The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-02-18
REPORT OF THE COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL AGENT
Interesting Account Of L. ). Govern
ment Agent Sherman's Work for the
Past Year.

Past Year.
Working under the direction of the
Vermont State College, and the U. 5.
Department Of Agriculture in cooper
alton with the Bennington Co. VI. Inn
provement Association, your County
Agricultural Agent has continued the
work established last year. During
the year ending February ist have
visited nearly 800 different farmers on
their farms, making total number
Of about 500 visits. During these Wis
its with the different farmers | have
held consultations along many lines OF
farm work, methods of soil improve
ment, fertilization of crops, methods
of raising crops, live stock manage
ment, farm management, accounts and
such matters which are Of direct influ-
ence on the farmers labor income,
have been considered and suggestions
made. Maintenance of fertility of the
farms in Bennington county, economy
I
in labor and expense, and the result
ing increase Of profits of farming are
the aims sought. | find the farmers
much interested in my work this year.
While it is yet early to look for many
tangible results, it is nevertheless APP
parent that Bennington county farm
ers are making use of the suggestions
made by me, and are profting thereby.
As time goes on this sort of work
gathers momentum and results grow
more and more apparent.
There have been several lines of
demonstration work carried on by me
this year. The main demonstration
work has been with oats. In this con-
nection 25 farmers have grown under
my direction one acre of oats each,
and compared the yields and profits
from these acres with equal acres
grown under usual conditions. The
| demonstration acres were handled dlf-
ferently from the others in that lining
was practiced, better preparation oil
| land called for, early sowing attempt
ed. and a little more fertilizer, and
slightly less seed sown. The cost Of
producing oats on the demonstration
acres was $500 an increase of S2.40
over the cost Of producing an acre of
oats in the ordinary manner. Fifty
three bushels was the average yield on
the demonstration acres, while ID the
average on the other plots. Valuing
oats at 65 cents per bushel, the profit
ION the demonstration acres averaged
$16.50 which is nearly three dollars
better than the acres handled as usual.
This means that an 18 per cent in
crease in profit was secured.
There were 20 corn demonstrations
and 10 potato demonstrations, as well
as the oat demonstrations just men
toned. Owing to the unfavorable sea-
son, an early summer drought pre-
venting proper stand of potatoes in
many instances and an early fall frost
cutting the corn before it was mature,
made the results of this demonstration
work of little value. In several in
stances where conditions were favor
able, good yields were secured. In one
locality 80 bushels (by weight) OF
shelled corn were obtained, and in an
other over $50 bushels Of potatoes.
The results of the Boys and Girls
Club work have just been made public
and they will only be mentioned here
While somewhat outside of the usual
work of the County Agent, neverthe-
less encouraged this work during the
past year and had genral oversight OF
it during the season. The highest
yield of corn was at the rate of 81
bushels tby weight Of shelled corn tc
the acre and was secured by a young
man in Bennington. The highest yielc
: of potatoes was at the rate Of 424 bush
els per acre, obtained by boy II
/, Sandgate. feel that this work is des
tined to be of very considerable IN
fuence in forwarding the agriculture
Of this county and cannot too strongly
. recommend its extension. 1t is neces'
sary however that different methoC
of management be devised, that it may
be handled efficiently. Other lines Of
: work so crowd me during the growing
season that much local aid will bt
: necessary if this work is to be con
: tinued.
In continuing soil acidity investiga
tions inaugurated the year previous,
secured last spring an apparatus fol
testing soils for acidity. Since tha
D time have made over 100 soil acidit!
tests, and have found many soils II
this county that need lime. Farmer
0 are quite interested in this soil test
. ing and will use considerable lime TIM
J coming season as result. Lime woui'
= have been used before this time If j
q had been possible to obtain it at reas
IL "a