Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-22
9farielllt.Iral Department
DOEs FARmINc Paw

field, VT, held at Clarendon.
docs farming pay?" is the question
sounding all over the State. Every hill
repeats the echo and every valley an-
swers back, docs farming pay?" This
often repeated question implies a doubt
upon the point but the manner in which
il is commonly put. also implies that
there can be no other than negative
reply. The newspapers are full Of it.
As a fair specimen of the way the ques.
tion is discussed by farmers in the agri-
cultural papers l will read a communi-
cation from Barnard, printed in the Bos-
ton Cuitirdtor, Sept, 10, 1874:
Farmers here are in bad condition
walls and fences arc falling down and
washing away; cultivated fields are
growing smaller; the land is becoming
less and less fertile the farmers them
selves leaving to 90 to the city to find
a home the farms are becoming larger
though less productive. The population
Of this town has decreased nearly IL per-
cent, since 1910 some the best business
men and wealthiest citizens have left be-
cause 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 re-
stored without great labor and expense;
labor is so high and taxes are so hard on
owners that it is impossible for them to
improve their farms and live"
Ii seems to me that the writer above
quoted has uneonsciously given one rea-
son 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 COW
cred with rocks, stones, trees and bush
es ought not to be expected to return any
income for capital invested.
1t is no more than fair to make the
admission that many farms do not pay
an income Of 3 per cent. That fact is
granted, Many farmers are almost hope
lessly in debt 1t was stated by gen.
tleman who had given much solid atten-
ton to the subject in a discussion of the
question of taxing mortgaged real es-
tate by the committee on the grand list
Of the recent legislature, that a large
majority of farms IN the mountains towns
are mortgaged for more than they are
taxed.
- Now gentlemen, | assume and believe
it Is susceptible of proof that farming,
when conducted upon enterprising and
business principles, when carried on
with the same degree of enthusiasm and
intelligence as secures success in other
pursuits, does pay a profit. | do not
propose to prove my position by citing
the profit of my own farm. Neither will
l admit that agricultural writer's are all
theorists. y man may see from his
own mistakes what he might have done.
] can look back and see where l have
lost hundreds of dollars by plans that
were 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.
I.I will cite two instances of farmer.
whom know very WELL The first is Q
good farmer. His farm and stock are
always in order. His work is alway,
done in season and done well. His plans
are well matured and vigorously execu
ted. He is not only a good worker, bu
Keeps himself we'll informed. He knows
the value Of property and cannot b.
fooled by drover or wool buyer. Anc
he has got sense enough to sell when h,
has a good chance. No crops lie mould
ing around his barn after they ought t,
be sold. No cattle stand eating them
selves up after he has an opportunity t,
sell am not aware that in natura
intelligence or in opportunities he ha.
the advantage of other farmers. He ha
good common sense, and he uses it. H,
Is energetic but not robust in health.
asked him to give me his experience OIL
the prohtableness of farming.
The other farm joins the one just dc
scribed. 1t is just twice as large, it
market value is twice as much, the sol
as fertile and buildings as good. 1t i
as well adapted, every way so far as
know to yield as good income as the 9th
or. Its owner is fully as intelligent
and equally well informed.
am not aware of any particular il
which their circumstances are not equal
ly favorable for profitable farming. ex
eept that the first has the advantage O
son arrived at maturity. whom Orc
sumo has been an efficient assistant o.
the farm.
have examined the aeeouts out hav
not the figures in detail. But it is
fact that the footing up of the profit an
loss on the same basis as the other. tn
large farm has been for series of year
carried on at an annual loss of $780,
No account being made in either case
rents fuel aud farm products consume
IN the family. The small farm paws