Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-07
Reported for the VERMONT FARMER.
EAST ST. JoHNsBURY FARMERS
CLUB.

Subject of discussion Friday evening, Jan. |
al " Why does farming not payi"
A. X. Hovey think in most cases it does
pay. | will ondeavor to tell you why think
in some cases II does not payP And first, we
do not make II business of our business, and
do not half do what we undertake. We
should save and make use of all the fertil-
izing resources of our farm, thus raising
large crops of grass to be fed to the right
kind OF stock Produce fed out to some
qualities of stock does not pay anything
scarcely. Another reason why farmers do
not accumulate more property. is because
they fool away their money to crafty pride.
Certainly failures resulting from this indis-
erection cannot be laid to the business of
farming. Economy frequently makes all the
difference between success and failure in
farming or any other pursuit. A farmer
once came to me to mortgage his pasture to
raise money to buy $500 piano for his
daughter, and the disastrous result proved
his inability to indulge IN such extravaganza
and the young lady, after expanding much
for instruction, proved TO be destitute of mu-
steal talent This illustrates the principle
wish to express. Pianos. &c, of course, be-
ing good in their place, and luxuries rs they
are should come after and not before the
necessaries of life.
+. j.. Hovey This question l certainly
fail myself to fully comprehend. If il means
this, that farming does not pay in any of its
various forms, l should say it was false, for
| do believe as general thing, agriculture
here, anywhere in the United States, or the
world, does pay. Of course there are ex-
ceptions. If the question was this: Does
it pay rs well as at previous times, or does it
pay us well us other busness?n there might
be many reasons given why il does not.
Farming seems worse than 1t really is, after
such success as we have been having the
past few years. During the war; in 1863, was
the time first commenced farming. 1t was
on poor, rocky, miserable farm, but |
cleared more that year than ever did be-
fore, or ever expect to again. 1t was the
influence of the war that enabled me to do
it, and many other farmers were made rich
by the same advantage. Now, with peace
all around us, we cannot expect SIS hun
dred for beef, and corresponding prices for
other produce rs we did then. Ii is n fact
at all times that we do not make our bust
ness pay rs well rs we might; one reason
being q great lack of thoroughness. fla
man succeeds as a lawyer he has got to pre-
pare himself for his profession. He must be-
thorough and proficient, and acquaint him
self with many different kinds of knowledge,
besides exercising excellent Judgment. Just
so with the physician, though they do not
know hundredth part us much as people
think they do. lfpeople did not have more
confidence in them than they do themselves,
their business would be perfect failure. 1t
| isionly occasionally that we see men who re-
ally study into the science Of farming. This
is the trouble, they do not go into the ground
work and theory of farming. | know there
is great feeling against scientific farming;
the reason is this some rich men brought up
IN the city took notion to try farming, so
they get all the agricultural books they can
find, and carry on the business strictly nc
cording TO the scientific theories. of course
they tail at once, and so people judge that
science is not applicable to farming. If
farmers would take their leisure time. (and
no class of persons have more of it, and
study into the political economy of their bus
mess. rs well ms investigate subjects more
particularly relating to the soil and animals,
there would be great Improvement. Farm
ers must learn 10 take care of themselves.
Sail rs clear of merchants and spectators as
possible. Big fish eat up the little ones.
Farmers are too apt TO be the little fish.
What | wish to express is this: do not
think any institution like the Fairbankses
are an injury to farmers. The scale manu-
factory is the life of st. Johnsbury, and |
wish them every success of course. But let
us look out for ourselves. Every man wants
to know what is best for himself A little
modification of the Golden Rule applies best
in some departments Of business affairs
Do to others as they do to you" These
spectators, merchants, agents, &C., those
that have the handling of our productions,
want to he diminished about three fourths,
the three-iourths being put into actual SER
vice where they will be of some use To the
country instead of consuming and squander-
ing the labors of others,
Dea. Griswold: The principle " Let every
man take care of himself" is not good one
T Mr., Grout: think IL is good one, Let
every farmer take care of himself.
Dea. GrIswold: We'ull have interests in
which others are necessarily connected
The merchant is necessary to the farmer to
dispose of his produce and family goods
which the tanner and shoemaker must man
ufacture for him. The farmer must sustain
these or fail. Farming pays twenty per
cent where my tannery pays ten, because
have more risk, and require more outlay of
capital. One trouble with farmers succeed
ing is they try to cultivate too much land,
and only half do it, thus paying taxes on UNI
necessary capital, If the farmers of Yer
mont would apply the same labor TO one
half the land their wealth would soon be
doubled. do not believe one acre in ten is
properly prepared before sowing or planting
il.
+. l.. Hovey: | like TO hear the Deacon
talk, he is so earnest, but people always will
differ. Two ministers will get different
views from the same text, But when he
said what he did in the first of his remarks,
was reminded of this. You will always
find crows where the carrion is. In my
speech did not intend to dispense with the
middlemen entirely, only to decrease their
numbers rs much AS possible.
Mr.. Grout 1 think man can carry on a
large farm ms we'll as small one. never
had any difficulty in doing so. One wants to
have health, and Judgment, and plenty Of
help,
? b. Works You seem to take il for granted
that farming does not pay. There is one
consolation, u farmer never knows what II
is to be poor. The olfpoyerty never comes
to his door and meditates ms to the propriety
of entering lived once in farming COM
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