Litchfield enquirer., 1876-04-20
TEIpr1rfoss TO rAnnrsa.-For the first

TEMPTATIONS TO FARMING.-For the first time in many years, farming now comes under favorable examination as an invest ment. Eastern farms are cheap. eastern markets for farm produce pay good prices. New England wool, to be sure, IS rulnous ly low, but in all the provision lines prices are good and will continue so. Farming had it's traditional advantages still as an. investment and means of livelihood. First, it is safe, especially in this climate; to- tai failure of crops in New England IS nn- known There is no stealing, no confia- grafton, no bankruptcy, no national calmity short of present and devastating war, which can ruin or carry off a good farm property. Many farmers figure among the list of ~bankrupts in this valley, but 1t is because they left farming for specuia- ton and for exchanging, like merchants that failed.
 The returns, though slow, are sure and. elastic, according to the work laid ont. There are lots of farmers making maple sugar in the old careless way, producing a very common dark brown sugar, tasting strongly of extraneous substances, who might just as well take moIe pains in thelri art, make a better article; and get more money for it. A good dairyman who sells
 
 ponnd said,, the other day, We wash the cows before milking" There are good many farmers who never wash the cows and vast deal of poor butter is sold at low prices and eaten with disgust. There Is. no end to the extent to which the cul- tivation of poultry and the production of eggs can be carried in the midst of this dense population. We are dra ing lm- mense supplies of that kind f. om the west. In market ga dening We are far behind our possibilities, in everything except prices. In this business We need cheap labor and there are many men with large families of women folks and children who cannot do better than give them this light employment in the open air. There cer- tainlv can be no loss in raising cattle. either for meat or for dairy purposes, here in New England, where hill-sides must continue to be grazed, and the western corn is brought cheapIy to our doors.
 Then the independence of the farmers life is real advantage. It Is very old feature of it. much sung and much honor ed without doubt. but not without reason; 1t exists still, and genuinely. 1t is certain that New England farming presents q much fairer field for effort than these wild goose chases to the Black Hills. What ever prospect there may be there for gold, mining in all it's early stages is gamb- ling, and the number who make anything at 1t are few. Even emigration to new agricultural regions in the west does not promise much unless colony of chosen people as we'll as very favorable sites are selected. Under such circumstances, and with moderate luck with the 'hoppers and other natural caiamities, new settlers stand a fair chance of prosperity. But the risks of discomfort and of failure at the west are vastly greater at the present time than on the old New England farms.
 It illustrates the fluctuations in the profitableness of agriculture that in Eng land at the present time farming is unpro- ftable, and the rush out of it and into oth- CT industries is very noticeable. The bur- den falls on the tenant class there, and the disincliuation to hire farms is very marked. Ten years ago @ young man could hardly pick up Q farm in twelve months; to-day the stewards of some great estates have twenty farms for which they cannot find tenants. Local taxation has increased heavily in England of late, the wages of farm labor have risen consider ably. .as they have here, and the best farm hands go into the large towns and be- come mechanics. Again, the cattle dis ease QOot and mouth) has proven 8 ter rIble scourge. It has increased the prices m this country. without at the same time benefting the farmer whose herds are de- vastated.' All the precautions in regard to importation seem to have been in .vain. Business is dull, however, in England, and after a time doubtless the pendulum will swing back and make the rental and ownership of land more profitable. The land question itself is grave one in Eng fish politics. The recent survey shows that tue 100 largest land holders in, the kingdom hold 3S, ,52O acres each, say a township ten miles by six! The 6I0 next largest landlords own an average of 7.200 acres each, or about eleven square miles. These two classes together hold about S.OOQ O0J acres; 972, ,O0O small owners hold about 25, ,OO0, 600 acres, or an average of tWenty-six acres.-Sprinafetd Republ- cdn.