Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-11
DEPARTMENT NEEDS
MUCH MORE MONEY
Commissioner Brigham Says
State Should Appropriate at
Least S250.00O Annually for
Ten Years to Eradicate Bovine
tuberculosis

commissioner OF agriculture WINS tho
speaker at the fourth OF the dinners given
by the Chamber Of Commerce Mt the New
Sherwood Hotel Thursday. lie took UP
the work OF HIS department in ver7r
interesting and Instructive way, and dig
cused several of the problems that facs
the department and their application to
the farmers and other Vermont people
Mr.. Brigham said that the work of his
department IL divided into two parts. one.
the part taken up with the control and
protection OF the agricultural products or
the state, and two. the promotion Of tbs
agricultural interests Of the state On
the first of these he did not spend much
time. merely telling of the work that n
being done to eradicate the insect pests,
which are doing incalculable damage to
vermont crops. The most prevalent OF
these Insects are the gypsy and orownteii
moths and the European corn borer. Ths
methods OF eradicating these pests are
the open FIELD method and quarantninRi
the products Of infested areas outside Of
t this State.
During the first Years of Governor
Girahams administration the work OF ths
department Of agriculture, the department
of forestry and that Of the department Of
livestock were all consolidated under the
one control. the department of agri-
culture. A great deal of the work of tho
department is taken up with the dairy
industry. and because OF its relative Inn
portance to the Vermonter. Mr. Brigham
( took up the subject first and dwelt long
est upon II.
/ During the last thIee-auarters of a CEN
fury the drift from the raising OF sheen
| on the Vermont farms to the raising Of
diaries has been gradual. There are sound
| economic reasons for the change. and at
fhp ba dol, 10 ha do
ton OF the successful Vermont farm.
some OF the reasons for this is that dur
ing the war the value Of the dairy product
IN the diet OF n rugged American people
was denonstrated the soil and climate
Of Vermont are admirably suited to dairy
ing: large areas OF the State in tho
hest kind OF pasture for cattle: and tho
dairy industry provides work for thu
hired man during the winter months, in
order that he may be kept for the sum-
mer when he is needed
One great need Of the Vermont dairy
Is the tuberculin test of cattle. The states
and the national government are o.
operating in this and despite the small
appropriation for the work. Vermont has
now more COWS under test than any other
State. with the exception OF Minnesota.
Commissioner Brigham is of the opinion
that the state should appropriate at least
work liz to be completed and the Stats
freed from the disease. At the present
time there are over 800 herds on tho waits
ing list because of the small appropria-
ton.
Another thing that must be considered
In the dairy program OF the State is'
that OF the quality OF tho products,
Cattle must be developed by CAREFUL
selection and this is done now by the;
| 90 -
) among the farmers In the matter of
butter and cheese there is a big differ
ence In the price OF first grade and
second grade products. Vermont now
has three creamery inspectors to inspect,
the plants. and enforce the regulation =
} OF the department. market inspector
! is consta ntiy at work. making new mar
kets and developing the old markets.
! He helps both the producer and e. oon-
sumner.
In recent years the cooperative creams
cry r~'vement has gained a great DEAL
| OF impetus III Vermont. This was mads
| possible when the Interstate Commercs
Commission abolished the leased car eys-
, TEN whereby the large shippers had a
mono poly on all OF the milk shipped into
. the cities. Now an organization OF
farmers Is able to ship Its milk az
advantaseously the big shippers.
Under the old system the farmer OK
pected the shipper TO take all of the
milk he could produce, regardless OF tho
time OF year or the demand for the
3 product. The demand for milk Ia con-
stant but the supply varies greatly.
, according TO the season of the year
3 At the present time these cooperative
4 plants handle about one-third OF the
milk produced and they are equipped tn
] take OF the surplus milk durina
I the periods OF greatest production.
Mr.. Brigham is IN hopes OF seeing th Z
Vermont milk and other dairy producta
holding the same place in the estimation
of the public that the Sunkist oraneeS
of California do at tho present time.
Ths growth OF certified seed potatosx
Is another branch OF Vermont agricui.
ture that is becoming quite profitable.
ThaAe potatoes are carefully inspected
q In the field and then put upon the APP
= proved list Farmers in the districts
, south of Us are Obliged to come to Yer
r mont for their seed. Many have taken
o advantage OF the csrtincauon of ths
z State authorities and Vermont seed
potatoes are making a reputation outsid .
e or the state.
Mr. Brigham told something Of the
t work OF the department at fAirsi and
= expeditions describing especially the
9 work at the New England States Expo
> sition. The appropriation for the worlS
e is too small for an adequate display of
z the products of the Vermont agriculture
. lists and so at the exposition, a sAle was
q held that made it possible to spend
{ $500 the display. when only 900
. was appropriated for che purpose Max
= ing the display dependent upon such .
= basis is not very good piece Of busi-
z ness for the State.
d Before closing Mr.. Brigham told aome.
q thing OF the work OF the forestry section
z of his department. They. too. are doin &
q d lot of protective work. II ts impos.
a sibe 10 get farmers. or the State COR
o porations Interested in planting forests
= unless adequate Are protection Is
d afforded. The planting of forests helps
= in the Improvement OF the scenic beauty
l. OF the State and the conservation OF the
= natural resources
d MIR Brigham advocated system Of
= State forests. He believes that such An
t investment in 10 years would yield four
Q per cent interest and a reasonable profit
|, besides. There are several pieces OF
= Wild land in the State that could be
had for the purpose at the present time.
In closing Mr. Brigham stated that the
expenses of his department had increased
during his term of office, He believed
n further that they are not yet high enough.
that the State should spend more money
for the purpose OF furthering the work
u of one of the most important of the