Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-02-26

Wv WV" NV sSSV Vuo tVouoNuuS
who, striving IN the same direction,
have gone down to their graves In
Obscurity aud poverty. Tho farm.
or is the most indapend dent man liv.
ing, and a country divided up into
snail farms, owned by the 0ccu.
pants, il in tho best possible cOndi,
ton for prosperity. Great cities
are great sores and we should teach
our sons to shun rather than cOvet
them. The average farmer Of Vt.
aud N. II. Is far beyond the aver.
age denizen of our cities, Or even
the average merchant, banker or bro.
ker, in general Intelligence, to say
nothing Of morality. He demand.
cd for the farmes the recognition Of
their just rights in the filling Of the
offices of emOlument and trust, and
in the legislation Of the state and
nation, and called upon the farmers
to honor their calling, which is in
itself the most honorable and en-.
nObling pursuit OF man.
Hon. VIM. Child of Fairlee then
read the following essy on the sub.
ject, Does it Pay to Raise Corn in
Vermont
In the few remarks we may offer
on this question, it is not with tho
expectation of enlightening others;
so much Us to elicit remarks from
all who take an interest in the in.
crease Of growth of this important
field crop. And in whatever may
be said on this subject please allow
me the affirmative side, hoping to
provoke such discussion as will
show the cultivation Of this grain
in its proper light.
In making my estimates, have al.
lowed one dollar aud fifty cents for
each man per day, including board
aud the same for each yoke of oxen
Or span Of horses, for boys from one.
half to three-fOurths the amount of
mems wages as to their ability.
AS the quality Of the manure US.
ed by us in the cultivation of this
crop is generally Of the coarsest
kind, have estimated its value at
one dollar a load, say half a cord to
the load, and charge the crop with
only half that value, believing sue
cecding crops receive full more BEN
eft than the corn CROP
When we compare the cost of
raising a given amount of corn in
Vermont, with that of the Western
States, the odds are decidedly
againts us; and it is often said that
it don't pay to raise corn in New
England, because Western corn can
be delivered here at a cheaper rate
than we can raise it. And when we,
think Of Western farmers cultivat.
ing their thirty, sixty, or ninety
acres with one or two men and q
horse, it certainly looks like uphill
business when compelled to spend
as much and perhaps more labor Oh
eight or ten acres; and then tho
idea of bending our bodies over O
hoe handle day after day under q
scorching sun in the long days of
June and July is not the most pleas.
ant idea to contemplate.
But how will the two cases com.
pare as applied to the Eastern and
Western producers when sale is
effected 7 then the Vermonters ten
acres will bring about the same
amount of currency rs the Hoosier's
thirty or forty. And then the
amount of labor in harvesting. husk.
ing, and marketing is muc.n less for
the Yankee, than for either Hoosier
or Buckeye But Cor the sake of
argument, ADM. for the time that
II costs less to buy Western corn
tneh TO Rise it in Vermont. Per.
mt me- to ask the question, What
are we to buy withi Most of US
farmers need the avails of all our
surplus produce to pay our running
or current expenses, and can scarce.
ly keep even at that. And how are
We to pay for Western cOrnf He
that knows will please answer!
Am aware it is a sad dilemma for
us farmers to be without corn and
no money to buy with, for to be
corn is nearly equivalent to
being without beef, pork, mutton,
wool, butter, cheese, poultry and
eggs, and all other things which or.
grace farmers table, or
snrich his household.
In proof of this allow me to quote
rom remarks of j. q. Ewbank of
Tennessee, as published in the Unit.
ID States Report, Department of
Agriculture for tue year 1867. as
'lndian corn has beoov.e 80 i'm.
'Ortant and valuable . food in our
country, both for mp. II and beast.
hat it is fully CO. aal and in many
Superior to wheat, as it
rows we'll in all the States, and is
surer and more abundant crop;
'eheA more reliable as a source Of
evenue than any other of our cere.
i grains. 1t produces more bread,
more meat, more milk and butter
han any other grain crop. In the
southern States it forms the con-
tant and principal food for man
nd beast, and poultry of all kinds.
t makes fat steers, tat buliOcks, fat
ows, fat hogs, and fat poultry, and
hese in their turn enrich the tables
Or the use of maa. Hence our PEG.
re have great reason for regarding
indian corn as The king Of grain,'
The Staff Of life.' The great stand.
Y OF farmers. And he who con-
ders its excellence and cheapness
> an article of food, and the great
alue of the bountiful growth of
talks and leaves it produces, will
not deem this praise OK.
'avagant."
Professor johnson of New York
$50 says, i'll similar report for
500. "The most valuable of the