Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-08-08
Then and Now.

the Erie Canal was named in derson by its
opponents, was opened for the transmission of
wheat aud flour from the fertile valley of the
Genessee, 10 the cities and towns east of the
Hudson River, marked change has been 60
ing on in the agriculture of New England.
This transition was greatly accelerated by the
introduction Of Railroads. In many parts Of
New England it was not strikingly manifest
until the screech of the steam whistle announced
its advent in tones not 10 be dsregarded.
The last ten or dozen years has witnessed
a marked revolution in the agricultural business
of this county. n revolution that has not been
without its effect upon The business Of this vii
lage. Twenty years ago much of the trade in
this place consisted in an exchange of " store
goods for nearly all the products Of the farm,
except potatoes. All the grains, butter, cheese,
pork, lard and maple sugar, were a Quick cur
rency. and but little was sent to market in this
region that did not pass through the hands Of
merchants. When the farmer brought in his
annual crop of these productions he settled up
his old bill Of a years standing. or supplied
himself with renewed credit for the coming
season. But this sort of barter has nearly
ceased, butter, sugar and eggs being about the
only articles presented, and these in very limit
ed quantities.
Whether there is as much corn, wheat, rye
oats and harley raised in this county now as
there was twenty or thirty years since we have
no means Of deciding exacll-, but we think
there is not. The quantity of rye and oats
must be considerably less. Most farmers then
raised grain enough for their families, with the
exception of a little wheat -four for extra oc-
casions. Now there is scarcely family in the
county that does not purchase from one to three
or four barrels Of -four yearly. Besides this
large quantity of Southern corn is sold in the
place, either whole nr in the form Of mea fur
feed. Pork and cheese, instead of being sta
pie articles Of export, are actually imported in
TO the county from abroad. The population Of
the county in this period has not greatly ln-
creased, We, the ratio between production and
consumption has heen nearly reversed
Since the polatoe disease WAS first observed
large decrease has been experienced in this
crop. Yet from being fed ont 10 stock, or sold
at ten to fifteen cents per bushel at home, po-
tatoes have come to be our chieiest agricul;ur-
nj export. They are nov sent annually in
large quantities to Boston and New York and
our farmers have realized about half a dollar
per bushel for the forty thousand bushels that
have gone from this vicinity during the past
year Perhaps the relative dsproporlion il
the. prices of potatoes and grain will account
for the limited sales of the latter. When corr
and potatoes are respectively dollar per bush
ell the former will be found more profitable fo
| home consumption than the latter.
With these changes in agriculture have com,
| corresponding changes in trade. Credit ha
ceased 10 be rule of arithmetic as laid dowl
in school-books, as well as a controlling ele
ment IN trade. Cash is the basis upon which
business is now principally transacted. II
farmer has produce TO sell he can turn it 70
cash without any trouble. II he exchanges
for goods il is on a cash basis that the vaIu
is determined. Money is the rule in mercan
tile transactions and credit the exception. Tn
der this arrangement business has become sin
pliIied, and the several departments in meas
ure separated. Twenty years since and ma
could purchase all that he wanted in his lamil
or on his farm at one establishment. Mo-
, scarcely shop in our leading villages keeI
an assortment of understandable articles TT
, business is divided. One sells dry goods, al
other groceries, a lhir1 hardware, and iourl
-four and grain.
What other changes ale in store for us lin
, must determine, 1t is evident from the e.
5 perience Of the past few years that the revolt
ton in business transactions is not yet cor
peted 1t is also evident that New Englar
4 must hereafter depend largely upon the We
not only for her supplies of flour and graf
' but for her pork, hams and lard, and pay
these she will be under the necessity of increa
f ing her manufactures. No part Of the coun,
f possesses greater faculties than Vermont {
O the introduction of nearly all kinds of man
featuring and mechanical business. We ha
y the water power, the fuel, and the inlellige
# labor requisite for that purpose.
+ If we desire To retain our young men amo
e us we must encourage the introduction Of ne
:, branches of industry. 1t is all idle Ia suppc
II that they will all spend their time as agricl
e turisls when such inviting fields as the We
d ern prairies are open for settlement In /
d meantime if manufacturing villages are bu
:. UP, the soil of Vermont car he made TO p
!, duce large variety of products not suscepii'
of distant transportation, but valuable a
IT profitable with home market.