St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-02-05

CCu10 purchase the ordinary COM
mercial fertilizer, and also where fer
tilizers adapted to certain crops can
be procured. 1t is not his business
to sell or recommend any brand of
fertilizer, nor to hold any office or
do any of the actual business in
these things, but to instruct the
farmer and give him the informa-
ton that will enable him to do them
for himself. 1t is not movement
to produce a bumper crop, but to
produce a more profitable crop.
OF course it is impossible for a
county agent to see all the farmers
in the county personally, but by
demonstrations such as those men
toned, he can get in touch with all
OF them. The agent must look at
the local problems from the farm
er's point Of view; he must try only
those things he knows will sue
coed. He cannot experiment he
must act upon definite and accur-
ate knowledge The farmers must
be ready to cooperate with the
agent in order to get the best pos
sible results. They should be
ready to meet with the agent on
the farms of the successful farm
ers and have these farmers tell how
they accomplish their results. He
should also help the farmers to
better methods of marketing and
establish standards for certain
crops that are to be marketed, so
that goods marked with the label
will be sure to be of certain quail
ity.
In speaking of the agent himself
he said that while he did not have
his appointment, he could veto the
appointment of any man and should
veto it unless he was satisfied he
was the man this community need
ed. The agent must be a farm bred
man, a graduate of a four years
course of an agricultural college,
and must have been out of college
for two or three years and engaged
in actual farm work. The choice of
an agent is not subject to political
influence, as the Department of Ag-
riculture is under a strict civil ser
vice system, and we aim not to get
some politicians friend who desires
a job, but the man best fitted to fill
the situation. The salary paid an
agent is generally about $500
year. If he can't earn that much he
is not the kind of a man you peo-
pie want. The government pays
$1,000 a year towards this salary
and the local organization must pay
the rest and provide the funds for
his expenses. The funds of the local
organization are handled by the
officers of that organization and are
not subject to any control by the
federal government In closing, Mr.
Dodge read the memorandum of IN
derstanding which is signed by the
he In0o1 MI
and the state agricultural college.
The state agricultural college is
made a partner with the national
government in this work in order to
put its service at the command of
the local organization.
President Taylor
James P. Taylor of Burlington,
president of the Greater Vermont
Association, was next called upon
and said that his association wants
to make Vermont as great as posi-
BILE and it considers agriculture as
the first in Importance in this devel-
opment. We want to make Vermont
an effective state, and hope to see
every county organized for the inn
provement of agricultural conditions
The rest of the business world is al
ready organized, and the farmers
of Vermont if they are to keep up
with the procession must also organ
ize.
j. w. Titcomb
John w. Titcomb was next called
upon, and stated that last fall i'm
mediately after a conference with
farmers and Mr.. Dodge at the state
fair, Mr.. Vail instructed him to look
into tho of Of
agent and when he returned recent !
ly from the hospital in New York,
Mr.. Titcomb reported his findings
and Mr.. Vail said that such a move
ment should be started and was
ready to do his share towards sup
porting such an organization. He
then explained what was necessary
to get the $1,000 from the National
Crop Improvement Association, and
read letter from it's agent stating
that if Caledonia county was to get
this sum it must be able to report
a definite organization on or before
February Is. He also told how mer-
chants and business men in other j
counties had become interested in
The movement and contributed to-
wards its support and very highly
commended the St. Johnsbury Com
nercial club for the interest and
activity it has shown in encouraging
he organization of a county asso-
,iation. He then moved that the
Meeting proceed to effect a temper
Try organization.
Temporary Organization
For temporary chairman, E. H.
1allett of st. Johnsbury Centre, was
hosen, and on taking the chair he
poke of his interest in agriculture
md a greater Vermont He also
wanted to see a greater Caledonia
county. Every town but two in the
ounty are represented at this meet
ng, and they are represented by men
whom he believed would do things.
There are many farms in this county
hat are not paying actual expenses,
his expert agent will help us to i'm
'rove along these lines. We must be
the same as they are
n other counties, and everyone must