The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-05-02

other Industrial pursuits; that it is no
place to farm that young man OF en-
terprise who wishes to be farmer is
very foolish to settle down amid these
rocks and hills. Go West or South, say
they, if you wish to get living by farm
ing. Thus they do perhaps unawarcs,
favor migration, and discourage our ag-
riculture. If this is true Of farming is
it not of manufacturing? Why continue
to build such large and expensive estab-
lshments where there is nothing but rock,
sand and gravel, water, ice, pure air ?
Would it not be better to locate facto-
ries and workshops where provisions are
raised more abundantly, and where fuel,
raw materials and the great markets of
consumption of your goods exist.
When our manufactures were in their
infancy, New England produced sur
plus of food; now we are sending five
hundred and thousand miles beyond its
limits for materials and the common
necessities of life Every thousand dol
lars thus sent to the West or the Canadas,
for provisions which might be raised at
home, is Just so much taken away from
our wealth.
Any one with few figures can form
some idea of what we are annually losing
for the want of more men to till the soil.
A higher development of our agricultur-
al resources would largely increase our
capital and contribute to our indepen-
dence. To check all retrograde tenden-
cies and institute vigorous progressive
movements throughout our rural districts
is the work Of the hour,-the immediate
work of our Boards of Agriculture
County Societies, Town Clubs, and for
every public minded citizen.
But many will say what can be done ?
Five and twenty years have our agricul-
tural orators been preaching against mi
grafton, and still the tide from the farms
of young men and women and whole
families have moved steadily on. They
are leaving it now; and will continue to
leave it for aught that can be seen to
prevent. Very well. if they will go, it
is useless to try to keep them back nay,
it may be unwise to keep back such as
continually feel out of their element, and
that destiny calls them to occupations,
or some other part or our country; for
from this tide of migration many noted
examples Of success have sprung many
valuable enterprises in our own States
have been begun, and other States have
received most valuable additions. II
the agriculture of New England has
suffered from this cause, other States
have gained thereby, and thus the nation
may not have been a loser. Trying to
keep upon the farm, then, such of our
sons and daughters as cannot and will
J not be contented may he be impolitc.
How then can the depopulation of our
rural districts be checked, if those born
, and educated upon the farm are not re.
tanned within our limits. BY filling the
vacancies with another and different class
, of citizens those who will be contented
t to live in u climate and till u soil like
ours. This can be done,-
/ l. From our cities. Notwithstanding
there is continued stream of population
f pouring from the country to the city
= there are those in every large town anc
; city who long for country life ; those who
!, are weary Of the din and hustle of large
a factories those worn out by unremitting
toll in dark, damp, badly ventilated work
: shops those who are sick of the perplex.
tiles and uncertainties Of mercantile pur
Q suits, and who are anXiousl y looking for
t ward to the time when they can own ant
i cultivate few acres and enjoy some
s what of country life Some may have n,
a means save willing hands, while other
! could command small capital, and ;
), few possess a competency. With littl
i perseverance these can be sought out
and many farm now without an occu
l. pant, or which has been in market 70
It years, could be readily disposed of, if tn
d seller would look toward our cities 70
= customers.
n 2. From the thousands of immigrant
l. annually landing upon our shores. FroI
rs these could be selected those who hav
le always worked upon the land, who desir
Ie to do SO all their lives; aud who by the
RS patient industry and irugality can MOI
N than make living from the soil our N;
10 tive born sons disdain to cultivate. The
n only need to be invited to towns in whic
ce there is mnch land for sale, welcome
D. and encouraged little at first.
re 3. Another way Of maintaining our r,
Sc raj population is Tor farmers who emplo
,g help throughout the year or for the grea
n er part of it, to erect neat comiortabl
but inexpensive houses upon their iaru
sc and hire more married men. Were the
ne five farmers in town who would ado
d, this plan this year, and five more wi
es would follow their example next year al
n each succeeding year of the present d
DIS cade, that town would add to the pop
a lation fifty families and at least two hu
or dred inhabitants. More permanent al
e. better help would be obtained; iema
ng and children's help would be brought in
nd the town and a that is now said abo
'p- the scarcity Of laborers would be hushc
os- Farmers having plenty Of help could CT
rot tivate their land better, increase their
ac- comes, enhance the value of their pre-
all erty, and at the same time benefit tn,
town and State.
Bile 1t is useless in these days OF frater
ice cation Of races to be oyer-sensitive abe
nes the nationality of ones help, neighbors
ore townspeople. Were the West at all fl
ter tidious upon these points, these new Sta
the could never have made the gigantic p
isk gress in population and agricultural (
nce velopment that they exhibit. We ha
la the Englishman, German, Scotch, Iri
ral- Swede and French Canadian, from VIII
we can chose. We have only to oI
lral the way to our inland towns and to
the land without cultivation, receive tn
di- cordially and give them the same enco
aud agement they receive at the West ,
hen they will soon make permanent hor
,est with us, and the population of those {