The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-11-27

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no need for this. Oar soil ca
raise crops equal in value to wha
W. consume.
THE way OUT, said Nh Sherle
as by cooperation and by riddinI
ourselves of the individualistic sys
TEN in food production as il
other manufacture"
Two examples were cited Coo
county in northern New Hamp
shire. once 4 great potato-growin,
area, had fallen from 100000 bush
els to 100000 bushels production
| In the same period two coas
counties of Virginia had pooled
ltheir potato marketing in tn,
hands of a genius that had caused
such prosperity that potato pro
duction had increased from 200,OOt
to over six million bushels. Lane
that once sold for from SIS L
$50 an acre in this region now solo
for $50 to $500 per acre.
The Eastern States League ha.
also shown the way to co-opera
tive business practice in the sup
plying of a dairy ration this win.
/ ter for 400 farmers. The ration
was made after consulting expert.
Of the different agricultural col
lcges and when the formula wa,
made up. over $1,000 tons were
ordered by farmers on binding
contracts with no price mentioned
T he lea que has been able to sup
ply the ration we'll below market
plice. Some of ii has been in
use Just one month. One farmer
using it reports 10 per cent more
butterfat, 10 per cent more milk
and his herd in better condition on
the first months test than ever
before. Mr.. Sherley also spoke OF
the big educational program OF
the league, which is aimed at both
producer and consumer.
Charles Coolidge Pallin, we'll
krown statistician, showed how Sc
nous is New England's nanufac-
turing situation. In 1870 New
England controlled 30, per cent of
the nations manufacturers. This
proportion has steadily declined,
the 1919 census showing only II =
PEI cent. In her basic industries,
textiles, shoes, jewehy, paper, hose
and knit goods, New England's i'm
portance has steadily diminished,
with the single exception of wool
els and worSteds Her handicaps
are great-higher transportation
costs on raw materials and finish
ed goods, and higher food prices,
making higher labor cost.
New Englard's one advantage
is superior knowledge of manufac-
turing-higher mechanical skill
and better management. New
England knows how to make quail
itv goods at a lower price. But
a large part OF New England Is
letting this advantage slip in send
ing out unbranded goods that COM
pete largely on a price basis. On
price alone all of her manufactur-
Ing disadvantages are uncovered.
On the other hand, New Eng
lands quality merchandise, brand
ed and advertised, will become
known and recognized. Quality is
Of little value unless known.
unfortunately" said Mr.. Pat-
lin, "only a few manufacturers
recognize this situation. The Cen
tlyI West is taking New England's
home and distant markets right
away from her with greater ad-
veltising.' He showed By charts
that both in newspapers and mag
aZines, New Engiand's basic IN
dustries are failing to make
enough effort to control the part
OF the market which She now has.
"Capitalize your advantage,
brand your quality goods, and adj
vertise them, and YOU can control
your markets. concluded Mr.,
Psulin.
Philip W. Blake, development
engineer Of the Maine State
Chamber of Commerce, told now
the West lured away New Eng
landers at such a rate that Maine
had lost 1877 acres Of cultivated
farm land every day since 1850. He
has set about to bring some OF the
wanderers back. /
"If all the fertile land that had
been deserted in New England
since 1880 could be earning the
countrywide average Of $24 gross /
per acre a year, this section would /
have one hundred and eighty-siX .
Millions a year more gross revenue
and we would have at least four
hundred and eighty millions more /.
81 taxable property. Z
"Production and more Of 1t used .
@ be the big cry, but now the
almer's need is for organized dis
lIbution. Scientific distribution
, as far from the experience Of
he average farmer as it is from
he average mechanic.
"The state chamber Of commerce
,omposd Of men who know the
distribution process, must help the
'almers to organize for marketing.
/ such efforts could simply restore
New England agriculture to the
condition of 1880, the resulting
Welfare for all New England
would be great 4
The Joint Congressional Com
nittee Of Agricultural Inquiry and