Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-01
RETROSPECT.

The harvest OF 1917 is nearly ended,
and taking all crops into account, has
been unusually good. The year past
has been peculiarly favorable for the
laborer and the husbandman. The fall of
'76 was very pleasant, dry and warm,
and every energetic farmer had his
land prepared, and his labor advanced
for the spring. After five weeks of very
snowy weather, in the beginning of win
ter, the SHOWS ceased to fall, the sky
cleared up, and more favorable winter
for business could not have been desired.
TLs ~--.--- -->slte1 s-v~J eerly, without
freshets or damage to the highways
and the sugar season was short but ex-
cellent; the land was dry before May,
and no rains or bad weather came to re-
tard the farmer in his work.
A very large area was sown and
planted, crops came forward quite rap
dly. A drought of some severity was
endured in some localities, but it only
affected the hay crop. Hay was rather
light, but was of good quality, and
well harvested. The steady warm wealth
or brought grain to early maturity. A
wet and rainy August did considerable
injury to early cut grain, but corn and
grass thrived luxuriently in the mean
while. Potatoes rusted in some vicini-
ties, and beanie diseased, but the crop
is large Notwithstanding the bugs, rust
and rot. Not often has better crop of
grain, including corn, been harvested
in this section. There has been great
yield of everything that our soil pro-
duces, berries. small fruit, garden veg
etables, apples, and grain and potatoes.
The second crop of hay, where it has
been cut, has been heavy, and the fall
growth of grass is excellent.
The year produced most bountiful
} harvest. No epidemic or unusual
, amount of sickness has been experienced
in this vicinity. While work has not
> been quite as abundant as heretofore
/ every laborer who has sought for work
/. has obtained it at fair wages, and there
: have been been little want and suffering
Money has seemed to be very scarce
perhaps more so during the last yea
d than at any season since the panic, bu
: there have been very few failures, anC
e both debtors and creditors have done al
JnaG coulu NC dune 10 pass the crltlca
c period without resorting to law or bank
: ruptcy. Prices for all farm products
0 except last years crop of potatoes an,
d lambs, have ruled low. Butter, GU
e great staple, has been discouragingl
e low. There is now a better look 70
il this article. On the whole the prospec
C is rather cheering. The large amour
: of products now in the hands of tn
IS producer, will feed his family and hi
Is stock, and afford a surplus for sale
&c While the farmers staples sell low
ie their purchasing power is equal to tina
J. of any period for the last twelve years
/ When an exchange of sugar, butter
Is grain or stock is made for groceries
~ dry goods, or other store commoditie!
e the farmer can carry home as much c
IS more for exchange, than he could in tn
- flush times succeeding the war.
J. The prospect for brighter and moi
L, prosperous times, the nation over, b;
~ never been better, and we expect IL
worst times have been experienced her,
!. The revival Of business in the man,
= featuring towns of New England will
. great benefit to its rural sections, al
! we cannot see why the staples of tn
- section will not be in better demand f
the year to come.
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