Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-06-15
agricultural.

LhN Oh W Eo .
Which TO do, stay where they are or go
west, i question which attracts the atten-
ton Of many eastern farmers, especially of
the young men, who want a " local habita-
ton" Many writers in the west hold up
the inducements of that part of the country
for this class Of persons, while little is said
in favor OF their staying at the east While
making reasonable allowance for those west
eruers who have" an axe.to grind" there are
undoubtedly many sincere, honest men who
would advise young farmers to go west and
improve their condition. Whether young
man in the east would be benefited by re-
moving to the west Would depend, we believe.
mainly upon his aim for life. II he consid-
ers money the chief end aud object Of hfe If
he il shrewd, calculating, willing to sacrifice
comfort, and sometimes principles, "a obtain
It,, he may do better TO go west. But there,
as well as here, success 10 money making
depends entirely on two conditions First-
hard work and plenty Of il. Second-cspi-
tai Without hard work there is no success
in farming anywhere. Some capital is also
necessary. Some western writer's claim that
it reqaires much less capital to farm at the
west than &C the east. This we believe is d
mistake. In those places where settlements
have been formed, whore the people are civ
ilizsd, the price Of land is nearly as high as
at the east. Then, as the price Of farm prod
uce is very much lower, aud he yield per
acre not nearly as large, much more land will
be required to return certain amount Of
money than at the east.
Again, to farm successfully at the west iu-
wolves heavy outlay Of machinery. The
machinery required on western farm will
cost twice as much, and, owing TO the more
constant use, last not half as long as that on
an eastern farm from which the same amount
of money eau be made. Then, there is
awavs moro loss where hired help is en-
ployed, it would naturally follow that small
farm in the east, where the owner could do
most Of the work himself, would be more
profitable than large one at the west.
Health is an important consideration. The
fever and ague, that curse of the west, has
ruined many a man who, il he had staid al
the east, would never have felt its power.
This is decided obj -ction to settling in the
southern part OF the west, while the northern
part is SO extremely cold hs to render it an
unpleasant place to live. There is medium
between these two extremes, we have nc
doubt. buf the price OF lend is 80 high that
few young men osn locate there. To those
who care fer religions privileges, the west Of
fers an unnvitng field. Except in the old
established places, it is missionary ground In
the fullest, brogdest sense Of the term. /
any doubt the truth Of this statement, refei
them to the published reports of the minis
ters employed by y-the Home Missionary Soci
city.
The educational privileges Of the west art
very far behind those OF the east Yale, Am
herst, and Harvard among the colleges
Mount Holyoke, that pioneer female semins
ry the Law School at Cambridge, ana An
dover Theological Seminary, are examples
each of their kind, which are not equalled-
it can almost be said not rivaled-by auy il
/ the west.
The west will probably become in time th
/ great producing region of the world. II Is
we own, great power now. IL will doubt
1 less be the physical, rs Nsw-England will b
/ the intellectual power Of the nation. Bat III
present has more to do with the question
under consideration than the future. Takinl
things as they are, we dnd that the mass O
farmers at the west work harder. enjoy fewe
comforts, and in point Of wealth are very ia
behind those of the east. II man starts II
life with determination TO be rich, and vii
bend all his energies TO that one object, h
can succeed in either place. Perhaps if h
would sscrih,e everything to this one aim
he could do best at the west. II he value
Religious and Intellectual prvileges-if b
wishes comfort and happiness rather thar
wealth, the east offers the greatest induce
ment. As lar as money 10 concerned, tn
whole matter may be summed up as follows
A man with capital can do well enough at tn
east "a man without capital had better not X
west. J. Il. REID.
South Amherst, Mass.
little girl observed goose with yok
on, exclaimed, "why, ma there is COOS
with eorsets on. 1t walks like sister Sally.
SUGGESTIVE PRESENT. "A very senti
mental poet, seeing the gambols Of an ass fos
in fsld, vowed that ne should like TO sent
the little thing as present TO his deares
Matilda. Da, replied one OF his compan
ions, and tie piece Of paper around II
neck. bearing the motto When 'his 20