Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-24
For the vEnrosr FARHHR,
How Shall We ProsperI


While the grange may aid us in various
economies in purchasing family supplies, our
prosperity begins with largo production at
moderate cost.
1t Is Of great Importance that now, this
month, yes, to-day, we begin to put in more
definite form our plans for our farm crops.
In this (Orleaus) county the income Of the
farm is estimated from the probable produc-
tion Of butter from given number Of cows
In parts Of Addison county sheep, colts aud
young cattle claim as prominent place
among farm stock as COWS, and their growth
is an annual income. In Rutland county
cheese.factories are abundant, and Dandy,
Pawlet aud other towns make cheese as prom
inent as butter is here Down the Connecti-
cut valley farmer is thriving according to
the size of his tobacco 6old. In the West
wheat or corn, beef aud hogs make the pros
peritY. So cotton or sugar in the South.
Near our cities the prosperity is marked in
degree by the size Of the compost or ma
nure heap and the early potatoes, cabbage,
tomatoes, squash, turnips and strawberries
that are fed by the fertilizers. In many
cases there is no prevailing characteristic in
the soil or climate that decides what men
shall raise.
1t is often the success Of some original
thinker and practical worker that decides a
neighborhood or town or county in its method
Of farming. The original thinker may make
a fortune while the cOpyist plOds in poverty.
The business Of the farmer is to produce
fcod from the soil to sustain his family and
a surplus to supply the men of other trades
who live in villages and cities. If he forgets
for time his own wants and attends wholly
to the town and city the result will often be
disastrous. In the country at large it is
probable that greater number Of far
mers depend upon selling the products Of the
soil like wheat, corn, cotton, tobacco, vsge.
tables and fruit, than upon animal products,
as butter, cheese, wool, beef, pork and
horses. 1t is often the case that the farmer
who sells the products of the soil neglects
entirely animal products and never raises a
colt, COW or sheep. While others under sim.
liar circumstances Of climate, soil and markets
depend entirely upon animal products and
buy their -four, COIN and fruit and go with.
out vegetables except potatoes. Some gain
in wealth under each system many continue
in poverty. Is it not desirable that the
most careful investigations and discussions be
carried on wherever farmers meet together
to decide whether il is advisable to make
some changes now in our farming. A greater
diversity gives certainty Of plenty of food
at home, more food to sell. The minds o
more children are satisfied with farming
more intelligence and enterprise is awakened
aud a more general prosperity prevails
While remember that Vermont is grazing
state l take the catalogues Of seedsmen. oil
consult with provident friends, and provide
seed for varied crop and for now expert
ments, and be farmer rather than a manu-
factursr of butter, aud that butter in par
made from feeding corn grown in Iowa
u. L. JAMESON.
Brother Jameson's plea for mixed farm
ing is worthy Of tho favorable consideration
of farmers. While it is probably true that far
mers can reach nearer to perfection in the effOr
to produce single variety, either of crops o
live stock, in other words by making that on
thinga speciality, it is better aud more profit
able way generally, to raise variety and Civ
special care to each There is really no il
consistency in raising horses, cattle and shee
D on the same farm. There is no good reasO
why they should not all have such care as
8 make them thrive prO6tably. And tn
same farm may make variety of crops fO
5 home consumption with little Of each t
/. sell. The farmer who is always ION time
with his work finds little interference in th
$ claims of 4 variety. While a few max
8 large gains on a well chosen speciality, push
G ing it with great zeal and good judgmen
with skill as statesmen and favorable market
o and sometimes make considerable ado in III
If press, setting unbalanced heads all abaze
% go and do likewise. Many others whom "
never hear Of, and whom the papers kind
omit to mention, if they know them, NAL
= pitiful failures.
= When we raise variety there is alwa.
: something to sell usually something to Sc
y at remunerative prices. 1t cannot be deniC
that in the way farming is done, rather th'
what is done, lies success.