Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-04-27
PREPARE NESS
COUNTY MEETING
Attendance Was Small But Talks
Were Important
Scarcity of Farm Labor Problem-No
Dearth of Seeds or Fertilizer in Wind
ham County.


rDearth of Seeds or Fertilizer in Wind
ham County.
The agricultural preparedness rally
for Windhom county in festival hall
Wednesday afternoon, was called by
the agricultural extension service of
the University of Vermont in connec
ton with similar rallies in every coun
ty in the state, attracted an audience
of only about 25, but important ideas
and facts were brought out.
1t developed, among other things,
that there is no dearth of seeds or
fertilizer in the county, but that there
is scarcity of farm help, especially
toamsters, and there was no great en-
thusiam on the part of the farmers
who were present to take on college
or high school boys to help in pro-
ducing crops.
The meeting also developed the as.
tonishing fact that many OF the
farmers consider the present agitation
for an increased acreage to be q boom
on tue part of the newspapers (tor
what possible reason did not appear
and that, i'll spite of statistics, they
fear they will over produce. These
fncts developed from the reports of
town directors of the Windham County
Farm Bureau, but those who made the
reports appeared personally to believe
what nearly everyone does, that it is
going to be lean year in most
quarters. 49, "a e-'s',-'
Matt L. Divoll of Bellows Falls,
president Of the farm bureau, presided.
He said that everyone realized that
it is nearly impossible to obtain ade.
quate help on the farms. He took
bean from his pocket and said that
what he held in his hand or its equiv
alent Yould settle the present war and
not gums and munitions
lie introduced ex-senator A. A.
Dnnklee of Vernon as representing the
state committee on public safety. Mr.
Dnnklee said that it was easy to talk
about blowing an extra furrow and
and that sometimes such plan is all
right, but everyone present knew Of
instances where many pillow two fur
rows when they should plow only one
to give the proper care. He emphasized
the need of preparation of the soil, fer
tiiization, the use of tested seeds and
proper cultivation. He said that the
committee on public safety is work
ing to help meet the demand for labor.
1t is to be arranged i'll some instances
where there are men employed in shops
who have knowledge of farm work
and can be spared for a time to allow
them to do the more necessary work.
He urged strongly the, conservation OF
every kind of edible garden and farm
produce.
President Horton u. Walker of the
board of trade. said that there was no
industrious farmer who could not
raise more on his farm than he ever
raised before and that there was not
an honest farmer who could not have
all the money he needs from bank
to carry on. his farm. He said that
the farmer who brings calf to town
and sells it and buys q bale of hay
and bag of grain to take back to the
farm is shiftless. The labor problem
is bad for the big farmer, but no
necessarily for the small producer. HI
said that the board of trade was ready
to turn its office into an employment
agency or n clearing house or any
thing else that would aid in the pro
; duction of more food.
Prof. b. F. jerks of the extension
service said that people generally hat
no conception of the situation IN the
country with regard to food. Potatoes
on hand now are 81 per cent short OF
the average of the last five years a
this time. The farmers of the stat
could not over produce if everyone OF
them planted his entire acreage will
potatoes.
He expressed the belief that many
high school and college boys could be
of great service on farms, but they
should be treated leniently and work
under careful supervision. New Eng
, land does not produce one'fifth of what
. she requires for food, but every bushe
grown here releases q bnshSl grown
somewhere else for use elsewhere. He
said that there was a shortage of cans
for preserving and that vegetables and
fruits should be dried when they coulc
: not be canned.
County Agent A. w. Sweeton ther
took charge of the meeting and calico
for reports by town directors. Among
the suggestions made was one by +. Z
Tenney of Dummerston that census
of surplus crops should be taken il
, order that this surplus might be got
! ten to the markets. He said that man,
seconds not usually placed on the mar
ket would do some one good if wa
| was provided of putting the farmer
in touch with the proper market.
To this suggestion Prof. jerks re
piled that it is planned in some place
to have the school children bring wind
falls to the schools, place them il
3 clean barrels provided for the purpos
and then under proper supervision
prepare them for drying.
Mr.. Sweeton confined his talk t
! the possibilities of Windham county
He advised his hearers to have larg
family gardens for the summer wee
etable supply and to plant surplu
of root crops that can be stored TO
tho winter and an abundance of peas
string :beans, green's and tomatoes tina
can be canned for the winter.