The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-17
DTuE PROFITS OF FARMlNG"-t

1.-THE PROFITS OF FARMlNG"-the
subject upon which we have recently publish
ed the debates ofBcycral evenings by the Leg
islative Agricultural meetings in Massachu-
sctts-and we did so in order to make more
public two or three important points consider
ed. One point was, the profits OF farming in
Massachusetts, particularly; and the other the
settlements in regard to the success or failure
of young men engaging in mercantile or other
business, compared with the success or failure
Of such as engaged in farming.
In regard to the first topic it was pretty
clearly settled by the debates that the farmers
Of Massachusetts realized a larger profit than
do the farmers of the United States generally.
And why; Probably for two reasons, though
these reasons were not particularly stated in
the debates.
/. Because the home market-the ready
market for all they pToduce-and the small cx-
pcnsc in the transportation of their productions
to the market, In this advantage we expect
the farmers Of Vermont will soon participate.
20 some extent, though not so fully as do the
Massachusetts farmers on account ofdistance.
But then, when the rail road lines projected
into the State shall be completed the Vermont
farmers will be able to compete more success
fully with the farmers of Massachusetts,. The
comparative chcappcss oftheir laads will fully
make up for their greater distance from mar
kct
=. The following statements were made in
the meeting young men are rushing to
0ii1. cities to makc money, and this lchHo it is a
fact Mat 9faH ,cho come, only 3pcr cent are sue
ces&tm":-"That ercryJoarM young man IN the
stores aRa counting rooms in tie cityQf Boston
couid6 be spared; and get yO"ng men from the
country are rushing into the city to get rich.'
Now, many Of these young mon go from
Vermont, from farms owned by their parents,
and large enough to make room for the sup
port oftwo or three families, provided they
were properly cultivated. The massachusetts
farmers-many of thcm-have improved the
manner ofcultivation 30 and 80 pcr cent-and
here is another advantage they have over
many of the Vermont farmers. Their large
farms have been more highly cultivated, or
have been divided into small farms, and are
made to produce, with less labor, more than
do many of our large farms.
How then can the young men of Vermont
be kept at home and insured a safer business
than to seek clerkships in the cites' Let
those who own large farms and have sons, ip-
prove their cultivation, and divide their farms
and in many instances this division, shor.ld it
be into two or three parts, will give to each
part, or to each son, larger profit IT, an is now
realized by the father from the whole farm
This can be demonstrated by 6gufes. Il has
been demonstrated in practice a thousand
times
Soon our rail roads viii b. opened into vari-
Gus sections ofthe State. improvements like
these suggested, and OF. hers, might well be en-
tered upon in anticipr ltion of their completion.
u'Wonder if Mr. Polk does not wish now
TO supplant Scot and Taylor by appointing
Tom Benton or some other military Tom
Thumb, to C 1mmand the army in MeSico'-
We surely have a Solomon for President and