing
directly or indirectly upon Vermont
agriculture and by list of 233 farms
and residential properties offered for
sale representing every one OF the
fourteen counties in the State.
The book endeavors to correct
some of the prevailing misconcep-
tion regarding Vermont farming.
One Of these is that Vermont farms
are small, and the census figures are
quoted to show that the size of the
average Vermont farm is 1926 acres
while the size Of the average farm In
the United States is only 1881 acres.
only two of the great farming states
in the Central West surpass Yer
mont in the size of the average farm.
A few census facts are quoted relat-
ing to area. population. value OF
farm property, crops. domestic ant
mails, etc.
An interesting and valuable article
on Vermont soils by Prof. J. L. Hills,
Dean of the Agricultural College of
the University of Vermont is embod-
led in the text. This article, pre-
pared for the book of Professor Hills
shows chat there are practically no
abandoned farms in Vermont with
the exception OF certain areas that
are better fitted by nature for fores-
try than for agricultural purposes.
He shows why Vermont soils are
more fertile than those of some other
states and calls attention to the fact
that Vermont Is far in the lead of
other New England States in the
matter Of agricultural advisers and
that few states in the Union are as
well covered as Vermont in this sort
of public service. An article on eX-
pert aid for farmers written by Hon
Z. S. Brigham, State Commissioner
Of Agricultural, is quoted in this con.
nection and shows what excellent
progress Vermont is making.
The subject of dairylng is treated
4 considerable length and facts and
figures are quoted from census re-
ports and publications of the United
States Department of Agriculture
which show that taking into account
area and population Vermont is the
leading dairy state in the Union.
This state stands at the head of the
list in the number OF COW testing as
sociations being tied with New York
for first place when the last report
was made. While exact reports could
not be obtained regarding the ship
ment of milk outside of the state, re-
ports from two of the leading rail
roads and estimates for the third
important railroad based on the re
ports for the other two, indicate that
the year 1912 practically 56,000,006
quarts of milk and 100000 quarts of
cream We're shipped out OF Vermont
\ series of tables is published, the
first OF whcih' shows that Vermont
leads the Union in the ratio of dairy
cows per population, having one COW
10 1.3 perFons. The only states that
approach this record are Iowa, Wis
consin and South Dakota with n ratio
Of one to Is. Vermont makes a no
table record in pounds OF butter per
capita, with a record OF 96.G pounds
no other STATE approaches this record
Only three states produce half as
much. Minnesota with 500 pounds. Ia
wa with 57.2 pounds, and Wisconsin
With Sc pounds. Only six states pro
duce q third as much. and only eight
states produce a fourth as much per
capita as Vermont. Nermonts aver
age production Of pounds of butter
per farm is l.l12.6. Only four states
produce half as much. only seven
states q third as much. and only m
teen states a fourth as much. Yer
mon, leads the Union in average nun
Der Of pounds Of butter per COW with
1928 pounds. In pounds of butter pei
square mile Vermont is far in the
lead Of any other state. In dairy cows
rer square mile. only one state leads
Vermont, and in all cattle per square
nile only two states lead Vermont.
Those persons who think Vernon
farms are not fertile will do well ID
peruse the tables given. showing tn,
average yield OF staple crops per acr,
and the average price paid for sucl
crops. Last year only eight states
raised more bushels of corn Der acr.
Than Vermont. Fer the past foui
wears the average number OF state.
raising more corn per acre than Yer
mont is SIX. Nermonts average VEL,
Tor The four year period meutione.
(Coatinued on Fifth Page)