davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
CnrrfSpondfnff.
Ideal Farming.

That which most interests tho New Eng.
land farmer of the present day is, to know
how he shall keep even with the world. Not
how he shall pay his bills at the close of the
year, and start again from that point from
which he started twelve months before, and
fair chance to start twelve months hence,
but how. as the world moves he shall move
with it how he shall be, in all respects, as
much better off at the end of the year, as the
merchant, the mechanic or the professional
man is f; by what means life is to be made
easier, more civilized and more human with
him, as it is with men of other occupations.
Now one thing he may understand at the
outset what is called "the good old way"
will not help him, for we see by its results
that in some respects it is very bad way,
and it is only when tho farmer leaves the
beaten track, and is willing to risk some
thing, that he has a chance of being anything
but sort Of human OK, working in his
daily yoke. The earth gives forth its best
products only to human intelligence and the
forces which that intelligence CONTROLS and
this being the case, the farmer needs brains
as well as muscle the former should be exer-
cised as well as the latter. This is an age
of improvement and it is not necessary
that we should commence where our fathers
did, but let us commence as near as possible
where they left of, that is, if they have kept
up with the times.
Knowledge is one Of the most important
things in regard to any kind of business, and
is Of no less Importance to the farmer thar
any other man Of business. A great deal o
very valuable information might be obtained
by the farmer from agricultural books anC
papers. From such sources he can learI
many things that would be of great valuC
to him in his spare moments he might ao
quire knowledge that would save him many
years of hard labor to acquire otherwise.
Now it is important that tho farmer a
well as all other men should have a 6xe
aim in life, something to work for, something
which, if obtained, will be worth what
has cost What shall this aim be2 Sbal
it be mere worldly prosperity, as tn
ownership Of land, herds, stock or bonds
All these in themselves will not make a ma
happy, or in the highest degree respectable
, but, while they are the main object Of lifi
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

they are actual clogs to their possessor on
the other hand, if rightly managed, vast
good may grow from them as money is one
Of the best aids to advancement The work
by which our progress is made is stimulated
by desire of profit or wealth. 1t is this
desire that makes us work, that makes us
what we are, or may be, small or great. 1t
is work, real hard work with our head, hands,
and heart, this is the way to all true success.
Not only must we work with all our minds
and strength, but we should work as only the
love of money can make us work, and the
getting Of money should be the first aim of
our work, and it should be done in our farm
ing, as we would do in other kinds of busi-
ness. If We acquire money it should not be
put in the bank or out at interest, but should
be used for the Improvement of our farm.
An old saying is, "rake care of the farm
aud the farm will take care of you" and
there is much more truth iu it than many
might imagine.
In nearly all our papers and books on ag.
ricuture we often see this question asked
"Does farming pay2" and we fud it, an.
swered in great variety of ways; some
say that it does, aud some say that it does
not pay. Farming, like all other business,
depends greatly on the way it is carried on
whether it is paying business or not, but l
claim that farming as a business or occupa-
tion must be paying one if properly con-
Quoted, as agriculture was the primeval and
most important pursuit Of man, and will al
ways be so, as the necessities of the hui
man race require it, In the rise and fall OF
the nations agriculture is the therm ometer, as
we may call it. When agriculture is in a
thriving condition then, as general thing,
the nation prospers; but when it begins tc
decline, everything declines with it. The
history of our race shows that the tillage oi
the soil is the best advancement of civilization
The wants Of society require education, but
the wealth Of the universe depends mainly on
the products of the soil. Now the question
comes, how can we make farming a paying
business, and as economy seems to be the
word nowadays, "Ilow can we economic
in farming2"
TAet5o,d. G. &c.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
WHOLE NO. 324.
Christian Laymen.

A great many churches are in danger of
dying because of learned pulpits. They are
carrying too much theology, and too little
active piety, to live. They are in the con-
dition of the patient who was told by his
physician, that, in order to live, he must
have his head cut off, The Christian world
owes great debt Of gratitude to the Meth
odist church, because it has done so much
to bring out and set to work the lay-element.
II has Reproduced the apostolic economy Of
moral forces. 1t has re-affirmed the right
of women to a religious character, and to all
those exercises of mind aud soul which make
such character possible. But the lay
element, as converting force, is not yet
fully developed, even in the Methodist
church and, if not in it, far less is it in
the churches Of other denominations. We
have approached so far toward liberty as to
doubt the divinity of our slavery. That, at
least, is sure, though there are some Of the
clergy loft who mourn because MIR. Moody
is not ordained. The time was, in this
country, when none but the minister could
conduct prayer-meotings, aud none save the
deacons were good enough to pray and cxhort
III VuOh hot SNOu buoyi uhleSS speCldlJ
by the invitation Of the pastor. The time
was when the sex would have been scan
dalized if christian mother should have
dared to lead in prayer at the family-altar,
or invoke the divine blessing at the table.
We have got some ways beyond that.
If any one desires to know where the
movement, begun in Westley, and which
has lifted and propelled the church as the
incoming wave lifts and heaves ship for
ward, will stop, he can easily ascertain. Its
logical conclusion, and to which the next
generation will come, is this,-that every
converted person, white or black, male or
female, has the iualienabe right to serve
God and man in whatever way the Author
of being, and the God of all grace, has
made possible. Voice and hand and heart
shall speak and labor and beat as the spirit
shall quicken them, unhindered by any.
That is what we are coming to that is the
shore toward which the current sets. On it,
when reached, the church will stand in that
wide liberty to love and work which she en-
joyed in her early prime. Swift be the COM
ing of that blessed day Golden Rule.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
A Farmers Education.
by A FARMERS BOY.

| want to say word upon this subject be.
cause Of the frequency with which | hear
this expression, ellis education is good
enough for farmer" For a high-spiritcd
farmer boy, nothing is so dispiritiug as to hear
this exclamation. 1t seems to indicate that
il docs not take much of man to make
q farmer. Nothing is farther from the truth
Men of sound sense, and having the best cd.
ucation, belong to the hardy tillers of the
soil, aud they are the ones who are looked up
to and respected in community Of farmers
Give our country boys as good n chance as
the boys in the city, who have the advantages
in their longer school sessions, the handiness
of Libraries, and their more systematic course
of education. If they wish to go to school
till they are eighteen or twenty years old
let them go. They will never begrudge
few hundred dollars less in their legacies,
and it will make them many.fold more
thankful than if you had kept them to work
on the farm for the sake of saving few dol.
lars, which would have been doubly repaid
by them in the end.
Allow them to study chemistry botany,
natural history, natural philosophy, and even
geology, for all these they can observe in
glorious nature everywhere about them, in
the earth, in the air, in the woods and fields,
and in their own forms, which are the most
perfect OF natures creatures. This will give
him an added interest in his farm labors, and
will urge him to look into the reason Of things
which arc transpiring in all nature around
him. Bring up your children so that you
can trust them on the farm, aud there is no
danger in letting them finish their education
in few terms of study at college or semi
nary in city. shall always remember
the chance my father is giving me to obtain
complete education, and the best of educa.
ton need not rust on farm.
You will keep many more Of your boys at
home if you would give them good start in
telectually, and let them know there is a
world outside your boundary fence. Bring
the library or reading.room to your home by
taking some good papers, and by buying
some good books, for money thus spent is
is well invested.
10 this republican country everybody
should have 6rst.class education to enable
him to understand all questions of public in-
terest which arise in a country like ours.
Such men will make their mark in n commu-
nifty, and will not have lived in vain. My
father is farmer, and | write this in the
hope that it will reach the ears of other
| farmers.-Obi0 Farmer.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

HENNERY.-We advise every man to
build hennery on the same principle that
a farmer would build barn; first for COM
fort second for convenience, and then add
as much for elegance and style as he is will
ling to pay for. But such an expense should
not be carried to the business account, to be
settled out of the profits of the stock, but
rather to the account of ornament, to be
paid for in the owners satisfaction at fine
appearances. The plan we would adopt for
poultry house, is this: Build on a south
erly slope, if you can. Dig out for back
wall, to be cemented up; then lay upon it
a shed roof the front principally of glass,
the roof and sides shinglcd, with tarred pa
per between the boards and shingles. 1t
should be ten feet high in front, and five in
the rear On the inside have walk three
feet wide, running the whole length, high
enough from the ground to let the fowls un-
der, to scratch and go out into the yard.
Lay a floor over the rest, with the roosts on
the back part, with shelves under them to
catch the droppings, so arranged as to be
removed and cleaned once week. The
nests for large hens should be about foot
high for small ones, three feet high, and
small at the entrance, running back two
feet With such nests hens seldom learn
to eat eggs. Fasten the nests on tho
partition which separates the walk from
the coop.
A building thirty feet long and fifteen
feet wide, may be separated into three
rooms, large enough for twenty-five fowls
to room. Such a building can be put
up for fifty dollars, and is worth as much
for all practical purposes as the most ele-
CANT building, while every body that can
afford to keep good fowls can afford such
bcnnery.-Golden Rule.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

The ADMITTED fact that American manu-
facturers are competing successfully with
those of Sheffield in European markets is an
honorable tribute to American skill and en-
terprise. A few weeks since it was shown
that American watchers we're also gaining
largely upon the Swiss trade. 1t only needs
an open field and fair competition to give
American products of all kinds the vantage
ground. We can furnish bread and beef,
too, in superabundance for foreign markets.
The opening Of the new century is as hope
ful in all aspects as could be desired. Our
unexpected political complications and the
condition of our currency are the main draw
backs to unexampled prosperity. The former
are happily in the way of speedy solution.
The restoration of sound aud conditional
currency is a question of time, and that not
very remote,-BoSton Post.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
Hop Growing.

The uncertainties of farming are nowhere
more manifest than in hop growing, and in
no other department of husbandry are pro-
ducers more at a loss to know when and for
how much to sell their products than in
respect to this crop. The range of prices,
from the lowest to the highest figures for
which hops are sold from time to time, and
the desire Of the producer to sell for the
highest price, aud the purpose Of the buyer
to purchase at the lowest possible figure, per-
plexes the former aud embarrasses the latter.
Growers fail to apprehend why hops that
sold for thirty.fve cents soon after the time
Of picking, command only twenty-five now,
while there has been no special decline in
prices abroad. That those men who operate
between producers and consumers are sharp,
and take advantage Of every possible cir
cumstance to depress prices while the goods
are mostly in the hands Of producers, is not
at all incredible. They know when the hop
producer most needs the money to pay inter-
est and taxes, aud prices, if possible, are
kept down until after the greater part Of the
crop has passed from the hands of producers
into the hands of the dealers who operate
between producers and brewers. 1t is with
hops, not unfrequently, as it is with wool,
prices are kept low until the crop has left
the farms, then prices begin to advance.
Thus it is that hop dealers generally buy
cheap and sell dear.
Now, what is the remedy ? inquiries the
producer. Our reply is, let the hop.growcrs
of every section form union that shall in.
clude every hop.grower of that locality
whether it be in Maine, Vermont, Northern
or Central New York, Michigan, Wisconsin.
and so on through the hop.growiDg region
to California. Then let there be organized
an American hop growers union, to be COM
posed Of delegates from all the local organ
izations.
By the corresponding secretaries Of all the
local societies with the national union, and
all with the home and foreign markets, il
would seem that hop-growers might thus
learn when and for how much it is best to
sell. We have before recommended this
for the consideration not only of hop-growers,
but to growers of barley and tobacco. Then
may producers have some voice in making
the prices of their products, which it is al
most impossible for them to have in theil
isolated nditon.-Americdn CuLtiUator
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
CLUBBING WITH OTHER PAPERS.
PRICES REDUCED.

The following publications will be sent with the
VERMONT FARMER, one year, at tho prices named af-
ter each. The prices given include tho postage on
both the Farmer and the paper clubbed with it, which
will be paid by the publishers. The conditions are,
that all arrearaees for tho Farmer If there are any,
shall be paid; and that both papers be paid for
at tho same time but 1t Is not necessary that both
should be sent to the same person, nor to the same
post office.
II papers magazines not in this list arc wanted
write and will ascertain what we can furnish
them with the Farmer for, and answer you. We claim
unsurpassed facilities for obtaining papers and maga-
zines at low rates, when furnished with the Farmer
What you save by ordering your city paper naga-
Eine with the Farmer
A large discount In price.
All risk Of transmitting tho funds.
The cost Of money order OF registration.
Tho trouble OF writing one letter. and its postage,
And you insure correctness and dispatch.
Address, VERMONT FARMER,
ST. JohnsbuTy VI,
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

The rules for letting farms on shares vary
ia some respects in different parts of the
Union. As general rule the agreement
is in substance as follows: The owner turns
over his farm, dwelling, barns, &c, to the
tenant on the first of April, with what man
ure may be on the place. The tenant agrees
to furnish the team or teams to do the work,
as we'll as all the farm implements that are
necessary. He also furnishes half the seed
and half the COWS, pigs and poultry to stock
the farm, aud agrees to keep the fences in
repair and to work out or pay the road tax.
lie is to have half of all crops and half Of
the butter, cheese, milk, pork, beef, eggs
and poultry produced. But in regard to
the owners half there should be plain
stipulation how he is to receive it--whether
to be delivered to him, or he to come and
get his part at the farm. If delivered by
the tenant, he would be entitled to some
compensation for the delivery. The team
used to do the work is allowed to be pas.
tured and fed from the undivided hay and
grain, and the tenant should be allowed q
garden large enough to produce his green
vegetables only. The owner pays the taxes
If anything is needed not contemplated
when the bargain was made, each must pay
half the expenses, as moro manure than was
on the place, more cows swine, &c, but
both parties must acqucscc in obtaining
these extra articles, as neither party can de-
mand of the others anything not in the con-
tract. When extra work is done, as ditch.
ing, making new fences, &C., it is best thai
the agreement be put in writing, as som'
mems memories are not very accurate. Ii
brief, let the contract cover everything; but
be liberal to the poor tenant, as he will gen
orally perform great deal of hard worI
for small cOmpensation,-M Y. World
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

FARM INTEREsTs.-Among the signs Of
the growing importance Of the Agricultural
interest, the attention paid to farming af-
fairs by the general press of the country is
not without Significance. A few years back
notices and suggestions that might be of ben
eft to the farmer, seldom found their way
into the columns of political Journals, where
as to-day, the best and most eaterprisng
of these either publish special editions in-
tended mainly for circulation among the ru-
raj population, or embrace in each issue an
agricultural department. The ireer the dis
semination of practical aud scientific instruc-
tion among our agricultural population, the
greater will be their desire for fuller details
to be found only in papers specially devoted
to that subject. The passion for knowledge,
like that for riches, increases with the amount
of our acquisitions; and ignorance alone is
listless in seeking fresh information. We
welcome, therefore, every attempt to increase
knowledge, aud consequently the chances OF
prosperity, among those whose interests are
Identical with our own.-RuraL Neio Yorker.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
ACCOUNT OF SALES FOR 1876

IOtAl income S5~5 w
The above account will show the variety
of products raised, and as the sales are made
after the home is fully supplied, it will be
seen from the variety that skillful house,
wife could make out q very good farmers
bill Of fare from the list perhaps with the
addition of pepper and salt, tea, coffee and
sugar, although maple sugar is home pro-
duction
N. says that quite large portion of the
sales were made to neighboring farmers,
they coming from miles around as they say
they can get anything they want of n, from
cheese and vegetables to fresh fruit or honey.
The item of labor in the account is ex-
planned by saying that N. occasionally does
job of surveying, as well as now and then
a little writing for his neighbors. But the
main idea is that it is sound economy for a
farmer to raise as great variety and guam
tity Of products as he can, not only for home
use, but to sell, thereby being able to meet
any call upon him, either from homo or
abroad, for all know that the man who al
ways has something to sell is very apt to
have little money in his pocket in case oI
an emergency
OF the item Of WOOL must say that il
was not all sold, as Mrs. Farmer n. still
holds to the old.lashioned notion of supply
ing her household with horne-made stockings
and mittens. One thing more n believes
| it sound economy to read as well as figure
as the number Of fresh papers and books up
on his table will show,-RuraL Neto Yorker
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

AMERICAN WoMEN.-The young women Of
our American cities hold in their hands a
power for good or harm. The grand foe OF
American social life is in the tendency to
luxury and effeminacy among the well-to-do
young women of our American cities and
large towns They do not realize how this
dreadful mania for expensive pleasures, and
a life of alternate idleness aud amusement
is destroying their health ; a6olishing true
marriage; feeding the fame of gross SEN
suaity and intemperance among young men,
and saddening the hopes Of the best parent
of the land. Some of them never will know
it in this world. But most of them have
no real purpose to waste their lives in this
wretched way. And 1t is high crime in
mothers, teachers, ministers Of religion and
the public press to pander to this insanity
Thousands of good-hearted young girls arc
sacrificed every year when little wise aud
loving guidance could save them.
But we feel they should be told that un'
less they change this life they will pass away
like the flowers Of June, and more hardy
and resoute class occupy their places
American society will shed every class oi
triaers, malo or female, that do not do its
work, as the forest shed their withered leaves
Let them awake from their dream of social
indulgences learn to live out Of doors; to
build up their health; to cultivate more
simple tastes in dress, and more moderation
in pleasure; study domestic economy; study
social skill and tact fit themselves for the
noblest positions ever yet offered to their
sex, and learn that woman is the soul oi
American life, not the tinsel on its garment
o, that all who have the care Of such may
be gifted with persuasive love that will win
them to holiness and.beauty in one,-Uni
uerSaliSt Quarterly.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

HARD TnEs.-A high authority gives
the following list of unnecessaries, with the
amount Of money annually expended upon
each of them, in this country Cost of dogs,
S70,000,000; support of criminals, Sl2,-
100000; fees of litigation, s35,0O0,O00 ;
cost Of tobacco and cigars, 100000 inn
portation of liquor, S50,000000 support
of grog shops, Sl.50O,000, 900; the whole
cost of liquor, $4,000, 100000. Surely
this does not look like hard times, and the
amount of the above could be readily doubled
by adding other just as foolish expenditures,
not named in the above list but difference
of opinion might call for different classf.
cation -Nelo Yorker.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

We have a sample Of II. W. Walkers
superior maple sugar, which he gave us
while at the board meeting in Woodstock,
also some of Joseph G. McKensic's apples,
and an car of corn raised by s. G. Hill
Of Charlotte, and some of Q. q. Posts patent
sap spouts. We set the spout into strip
of pine ceiling, the other day, aud so COM
plete is the spout that it almost started the
sap, as cold as it has been Of late.
Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23

In dairyng, it is to be understood that if
the COW has extra labor in walking to and
from the pasture, or in walking about the
pasture, she gives less milk. Soiiug will
produce extra milk enough to cover large
share Of its cost. The dairy COW must be
fulfilled, and by solling you can always sup
ply her with ample food, and avoid the dry.
ing up Of the cows in times of drouth. There
are probably not fifty farmers in Vermont
that could not adopt this system, at least IN
part, with great profit 1t is a mistake to
NOW grass for soiling that will not pay for
hay. Take land from which you can get a
good crop, and have it near the barn.