Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-12

constantly Studying
how to improve their work.
Have we reached the maximum production Of our soil?
Statistics show that yield acre OF grain ana other
crops is far below that of other parts of the United
States and especially of the carefully titled soil of the
most highly developed regions Of the Old World where small
farms and thorough cultivation reign.
1t conceded that section of the United States is so
favoraby situated and well adapted to the production
of apples Vermont and particularly the Champan val
ley. How many farmers of Vermont know how to make
chardng profitable? Is there single of orchard
who will have the harhood to assert that have nothing
to learn regards the development Of highly profitable or
chards? One is to be found in the fact that orchards
bring anywhere from 1500 to $1,000 in Washing
ton and Oregon while count the fingers the num-
Der of apple farms Vermont that would command frac
ton of those fancy prices.
Can it be possible that Uncle Sam has sent commits
sion wild goose chase to the Old World to learn how
Italian farmers have increasing the productivity OF
their land year and with other countrles
Rather inclined to agree with the chairman of the
commission said that the prosperity of the American
nation and the ultimate happiness and we'll being Of
people largely depend upon the increased productivity of our
farms have practically exhausted available
and we resort to increase of fertility to meet the
constantly augmentng needs OF rapidly growing popula
ton.
How many farmers of Vermont know about the wonder
fu and gratifying results obtained in various European
through cooperative agricultural credit? How
realty Vermont know about the reclamation of
maarial land? How many of dairymen use thorough
weed Improbable cows? Why is our butter prod
deeroratng? How many farmers there in Vermont
who inegenty tell what particular fertilizer certain
soils need? What do know about cooperative market
ing?
We moved to these questions by the attitude of
people who take the ground that farmers know all there
be known about farming, and that there for
possible improvement Nay people to resent the
efforts being made to help the ters of soil to secure
better results.
1t is generally agreed that the prosperity of all Other
classes Of workers is based upon agriculture and this will
inevitably become more and more true as we approach
ducon of the necessaries of life Discussion of the prob
lem how to increase productivity how to enlarge ransporta
ton facilities and how to improve farm conditions generally
u.s. therefore not wholly disinteresed the part of
those who do not own farmlands.
In this connection pleased to note that the
ference of bodies representing western New England held in
Springfield Mass considered the problems of improved trans
poration well increasing the quantity and improving
the quality of farm products AS regards transportation
resolution adopted calling for cooperation between rail
road officials and shippers and receivers of freight special
committee being appointed to help consummate this
ject.
Secretary James Taylor who represented the Greater
Vermont association showed the extent to which various
counties in Vermont have taken advantage of the opporu
y afforded by the national government to federal aid
in different counties for those who desire to call upon the
agricultural experts to help solve various problems confront
ing farmers Five Vermont counties have at work,
and the work being organized in other counties we'll
Immense of money have been voted to different
sections of the West and Southwest for of irrigation
and other forms of development and of the States
those sections have taken advantage of the opportunity
appropriations for agricultural interests. Resou
tons cited the growing shortage of local production
pared with increased consumption incidental to growing in
dustria population, and emphasized the desrabty of
cered effort the part of New England delegations Con-
to make concerted effort for the promotion Of the in
tereSts of this section.
Commissioner of Agriculture Brigham, who has given
thorough study to various agricultural problems confronting
Vermont is seriously impressed by the need of thor
ough realization the part of farmers of the possb
or
appreciate the fact that double profit and
in direction it is usually easy matter to take
the next step. But long cannot see very
likely to keep our feet where they
When have absolute demonstrations by men who
make several thousand dollars from comparatively small
FARMS who make small fortune every year from orchards
thoroughly cared for whose production of butter fat
many than the average whose produc
ton of grain is nearly double that of neghbor
hardly necessary that it possible increase
materially the average production of Vermont farms as
whole If we do not know how to do this then manesty
it would be profitable to learn