Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-12-28
agricultural.
For the OXFORD DEMOCRAT
DessicatiOn of Fruit and Ve0etG-
bieS.

The DAYS when the New Eoglsnd far
mer could find profit in the production Of
corn, wheat and other cereals for market
has passed away With the magnificent
growth which the population Of this coun-
try has made within the past twenty-five
years, has come a change in the habits,
business and general products Of the in-
habitants Of the Eastern States.
The small amount of money which %
years ago was ample to supply a large
family with all the neeesSaries of life and
many Injuries, is now considered totally
insufficient to supply the wants Of sin
gle person. The progress which has been
made in art and science, but more partic-
nlArly in education, has opened new fields
to our vision has taught US the value and
desirability Of many things Of which our
fore-fathers were utterly ignorant, and
has caused Us to place in the list Of the
neceSsaries Of life, what were considered
BY our ancestors as Injuries to be only
occasionally enjoyed or too valuable TO be
obtained at all
These changes in the habits Of life, en-
failing as they DO increased expenditure,
require increased production to enable the
head Of family TO maintain that position
IN society to which he and his family have
been accustomed; and he can no longer
support his family respectfully upon the
small profits which were sufficient for his
father.
The settlement and cultivation Of the
Western States has resulted in 50 large a
production Of some crops, that the price
they command is too small TO enable the
Eastern farmer to raise them with profit.
Accordingly many crops which used to
constitute part Of the products Of every
farm throughout New England are now
rarely TO be met with in this section Of the
country, and other things have taken their
places.
Nest farmers say that it does moi pay
to raise wheat in the Eastern States, nor
corn for market. All admit the profit to
be made by what Is called "truck farm
ing" or the cultivation Of small fruits
and vegetables for the table, in the yicin-
ity Of large towns and cities but few
will allow that there Is anything but hard
work and poor pay for those agricultur-
lists in New England, whose farms DO not
possess that advantage of location. Yet
We have seen new and profitable industries
spring up IN the midst of agricultural
communities distant from any large mark
ct, and we hope TO see many more such.
There are crops which can be raised at
good profit in all parts of New England,
which are now only cultivated in the
neighborhood Of large cities. 1t is but a
few years since all the cheese made in this
country was produced by the slow and UNI
reliable process Of hand labor in farm
houses. Now the American factory-made
eheeses are known, and favorably known,
al over the civilized globe; and while
they can be sold at q lower price than
formerly, the profit TO the farmer is much
greater than before the introduction of
this method Of manufacture. A few
years ago no one living away from the
immediate neighbOrhoOd of large city
raised more swee. corn than would be
consumed in his own family. Now
thousands Of acres are raised and utilized
yearly, far from any great market.
In the production Of corn, wheat, beef,
&c, the Western States can, and in time
will, 50 far exceed the Eastern in quantity
and eheapness, as to exclude the latter
from the market for those products, except
as buyers. But in the production Of
canned fruit, dessieated vegetables and
similar products, the Fast will always re-
tain iu supremacy.
In the manufacture of dessieated veSe.
tables an opportunity is presented for an
immense and profitable business. One
which comes within the province of farm
ers, and at which they might confidently
expect to succeed. (Just the reverse Of
what they have any reason to expect in
regard to mercantile ventures like coop.
eratiye stores and kindred follies.l The
demand for dessieated Vegetables is now
greater than the supply, and is constantly
increasing.
1t is a demand which will increase with
the advance Of the world in civilization,
education and elegance. 1t is a demand
which will never be satisfied and which
will always repay him who attempts to