Vermont

Agriculture and Live Stock.

Of the total land area of the State—approximately 5,839,00o ac.-69.2% or 4,043,000 ac. was in farm land in 1935, and of this 1,114,000 ac. represented crop land harvested. This was divided among 27,061 farms, as com pared with 24,898 farms in 1930 and 27,786 farms in 1925. The average size per farm was 149.4 acres. Of the farm land 1,119,000 ac. was crop land, 2,321,000 ac. was in pasture, of which 1,183,000 ac. was wooded, and 488,000 ac. was in woodland not used for pas ture. Farm population in 1935 was 122,655, or 33.1% of the total population. In 1930 it had been 112,904 ; in 1920, 125,263. The value of land and buildings was estimated at $137,271,000 in 1925, $145,935,000 in 1930 and $115,996,000 in 1935. Between 193o and 1935 land decreased $246,000, buildings increased $8,910,000, implements and machinery increased $2,637,000 and live stock decreased $15,134,000 in value. The average value per farm of land and buildings was: in 1930, $5,861, in 1935, $4,286, and the average value of live stock per farm was $1,451 and $776.

In 1935 10.9% of the farms were operated by tenants. The num ber of mortgaged farms was 11,634 and the mortgaged debt approximated $26,000,000.

Between 1930 and Jan. 1, 1936, the value of cattle, horses, swine and sheep decreased sharply, totalling $15,134,000. Most of this decline came in the year 1932. With a decrease also in the value of dairy and other live stock products, live stock raising returned practically to the low level it reached during the de pression following the World War. There were in 409,527 cattle of all kinds, valued at $13,967,888, as compared with 472, 183 valued at in 1930. Of the number in 1935, 290,00o were milch cows valued at $12,384,000. The great acre age of excellent grass land to be found on the upland pastures of Vermont, together with the abun dant hay crop, makes dairying the chief industry of Vermont farmers. The ratio of dairy cows per caput was the highest of any State. Butter made in 1934 to talled 4,51o,000lb. and milk amounted to 139,508,779 gallons. The value of all crops to talled $7,390,000 in 1933 and $9, 600,000 in 1935. Chief of these was hay, which alone amounted in value in 1935 to $11,526,000, or slightly more than all other crops together. Another industry, carried on largely by the farm ers, is the maple sugar industry for which Vermont particularly among the States is famous. In 1935 there were 5,612,000 trees tapped, far more than in any other State. Of the sap there were made 900,000lb. of maple sugar, and 1,50i ,000gal. of maple syrup, or in terms of sugar alone, 12,908,00o pounds.

Mines and Quarries.—The mineral wealth except for talc mines comes entirely from quarries. The leading products in 1934, in order of their value, were stone, slate, talc and lime. The total value was in In 102,760 tons of granite valued at $1,987,974 were quarried. Though several States quarried a far higher tonnage, only in Massachusetts was the output as valuable. The rea son is that 95% of the Vermont granite is used for monu mental and ornamental purposes. The chief quarrying centre is at Barre. Of the entire output of granite in the State 740,700 cubic feet, worth $1,932,000, were shipped out rough, the rest was dressed and finished in Vermont.

From 1926 to 1934 Vermont produced more than 50% more marble than was quarried in any other State. The output was 172, 75o and 50,06o short tons, respectively, valued at $5,116,290 and $1,207,312. This was more than one-fourth the total output of the United States in quantity and more than one-third in value. The quarries lie in the eastern part of Rutland county.

The main slate belt is also in Rutland county along the western border, the area running into New York State. In Vermont a large variety of colours is found, various greens, purples, varie gated, mottled and freak colours, all of which command high prices. In 1926 the value of the slate output was $4,267,041, and in 1934.$579,582. Vermont produced 34.5% of the total slate output of the United States in 1926 and 21.4% in Vermont produces talc and soapstone, being second only to New York in 1935, but the output is not of as high grade as in some other States. The production in 1935 was 42,739 short tons, valued at $381,643. Both crude and ground talc was sold.

Manufacturing.—From 190o to 1914 manufacturing increased but slowly, the value of products in the latter year being $76, But during the years of the World War expansion was rapid, and in 1919 products amounted in value to $168,108,000, the industry employing 33,491 wage-earners. Another production peak was reached in 1929 when the value of manufactures was $143,481,000. This was followed by economic depression which reached its depth in 1933. By 1935 there were 672 manufacturing establishments, 254 less than in 1929, employing 19,486 wage earners, to whom $18,317,336 was paid in wages, and producing goods valued at $82,696,255, of which $41,082,419 was added by the manufacturing processes. The leading industries in 1935 fol low : Burlington, Barre, Rutland, Bennington, Brattleboro, St. Johns bury, Springfield, Proctor, Winooski, St. Albans and Bellows Falls are the chief manufacturing centres.