Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-05-22
gelluws falls Timss,
BELLOWS FALLS, MAY %. 1874.
For the Bellows Falls Times.
A Few Realities of Farming


lection, it is natural that the mind should
grasp at every straw which promises any
aid or information to solve the great
problem, how to keep pace with this
hurrying and cesseless advancement.
The mind of the farmer is not ex-
empted from this agitation but stands
first in the category.
It must not only solve the riddle OF
keeping the dignity and success of farm
ing on level with other trades and
professions, but is looking anxiously
about for the answer to the inquiry.
How shall we save the occupation OF
farming from sinking into the slough OF
dependency, from passing into the
hands of strangers without any scientific
knowledge, and but little agricultural
experience? In other words, How shall
we induce our sons to remain on the
farm?
So long as this inquiry is addressed to
strangers in public, and forgotten or
neglected in the presence of friends at
the Preside, SO long will it be made in
vain. Why do you not ask your sons
their reason for leaving the farm for an
occupation more congenial to their tastes?
DO you suppose they do go out of mere
inclination, led on by some passing
dream of wealth and position suddenly
acquired without any effort ON their part?
If so, you are mistaken. Young Amer
lea is not led from home by these feeting
localities alone, but these, together with
the stern realities of home life as it is
to-day, in nineteen twentieths of our
farmers homes, is sufficient to drive the
most obedient and enthusiastic farmer
boy from the occupation.
Glance for moment at the compar-
isons young man has to contend with
in his choice of business and see if the
balance is in favor of the farm. Look
ing about he sees the successful manu-
facturer riding past in his elegant car
riage, totally regardless of the lapse Of
time, that precious, priceless time, when
he (the farmer boy) is taught to be dig
ging and delving in the field if he would
be successful in his pursuit. If he
chance to pass the residence of this ma.
he sees a pleasant home nestled down
amid tall and majestic shade trees, sur
rounded and filled with the costliest an(
rarest flowers, in fact with all that tend
to make home desirable or happy, ant
amid all these luxuries, the wealth o
their possessor is accumulating until i
borders ON the fabulous.
Thus, through the entire list of trade
and professions, he finds something ant
often many things to influence his choice
He turns to compare what he notices
abroad with what he sees at home. /
his parents are poor, he knows ther
struggling from early morn to late a
night, sick or weary, It's ever the same
work or die. In such scene what be
comes of the thousand and one it'll
pleasures that make happy home? Il
such picture what is to be seen to pre-
possess any one in favor of the farm
If his parents belong to that class Gale
rich, he finds them broken in health an
constitution, grown old and gray in thei
youth, unable longer to perform the Ia
Dor they long since learned to conside
the necessity of their existence. To b
sure the little farm of dozen acres ma
have given place to the broad acre
numbered by the hundred, the little co
tage resting so snugly among the win
clad hills, surrounded by the yard inlai
with flowers as rare as they were prett,
has been succeeded by the capacior
farmhouse, unadorned by anything, ez
cept a row of shining milk pans, the
brary stocked with few choice old a
manacs, the front yard catching Il
spirit of its misery owner has long sine
ceased to yield its annual offering {
flowers, but stepped aside to make rool
for more profitable potato or bea
patch. He has no opportunity to ming
in society, no pleasant fireside chat viii
father, mother, brother or sister, they a
all buried In the study of how to NAL
money and how to keep it. Added
this, if the mother, that blessed angel
home, should sink into the grave in h
prime, overburdened with the accum
lating cares of family and farm, tn,
indeed is the home of the farmer be
cherries and desolate. And yet yC
ask your sons to give up the plans of
life time, and pursue calling Who'll
unsuited to their tastes with all the
practical facts to overbalancel
Then the farmer in conversation wi
his son, while he does all in his pow
discourage his inclination for any OF
er pursuit, offers him no encourageme
to remain on the farm. How many
you studying this great problem tc-ds
bara Jaofara1 AGAIN and ac-a,,. =. 1.