Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-18

ousnelS per acre OF rye than Vermont
Last year only one State led Vermont
in yield of bushels of buclswheat nor acre
During the past four years Vermont led
the great buckwheat growing States in
average yield and price During the 40
year period from $50 to 1909 ONLY one
State showed better average Weld than
Vermont.
AHEAD IN POTATOES
Last year only seven States raised more
bushels of potatoes per acre than Yer
mont. For the past four years vermont's
average yield has exceeded that of all
the great potato growing States with the
single exception Of Maine Vermont's
average for this period exceeds the av-
erage yield for the United States by 90 7
bushels per acre. For the period 1870 to
1909 only two States show larger aver
age yield than Vermont. One Of the lare-
est commercial fertilizer companies last
year offered seven prizes for the largest
yields of best quality table-size potatoes.
The second prize was awarded TO George
f. Burdltt of Rochester, Vt, who raised
5T.2 bushels from one acre, his yield be-
ing 1872 bushels below the yield Of a
Maine man who captured nrst prize. 1t
is regarded as significant that when
southern farmers a few years ago were
seeking the locality freest from potato
blight for securing seed potatoes the de-
partment of agriculture at Washington
should suggest that they endeavor to OBJ
tain seed from L. S. brigham of St.
Adams, VI.
90 fA,,r
States tied for first place in yield of
pounds of tobacco per acre. During the
past four years Vermonts average Yield
and price were almost twice the United
states average as reported
For the iO-year period. 1870 to 1909, Yer
mont led the Union in average returns
per acre for the three most important
cereals, corn, wheat and oats In value
of all crops per capita of rural popula-
tion according to the last census figures
compiled only 10 States surpassed Yer
mont. In value per acre of all cereals
produced In 1909 only seven States sur
passed Vermont
VERMONT BEATS IOWA
In "A recent magazine article Director
of the Census Durand referred to Iowa
as the greatest farming State in the
Union. Tables are given showing the av-
erage yield of staple crops per acre the
average price and the average returns per
acre for Iowa and Vermont for the 90
year period, 1870 to 1893 and for the
years since 1909 and with only two or
three exceptions Vermont leads Iowa, and
usually by large margin For the 90
,-an t,l
turns per acre for eight staple crops
amounted to sl2,3G in Iowa and s2150 in
Vermont. For the period l9O9-l912 the
average returns per acre in Iowa amount
ed to sl1.51 and in Vermont to sl7 90
Tables are given showing the average
yield per acre average price and average
returns per acre Of nine staple crops for
the -4O-year period mentioned in Vermont.
Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. In almost
every one OF these items Vermont leads
Considerable space is devoted to corn,
wheat, oats, barley, rye buckwheat. po-
tatoes, hay, tobacco. maple sugar. apples,
small fruit and vegetables. horses sheep,
swine, poultry, bee keeping and forestry.
Vermont's opportunities as an apple
growing state are discussed at consider
able length. In an article prepared for
this book, Arthur H. Hill, the well-known
apple grower of Isle La Motto, says:
With the same care and attention to
details practiCed by the far western fruit
growers you can grow better fruit here
in every way at least than one-quarter
of the cost. There good orchard lands
cost $1,000 per acre up. Here good or
chard lands cost $50 per acre up. 1t costs
5000 freight to put a carload of Oregon
or Washington apples into New York
city. 1t costs us here in Vermont $50
freight on similar carload into New
York" II. w. Collingwood, editor of the
Rural New Yorker, is quoted as saying:
IF We're a younger man to-day I would
willingly invest every dollar and dime l
could get in hill land in New England
and plant It to an apple orchard"
An Oregon fruit grower is quoted as
saying: I'VE have no hesitancy in say
Ing that better favored fruit can be pro-
duced In sections with winters like those
of Vermont than in sections like Oregon
and Washington, where the winters are
mild The cold acts upon the trees as 1t
does upon the human system, tending to
destroying the fungi and larvae which are
injurious to the tree. Good bearing or
chards range in price from 81 900 to $4,000
per acre In Washington and Oregon but
this price does not include buildings Ir-
rigation Is necessary and expensive
problem to be considered What In the
West would buy one or two acres would
purchase In the East an average sized
farm with buildings where irrigation Is
unnecessary. We firmly believe that an
acre In the East can be made to clear as
great profit as an acre In the West by
applying western principles to fruit grow
ing. II Is the fasteners that are making
oregon what It is. Why do they not nut
forth this effort to develop their native
States where everything is in favor Of
fruit culture?"
BIG MARKETS NEARBY.
Attention is called to Vermonts great
advantage over the Pacific coast States
In nearness of markets. 1t is shown that
within radius of 500 miles from Mont
pelier there is an urban population ex-
ceeding q, 100000, or at least half the ur-
ban population OF the United States. For
the benefit of those who fear the dan
ger OF over production of apples attention
is called to the fact that between 1899 and
1909 the apple crop of this country de-
'reased a,s76,2S2 bushels. and during the
same decade there was a decrease OF So
$1,000 apple trees. During that period the
population OF the country gained l5947 col
There was a remarkable growth in the ap
pie canning industry and attention is call
ed to the possibility with better system
Of distribution of food products of vastly