The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-27

| 'DoeS ldImlnR pay Is tne question
sounding all over the state Every bill re-
peats the echo and each valley answers
back, "Does farming payf' This oft re-
ptated question implies doubt upon the
point, but the manner in which it is com
monty put, also implies that there can be
no other than a negative reply. The news.
papers are full of it. As fair specimen
of the way the question ia discussed by
farmers in the agricultural papers | will
read communication from Barnard, print
ed in the Boston CVtir0tor, September 9Th,
1874
fences are falling down and wash away
| cultivated fields are growing smaller the land
Is becoming less and less fertile the farmers
themselves leaving to go to the city or to ind a
| home the farms are becoming larger though
| less productive. The population OF this town
| has decreased nearly IL per cent since 1870
| some OF the best business men and wealthlest
! citizens have left because farming does not pay.
Is there no remedy for this thing? No. A farm
| that Is run down and covered with rocks, stones,
trees and bushes cannot be restored without
! great labor and expense labor is so high and
| taxes are so hard on land owners that II Is i'm.
| live.
The crops here are looking fine, considering
the late spring and wet weather; great many
| farmers are not done haylng. Potatoes are
coming In largely. Wheat and rye look tempt
| Ing to the reaper. l.. r.
L, y. Please say that two hours out OF five
| every forenoon is spent in grinding scythes.
L.. T.
The writer asks, "Is there no remedy for
| this? 2" No. The matter is dismissed as
one not susceptible of debate. The best
business men and wcalthiest citizens aban-
don farming because it does not pay, and
only those remain who are content to live
In privation or who are attached 10 the soil
| by the iron chain of poverty
| 1t seems TO me that the writer above
quoted has unconsciously given one reason
for the unremunerative results of farming.
A system of agriculture which suffers the
fertility of the soil to run down while it
remains or becomes covered with rocks,
stones, trees and bushes ought not to be
expected to return any income for capital
invested.
1t is no more than fair to make the adj
mission that many farms do not pay an in
come of 3 per cent. That fact is granted.
Many farmers are almost hopeessly in debt.
1t was stated a by gentleman who had given
much solid attention to the subject in q
discussion of the question of taxing mort
gagged real estate by the committee on the
grand list of the receipt legislature, that a
large ma ority of farms in the mountain
towns are mortgaged for more than they
are taxed.
Now, gentlemen, | assume aud believe it
is susceptible of proof that farming, when
conducted upon enterprising and economi-
cal business principles, when carried on
with the same degree of enthusiasm and
intelligence as secures success in other pur-
suits, does pay fair profit. do not pro-
pose to prove my position w citing the
profit of my own farm. Neither will l
admit that agricultural writers arc all the
orsts. A man may see from his own mis-
takes what he might have done. | can
look back and see where have lost hun
droda of aallara nv nlaus that we're not
sound, by management that was bad, by
not being always ready to do things at the
proper time, by giving time that belonged
to my farm and stock to writing for the
papers and working for the public.
| will cite two instances of farmers whom
| know very well. The first is a good
farmer. His farm and stock are always in
order. His work is always done in season
and done well. His plans are well matured
and vigorously executed. lie is not only
good worker, but keeps himself we'll in
formed. He knows the value of property
and cannot be fooled by IA drover or wool
buyer And he has got sense enough tc
sell when he has good chance. No crops
lie moulding around his barn after they
ought to be sold. No cattle stand eating
themselves up after he has an opportunity
to sell. | am not aware that in natural in
telligence or in opportunities he has the ad
vantage of other farmers. He has gooC
common sense, and he uses it. He is en-
ergetc but not robust man in health.
asked him to give me his experience on tho
prontableness of farming.
TrTTPp
FRIEND HUBBARD: I often hear The question
asked, "Does farming pay?"
| could give you figures to show that in som
exceptional years the showing would not loo
very bright, but for q series of years thin
that Judlclous farming has paid quite MS wei
as most other kinds OF business.
will not at this time give you figures 10
any particular years. but viii give you it'll
OF my experience In farming Tor the last TWEEN
ty-five years.
was not raised at farming-I spent iftee
years OF the best part of my life in studyln
and piactlcing n profession, and after becon
ing completely disguised with 1t. and broke
down In health, | determined to try farming
| was then thirty-eght years old. | bought
hill farm, run In debt for one half the purchas
money. and commenced with a yoke of oxei
|
ture with the COW. Three months later
bought Il horse on credit. After sheep-shea
ing bought some sheep and some helrers
had paid out every dollar l. had for provisions
seeds TO sow and plant and necessary tools I
begin with.
A friendly farmer lent me one bushel
wheat to SOW. had hired man to help m,
or rather TO help him. for was not able to d
more than half mans work. Afterm wheG
was secured l threshed out a Srst of whea
carried 1t Off IN the chat, stopped at farmer
who lent me tanning mill, got my whei
cleaned, carried It to mill and then got my frs
flour, and 1t seemed 1t made the sweetest brea
/ ever ate, and was encouraged.
My first wool sold at thirty cents per poun,
averaging fraction less than two and ha
pounds TO the fleece, being pure soXony Jarv
sheep, butter | sold at from l2is to l4c POI
at 6ilc q ~; poultry-turkeys, iOc chicken
Sc. Those were the prices for the first h'
years, except wool did get up to 80 cents.
tried 10 raise a little OF every kind OF farm pr
duce to sell. began to feel better, had
1 the end of hve years fine stock OF cattle an
, sheep, and had lifted the mortgage from N
} farm. Ihaye always had one hired man, an
sometimes two through the season. | otte
hear II said that farmers cannot AFFORD TO hire
Will do what can. and let the land lay. TIL
is not the way TO make two spears OF graz
grow where only one grew before We mu
must work up the sod, keep cows, have muC
wood, mould turf or do anything that win max
manure, Use the IIolbrook pillow.
] know Il farmer who, twenty years ago, CT
{ at least ninety tons of hay, kept IA hired ma
4 kept COWS and hogs, but tsincc labor has bee
high he has reduced his cows and got alor
alone, and now his farm does not produce mol
than forty tons Of lay, aud that OF poor quallt
He says he cannot afford to hire and Ireally b
lieves he works harder, and doubt whether l
makes more than living, and his farm is rul
I ming down.
! We mustexpect. fluctuations in prices of pr
r duce have sold butter for l2kc and for 20
!, have sold pork for &c and for 2oc wool for 81
and 800 o N. have never changed dra.
I ropes-I have been steady along through all u
Z ms n nd doyg and n I have saVpd CLAIR nf n