The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-24
WEEK WELL ATTENDED
Considerable Interest at Vermont State
Agricultural School.

Considerable Interest at Vermont Stat
Agricultural School.
On Thursday evening, Feb. IL, tn
fifth annual farmers meeting opened a
Agricultural hall in Randolph Center
where l25 farmers and students were as
sembled. Following a selection by thu
V. S. A. glee club, Prin. Green introduced
as the first speaker, NJ. c. Wilson, farm
management demonstration for Vermont
and New Hampshire.
Mr.. Wilson's talk upon the farm sur
vey, taken recently in and about Ran
dolph Center, was very interesting and
instructive. By the use of charts, con-
tanning actual figures of the survey, Mr.
Wilson was able to show plainly the
methods used in determining the impor-
tant factors affecting the success OF
many of the farms in this section. The
method of determining the labor income
of the farmer was thoroughly explained
by Mr.. Wilson and seemed to be of much
interest to the many farmers present.
Following this, Mr.. Wilson talked
upon size of business, diversity of farm
ing, quality of livestock and crops, and
amount of capital invested. From a
comparison of these factors, aided by the
use of the survey charts, Mr.. Wilson was
able to bring out many important points
to show why some farms paid better
than others. 1t was also shown from
these figures how the labor income might
be increased, by increasing the size OF
the farm business. This may be accom-
plished by the purchase or rental of more
land, as results of the survey show that
little, if any, increase in the farm equip
ment is necessary to carry on the in
crease in business
From a comparison of some OF the
farms, with an average taken from the
81 farms in the survey also with an
average from the 10 best farms, the fact
was revealed that while the relatively
low labor income on some of these farms
was due to a small investment of cap
ital, on many the trouble lay in the fact
that a rather poor quality OF livestock
was being kept and that the amount OF
cash crops raised and marketed We're low,
as compared with the other farms. Dur
ing Mr. Wilson's talk many questions
htlt up Wy bhC Ihi ihNio anu VIC
cussed, adding greatly to the interest
and value of the meeting.
The next and last speaker at this SEES
sion was Mrs. Helen Dodd, who spoke
upon the production of choice maple sug
al and syrup for private market. Mrs.
Dodd advocates absolute cleanliness in
handling the sap and emphasized the
fact that every precaution should be
taken to keep all utensils used in the
sugarhouse in a sanitary condition,
dainty, attractive packages, uniform
product and constant desire on the |
part of the producer to please customers.
After brief discussion on this subject, |
followed with selection by the glee
club, the meeting came to close,
Friday morning the first speaker in
PRODUCED was u. III. Loveland. county |
agent for Orange county, who spoke on
the fertilizer situation for 1916. Mr..
Loveland advocates better tillage, to-
gether with better care and more eco
nomical use of farm manure as means
of tiding the farmers over the period of
extreme prices of fertilizers resulting
from the European war. Mr.. Loveland
stated that 81 100000 worth of manure
was allowed to go to waste in Vermont
each year and that by proper methods of
this could to a great extent be
saved. Manure sheds with concrete bases
were recommended and when it became
necessary to pile the manure iii the field
the piles should be made low at the cen
ter, thus retaining moisture rather than
allowing it to drain from them.
Mr. Loveland urged those farmers hav-
ing muck or peat deposits, on or near
their farms, to haul enough of this ma
terial to their stables to serve as an abb
sorbent in the trenches, through the win
ter, as this is one of the best absorbents
known. More legumes should be grown,
as their ability TO take nitrogen from
the air makes them especially valuable
at this time. Less commercial fertilizer
should be used in connection with ma
nure for the corn crop. although acid ,
phosphate may be used to advantage in :