Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-20
Communications.



A carefully struck balance in the advant-
ages between farm in Windham County
and ono in the West, is the only means OF
deciding the young farmer what TO do. A
farm of l60 acres in the West, without
buildings or fences, and perhaps without
timber or fuel, in q moderate climate, might
be had for a small sum-next to nothing (;
and, II luckily loca ted, It might in course
of time become very valuable.
Good farms, however, of this kind, arc
becoming scarce. A large part OF the un-
sold public lands consist of mountains and
desert wastes that never can be cultivated.
Let us suppose that a young married
couple, say at twenty-five years Of age,
have to begin life as agriculturists with on
ly two or three hundred dollars in pocket
Is it better for them to buy an old farm 10
Windham County, with fences, timber, and
buildings in tolerable condition on it, at a
price ranging from five hundred 10 Two
thousand dollars, or 10 go TO the WestH
The climate and society here arc known,
with all their advantages and disadvan
ayes, aud the results OF ten years steady
labor aud intelligent management might be
estimated. Probably the farm might be paid
for during that period, and a fapiiy be
raised up and educated, the farm being con-
siderably increased in value. A farm could
be made much more comfortable and valu-
able il one makes up his mind to remain
on it during his life, than 1t can where the
owner looks to leaving it at any moment.
Much more produce OF various kinds,
choice fruit, improved stock, etc., can be
raised on 1t under permanent tenure than
under an uncertain one.
Care and intelligence are worth as much
on farm as capital or labor. The curry
comb and blanket may dc almost as much
for a oIse as high FEEDING Tire oest OF
horse. nay 10 ruined without them.
Formerly, the chief interest Of Windham
County was tho farming interest. A farm
of 100 acres was then sufficient TO give a
large family respectable standing in socl-
ETY.. Landholding in New England, as
we'll as in Old England, gave character and
standing to man but since then our pub
lie lands have beOn going into the hands Of
strangers. The man who In Old England
owns 100 acres OF land might be regarded
as n prince, while that amount Is given
away in America TO any one who seeks for
It. The time, however, will come, and al
no remote day,-maDy now living will see
it-when farm in Windham County will
have its former appreci alton. The man
who shall own it will be considered we'll off.
by the time the man now twenty-five years
old shall attain tho age Of seventy five, the
population of the United States will he
three or four times what II is now and the
amount of our public land is too limited 10
allow Of an increase in the number OF farms
proportoned to the increase in the popula-
tion.
Where manufacturing increases, an 1t has
done with us since the war, there Is always
a great tendency towards an over increase
in that class OF men who are called distrib-
utors, or those who distribute what farms
aud workshops produce. Men will sell
their farms in order 10 become distributors ;
but there Is limit to this movement in So
oists,, aud farons will again be in demand.
We have heard Of an instance in neigh
boring town where four or FIVE farms have
come into the possession of two bachelor
brothers, tho former owners having gone
to the West. Thopresent proprietors mere
ly cut of the grass and lumber, and let the
fields remain untitled. A railroad through
the middle of the county would increase
the value OF these farms and the manu-
fact uring interest itself needs such a road.
Old farms In Windham County have
been bought on credit, and paid for by in
dustrious, economical management, and
are free of all encumbrance TO be leit TO
children and heirs. Can the same thing be
done again? And is it best for the young
farmer to undertake it?