Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-24
FARMERS Make REPLY
County Agent Dana Gets Re.
plies to QuestiOnnaires.
As a Rule, Those Employing Scientific
Methods Report the Better RE-
sults-Keeping Of Account
Books Il Urged.

County Agent John w. Dana Of the
Chittenden County Farm Bureau has re-
ceived 1876 answers to the "questionnaires''
sent out to the farmers of the county
about January !.
| In answer to the first question It was
found that A per cent reported as being
growers of soy beans and SO per cent. plan
to grow them this year. Four grew them
last year and will not this year and three
of those had the wrong variety. The seeds
required are the medium green and the
black eyebrow.
/ Sixty per cent. of the farmers made a
special attempt to raise clover and exactly
% per cent grew alfalfa, most of Which
| Is reported as successful.
Slightly less than one-third of the farm
ers used lime last year. the others using
ground stone at a price ranging from s1.75
to $500 per ton. There was IS per cent.
who used chemicals and 90 per cent. would
| like to buy chemicals this year instead
of mixed goods. 1t was found that only
one-fifth of the farmers treated their grain
for smut. Each of these was pleased with
the result and will do 1t again this year.
Only two men reported spraying kale; one
had excellent results and the other had
kale Of too large variety. Ten and three
tenths of the farmers will spray this year.
| One-fourth of the farmers raised wheat
in 1917. with an average yield of IS and
one-half bushels per acre. In potatoes less
than one-half reported spraying their
spuds for blight; those who did. sprayed
two or three times. Seventeen per cent.
tried to improve their seed and 30 per cent.
| treated for scab.
| Less than .sne-sixth of the farmers did
anything extra to their orchard.
Grain rations recommended by the
county agent were fed by 13 per cent. and
all reported good results. Only eight per
cent. took advantage Of the poultry
demonstrations, although seven demon
| STATIONS were held.
| Only six per cent. tried the skimmilk
substitutes described in the farm bureau
circular. while 81 per cent. reported selling
whole milk. The rest either killed their
calves or fed some high-priced proprietary
feeds.
Rape was grown for hog pasture by nine
per cent and all but one reported good
success. Only two per cent. used self
feeders but these reported excellent re-
suits Five per cent. raised sheep and the
opinion whether sheep raising was on the
increase or decrease was divided.
Only one-fourth of the farmers reported
as belonging to a COW testing association
and those who did reported dscarding
some GO odd cows as the result.
That their dairy was profitable was re-
ported by 81 per cent. while the other nine
per cent. did not know. Twenty-one per
cent. reported as not granting their cows.
Nearly all of the nine per cent who found
that their diaries were not profitable were
included in this q per cent OF those re-
porting 81 per cent. marketed their product
as milk and 40 per cent as cream. The
other three per cent. sold both milk and
cream or butter. Silos are owned by 50
per cent. and they reported that the better
farmers in their towns have sios.
Thirty-eight per cent saw the corn
demonstration but they could not decide
what was best. Their determination was
Sanford first with 10 votes and Pride of
Michigan second with II votes, while
Masadon and Eureka each had one vote
a The necessity for better breeding Is
realized when it is considered that only
, two men reported all females pure-bred
and less that one-f1fth reported any pure.
bred females and only eight per cent. re.
, ported even pure-bred bull. The division
, Of breeds follows: Mixed or scrubs, q
per cent; Holsteins, 40 per cent; Ayr.
shires. 16 per cent. Guernseys. 10 per cent.
Jerseys. seven per cent. More pure-bred
Ayrshires are reported than any other
breed.
1t was found that SO per cent. would
be interested in county breeders as
ISOLATION. IL per cent in the formation
of poultry raisers' association, 40
per cent would join a potato club; Al
per cent. were interested in the1 farm
loan act and 25 per cent. thought that
there was place for farmers club
in their community. In home demon
| Of rQ inn hnr opl.
= cent. interested. Only IS per cent. re.
e ported that any member was interested
I in any club work. Only a. per cent
reported as advertising in the Elk.
change list. which crculates among
500 farmers
Practically one-half. 80 per cent.
: had trouble in obtaining labor F.. c
Bradford, United States government
employee. is now devotinG one-half hi.
time to Vermont on that very work
Less than one-flfth went on any county
!, automobile trips but SO per cent. plar
, to go this year The field meetings O
the county have been attended by 2.
per cent Only 40 per cent reported
as keeping farm accounts ana 81 PEI
; cent asked help in summarizing thei
: business. They will be given it
. County agent work was reported al
having helped 81 per cent: per cent
' reported that it did not help them ant
IS per cent. did not report.
Summarizing the report in brief:
t l. Soy beans have been very sat
= Isfactory.
k . More attention should be de
: voted to the growing of clover and al
falfa and to the treating OF grain fo
smut.
3. Interest in potatoes is increas
ing.
h orchards are properly cared for.
.. Poultry and pig recommends
lions are being gradually adopted witt
l. good results.
:. G. The diaries on the whole ar
u profitable but too many are not feed
II Ing grain
I. a majority of the farmers sci
e whole milk but pay little attention t
: the breeding of the cows giving thi
Z milk. Only IS per cent, trife owe
l. half. even keep a pure-bred bull
u g. The automobile trips and feel
&c meetings have been well worth while
Il .. More attention may we'll b
i given to the keepingsof farm account.
g 10. The practices recommended b
the farm bureau in the past have bee
70 sound and it's larger usefulness in tn
l. future depends primarily upon tn
Al earnest cooperation of the farmer
IL AS one man answered the question a
lie to how the farm bureau could be q
greater service to him: Use 1t more.
e ACCOUNT BOOKS