The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-26
GIVES PLEASING TALK.
Continued from Page ~

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in the state. The board was abolished
in 1878 and a superintendent of agri
cultural affairs appointed, this office be-
ing later abandoned and the former
board re-established which remained in
force until 1908, when a commissioner
was first named. Since that time the
Il )restry and livestock commissions
have been consolidated with the depart
ment also several minor boards.
During the first year of his admins
tration, Mr. Brigham stated, he had an
appropriation of only 900 for his
work, whereas now the department is
spending $154,00O.
"There are certain police duties
which must also be attended to by this
department, he continued, "'such as
urging owners to eradicate tuberculosis
and CHAMBERS, which we must keep out
of the state. Our government appre-
hends the spread of diseases among
animals by the scattering of germs such
as has recently been discovered in Ru-
mania, and they must be closely |
watched SO as to stop the trouble be
fore it spreads far.
Another thing attracting our at
Itention is the eradication of plant dis |
eases, the white pine blister rust |
brought here from Germany being the |
most destructive. 1t is frequently dis
lowered among currant and gooseberrv |
bushes and We expect it will spread to
white pines. We are now inspecting
, all parts of the state Nurseries, avia-
ries, etc, must be inspected which
takes time and requires funds.
In order to promote the agricul-
) tural work of the state we must have
an orderly government, educate the
people and build good roads SO that
their products can be transported
Our ability all depends on the tax
? paving ability of the people and it is
J the function of the state to improve
t that tax-paying ability. We can do
, that by developing industries and
water power, and this must be done to
t maximum efficiency
E At This point the commissioner
$ (quoted many statistics, showing the op-
o portunities which the state offers at
n present, there being 100000 acres Of
. undeyeloped tillable land, a million
and half of woodland and pasture
n land He spoke of the opening of the
r great West and how Young men hocked
d there, adding that that section has now
;. all been settled, while land is selling
s. for $3.50 to $500 an acre. - believe
r now that the opportunity for young
d men is back III the East, he continued.
e. Good, level, tillable land may be pur-
chased in Vermont for anywhere from
SEQ to 500 an acre, and with the
lprcsent cost of timber the old build
ings could not be replaced for the
e price of farm. | believe that agricul-
ture is going to be a better business
\ than III the past.
: 70 illustrate the possibilities of land
- in Vermont Mr.. Brigham stated that
- the average farm contained l42 acres
!, 30 of which is tillable, so pasture and
~ the balance woodland. On this 20 COWS
&c may be kept and raised and there
i should be 10 acres of money crops and
i these figures he said were rather low
N From such a farm the revenue would
be $4,000 a year. There are $4,000
re such farms in the state, so that there
ms might easily be a revenue of 800,
lr- 100000 without working them to ca
70, paeity.
AZ He then cited the prospects of thu
of farmer as freight revenue produce
rly by shipping milk and potatoes. show
er- ing by statistics that from one farm
&C. there would be a revenue of 1914 70
of railroads from products shipped on
cir and fertilizer brought into the state
ces Putting figures low it was shown tina
on if only 5000 was paid to the railroad
ich from each farm the freight possibi
ay tiles would be $6,5400 900 while i'll 1871
ose the total revenue of the Central Vel
for mont railroad from such sources wa
of only $3,l90000 There would be bette
lily business for the railroads. the banR
mt and for everyone
Mr.. Brigham here reviewed the OF
YER portunities for young men and adde
the that Windham county had one of IL
Id $ best county advisors in the state
Ives A. w. Sweeton
ons Now what can we do to make a.
be- riculture a better busincss2' cont
'lth ued the commissioner. Denmark ";
the poverty stricken 30 years ago, Just r
:on- covering from war. The Danes d
lole cided to admit grains free Of duty al
ring devote their lands to raising Of dali
ave products. They sold their superann
lon ated cows for beef and the result is tn
1--WE today Denmark is the most prospero
i, agricultural nation in the world
'n Vermont is virtually dairvil
~ state, 40 per cent of the lands bel
devoted to thus work We must ha
NJ ~ good plants, good barns, and they mi
4%a be sanitary. Our great problem is to
model the old barns at the least exper
Ill and still make them efficient. Wo
80 Of inspection is now going on in ore
o,co to determine the best plans and Diet
Good mine the best methods to adopt We
los urging the development of free hel
r i Of cattle, also registered herds are
only ~ wing more attention imam heretofo
Through the means of COW testing as
y in Citations every animal is being examr
even 70 learh WHAT she can 40, ana Whet
aren't she IS efficient in proportion to
one feed consumed. Diplomas also are to
men awarded for a certain amount of butt
tents, "a dnhudiIy. we intend, 100, 70 adv
It is Use these farmers IN the different ola
that journals throughout the country
- have bppn sStud vino for foup Won no