Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-18
VERMONT in FRONT RANK
OF AGRICULTURAL STATES
Publicity Department Issues Booklet Giving
Striking Figures as to Fertility and Value
of Green Mountain Farms.

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the secretary Of States office to be is
sued this year is vermont Farms" con-
tanning more than 1876 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 con-
| siderable detail of the resources and op-
portunities of Vermont agriculture. This
! is followed by long list of free publica-
| lions having bearing directly or Indirect
+ ly upon Vermont agriculture and by list
of 233 farms and residential properties Of
fered for sale representing every one of
the a counties IN the state.
! The book endeavors to correct some of
the prevailing misconceptions regarding
Vermont farming. One of these Is that
Vermont farms are small and the census
| figures arc quoted to show that the size
Of the average Vermont farm is 1876
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 Vermont In the
size OF the average farm. A few census
facts are quoted relating to area. popu-
lation. value of farm property, crops,
domestic animals, etc
An interesting and valuable article on
Vermont soils by Prof. J. L. Hills, dean
Of the agricultural college Of the Unlver-
sity Of Vermont, Is embodied in the text.
This article, prepared for the book by
| Professor Hills, shows that there are
practically no abandoned farms in Yer
mont with the exception Of certain areas
| that are better fitted by nature for for
estly than for agricultural purposes He
shows why Vermont soils are more fer
| tile 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 adj
| visers and that few States in the Union
are az well covered as Vermont in this
| sort of public service An article on ex-
pert aid for farmers written by Hon f.
S Brigham is quoted in this connection
and shows what excellent progress Yer
mont is making.
The subject of dairyng is treated at
considerable length and facts and figures
arc quoted from census reports and pub
| lica tons 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 ut the bend of the list in the
number Of COW testing associations, being
tied with New York for first place when
the last report was made While exact
reports could not be obtained regarding
the shipment OF milk outside Of the State
reports from two OF the leading railroads
and estimates for the third important
railroad based on the reports for the 9TH
er two, indicate that in the year 1912 prac-
| tically 100000 quarts Of milk and $500
600 quarts of cream were shipped out of
Vermont.
The opportunities for raising bee, cat
tie are also set forth
A COW FOR EVERY MAN
A series Of tables is published the first
of which shows that Vermont leads the
Union In the ratio of dairy cows per pop
ulation, having one COW to la persons
The only States that approach this rec
ord are Iowa, Wisconsin and South Da-
kota, with a ratio OF one to 1.5. Vermont
makes notable record in pounds of but
ter per capita with n record of 9G.6
pounds No other State approaches this
| record. Only three States produce half
as much, Minnesota with $40 pounds
Iowa with So pounds. and Wisconsin
with rs pounds. Only SIX States produce
n third as much, and only eight States
produce fourth as much per capita as
Vermont. Vermonts average production
~ four States produce half as much, only
seven States a third as ohuch, and only
10 States n fourth much. Vermont
leads the Union In average number Of
| IL
pounds In pounds Of butter per square
mile Vermont is far in the lead of any
other state. In dairy cows per square
mile only one State leads Vermont. and
In all cattle per square mile only two
States lead Vermont
Those persons who think Vermont farms
are not fertile will do we'll to peruse the
tables given, showing the average yield
OF staple crops per acre and the average
price paid FOR such crops. Last year only
eight States raised more bushels of corn
per acre than Vermont. For the past
four years the average number of States
raising more corn per acre than Vermont
is six. Vermonts average yield for the
four-year period mentioned was nearly
twice the average yield for the whole
country. The average price In Vermont
paid farmers December | for the past
four years was &c per cent. greater than
the average price paid throughout the
United States During only one year of
the aforementioned period did one OF the
big corn States surpass Vermont's yield of
bushels per acre. For the io-year period.
from 1870 TO 1907 inclusive. Vermont ranks
first in average yield Of bushels of corn
per acre.
LEADS IN CEREALS
Last year only five States, and those in
the irrigated region of the West. raised
more bushels of spring wheat per acre
than Vermont. The average Vermont
ly twice that of the United States The
average price paid In Vermont during
the last four years was more than 20
cents per bushel greater than that quoted
for the entire United States During the
period, from 1870 to 1909. inclusive only
two States, and those in the irrigated re-
gions of the West. surpassed Vermont in
the average yield of bushels OF wheat
per acre.
Last year only seven States raised
more bushels of oats per acre than
Vermont and this state led all the big
oat producing States in average yield
and price Vermont's average price for
the past four years was nearly IL cents
per bushel greater than that of the Uni
ted States. For the 4o-year period, 1870 to
1909, Vermont led the Union In average
,ial Of hpo hala n