Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-03

WV ~ l'N'''A-' 80 $50 ~
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suggestiOns for the season.
Another season opens with rare promise to
the farmer. and through the farmer to every
legitimate business interest Of the country.
As early as was the season OF year ago, the
present one. up TO this time, is nearly two
weeks in advance of it, 80 far ms the state of
vegetation is concerned, and it lacks little If
anything Of being a month ahead of the aver
age of seasons in recent years. The continu-
Gus rain of the past week has not it is true.
permitted the farmers to forward their plant
ing operations. but it has, for all that, been
heartily welcomed by them in great major
ity of cases, as being just what was needed to
give bottom and substance TO their most i'm
portant product. the grass crop. The spring
of year ago gave unusual promise of II sue
cessful season for the tillers of the sofia
promise which was abundantly fulfilled. No
less generous is the promise Of the season
now beginning and upon the manner in
which these opening days and weeks are inn
proved will depend the reward which the far
mor will reap from his labors as the Spring
and Summer and Autumn run their course.
Drawbacks and dscoupgements there may
be, but whatever is lacking in one direction is
pretty sure to be made up in another, so that,
to the farmer who diligently husbands every
resource harvest time is sure to see bin and
barn and cellar so well filled as to give him
feeling of comfortable satisfaction, if not OF
genuine complacency, in the result Of his
years work.
With the grass crop so thick and green and
tall as it has rarely been before on the first Of
May with the maple trees-here on the river
lands, at least-in almost full leaf, with the
elm tops showing like mist of green in the
distance, with the fruit trees thick with green
and almost ready to burst into full bloom,
with the early flowers everywhere in blossom,
or already gone by and with every gracious
influence in Nature calling to renewed life
and activity, the time is surely one when, if
ever, the farmer may 60 to his work with
n cheerful courage. and vigorous determi-
nation to wrest or to coax from the soil its
utmost possibilities 1t is n time. too. when
every owner of n New England farm may
well feel himself led to throw off any penny
wise-and- pound-foo way of cultivation in
to which he may have been led during the
flush times. to discard the pernicious Il
acknowledgements than can rnise-it' policy
and to take hold with genuine earnest
ness to bring out the resources which the soil
undeniably holds. In the marked attention
which has been given of late by leading far
mers, and by agricultural and scientific jour
mails. to demonstration of the fact that the
old-time staples in this region-wheat and In
dian corn, especially the latter,-may still be
raised on our New England farms under i'm
proved methods of cultivation, with ease and
with a certainty of paying results, lies one OF
the most hopeful signs of the times for our
farming community. Every year the idea is
growing and taking practical shape with the
better class of farmers that the corn crop
should rank as one of the first factors in the
products of our New England farms, and that
those farmers who hold that they cannot af-
ford to raise it except i'll small quantities. are
| thereby impoverishing themselves in the pay
ment of profits and railroad freights on the
Western article If there be any who have
not yet given the subject such attention as
has satisfied them of the truth Of these as
sumptions there is yet time for a second so
Der thought which shall profit them in then
this years plan of farm operations And al
most the whole list of staple crops might b,
gone through with and the advantage ant
profit be pointed out of giving to them al
generous and general attention on our New
England farms
1t was the overlooking harvests of last veal
which kept the business of the country from
utter collapse, fed our own people lavishly
and turned the balance of trade in favor o
the United States. If England and Russii
and their allies, comprising, it may prove, al
the great powers of Europe. are about I,
plunge into desperate war, rs now seem
probable the demand upon this countrys az
ricultural productions for the coming yea
will be greater than ever Beforehand in sucl
a case the farmers of New England may real
their full share of the benefit of the extra de
mand, if they are wise in time But whetl
er through great European war, We are call
ed upon to feed the people of Europe, or not
our own people must be fed, and 10y the pro
auctions of the farmer, AS a foundation. GU
home industries must be sustained, More
over, it is the duty Of our New England fal
mers-or, 10 bring the point straight homo
of our WindhIm county farmers-to main
tain themselves, SO far as possible, throug
the means which we have indicated. on an in
dependent basis of their own. And this ca
be done only under broad and generous pc
icy on the part of the farmers toward the
own farms Nor need any one labor or pla
under fear that, through general NOV,
ment toward an increased amount of farl
products they viii be found at harvest tim
with a surplus of crops for which there wi
be no market demand,-for even should thi
be the case every such farmer would at lea
have the satisfaction of giving his own famil
generous support from his own farm T,
sources, and of being able to keep and fee
such an increased amount OF live stock
would enable him, another spring, 10 carr
back TO his lands fertilizing material in :
great abundance as to permanently increa'
their productive and salable value. We
not write under any idea that the coming SCI
son is to be one when the farmers are TO col
dollars in gold or silver Cor greenbacks)
great amount from their acres. for if the
should do so il would be more than any 9TH
ordinary business can expect to debut y
do believe that with every natural infuen,
so favorable as now promises to be the cas-
= the season may be one when, by wise polio
4 the farmers may materially contribute to the
7 own substantial success. as farmers, and tn
70 a foundation may thus be laid for a real al
4 lasting prosperity among all Glasses
ECONOMY THAT DOES NOT ECoNoA1ZE.
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