Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-15
Forthe OXFORD DEMOCRAT
The Profession Of agriculture.

newspapers are daily ehronicling failure
after failure among mercantile and linan-
eial firms and companies, and are report
ING such numbers Of eases Of suffering
and deStitutiOn among the deuizens OF the
large towns and cities throughout the
country. Those sections of the country
which arc most devoted to agricultural
pursuits arc by far tho most prosperous
and SO true is this, that perfect ratio
can be observed TO exist between the SUI
fering and restitution Of a people,
and the proportion which commercial aud
manufacturing interests among them bear
TO agricultural,
As a nation our strength lies in our
vast, productive territory, and while our
geographical location enables US to CON-
mand and control a great commerce, and
the physical conformation Of the country
invites US, by the facilities which 1t affords
for the utilization Of our immense water
power to engage extensively in manutac-
turing enterprises, our prosperity growth
AMI wealth depends upon the deye.ope'
ment OF our agricultural resources.
The fertile land OF the United States,
IT Is estimated. Is capable Of supporting
"A population equal in number TO the pres
IN, POPULATION IF the whole globe. aud
with The healthy and agreeable climate
which we enjoy at the same time that We
can offer so great variety Of climate to
the Immigrant from which to select, We
.hsU ultimately be one Of the most thickly
po1ula,el countries in the world. We
are suffering at present from surplus OF
.aop,a,icn ia the Eastern States, while
.bt Western are sadly in necl OF more
settlers. Il Is not that We have more
~,7e'e In the East than The country can
SUPPORT. bur that there are too many who
tevo., their time to con marcial aud man
unctsriu- Interests In proportion 70 those
who ave engaged in agriculture.
Alternate periods OF prosperity and de-
preston, Of great activity and eXtraor-
i.aa-y qujctuic I'm business, are INSOFAR
able from commercial pursuits. There IS
always a. large amount oi suffering IN
large cities and, in season, Of business de-
preston ike the present, such suffering
f, enormously Increased, and numbers
AMONG its victims many Industrious per-
sous. who. through no fault Of their own,
are unable to dni employment which shall
furnish them with the means 10 provide
Inc nccessaries Of life. Such suffering
has never been known among the asriau.-
turists Of this country, and never cNcepi
u small districts IN any other. NV hi.l
the cEth rcwaincth, >ecdtime -Hd harvest
sa1l,not cease, sad thes Creaior ana the
assurance thus gwen ~ Ihc u'Icr OF tn-
SUI. that his .a9ors snail not be ln YAM Is
one chat has never h2.n sn@NeH' VI
course there are years oi greater plenty
than Others years Wacn some crops are
abundant ami Others are S'anty; ont
never q time when al crop, 'al., AND Wacn
,he farmer Is reduced 20 the condition ct
utter dependence and helP,essneSs which
Is So often seen among business men anu
laborcr- In commercial centres, where the
failure Of any one branch Of employment
means entire loss of all income to thous-
anlS
We are not among those who believe
that New England offers no iudUcement
10 the arricu.,urist. but On the contrary
h'l that agriculture in the Eastern States
ir properly managed. is one Of the mos,
rr6ftqb'c pursuits in which one can en-
,9-e The time has passed when o com-
portable living can De mace by the farmer
without avai,iu, himself Of the improve
me1-s OF the dav. The competition Is
too keen: railroads have so increased jhe
means Of communication with other ror-
tiop, of the country aud the facilities for
.rqnsra~ti1- ur5luce. tina. We virtually
ar, csmpstinr i'm our own markets. at our
own l5ors with producers whose soil /.
much more fertile than our own; aud il
IS only by improvements in our own
methods of farming and I'm our rroluc-
tions that we can succeed in maiutaiuirg
hat precedence which has so far in the
history Of the country been the rigat and
honor Of the New Erglau5er. twill not
8o for rs 10 continue 10 sueer at high
farming and scratch over an acre q
round with hoe TO raise thirth or forty
Irsl,ls If corn whom orr peiohbars be-
yonl the Nis,is.ip,i can double or
,rsflo -lat amount with less labor and
,rs., :. :, orr markets. NJ , rroi. far q
rr;.s that would not reimburse Us for one
/ half .bo lsbo~ extended We must en-.
rlov c,n;tal and skin in brinciu, our land
-, 60 80,