The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-05
AGRICULTURAL.
Turning 10 flaming.

The current movements in real estate con-
viz cingly show that people are beginning to
realize the overcrowded condition OF trade and
the mechanical callings, and are turning back
to the country and the forms from which
they came. The reports of the sales of farms
in different parts of New England are salts
factory proof OF the change which is taking
place. In the city and its neighborhood, it
is pretty well ascertaned that the bottom has
been reached, and that the next movement
must be an upwald one. But if the prospect
CRY property has not yet frightened up very
much, the facts respecting farm property both
near by and in remoter quarters are encour-
aging in striking degree. The statement
has been made that the actual sales of farm
property in this market during the past six
months have been more than double what
they were tor the CORES pondiDg six months
OF last year.
Most of this form of property which has
changed hands lies within thirty miles of the
city, although portions of it are very much
more remote. These farms have generally
been bought for investment merely. They
are to be improved by their owners, and
averaged in price from eight and nine hun
dred dollars up to five thousand. The larger
number OF the purchasers were residents of
Boston, either business men or mechanics,
'but few of whom have been reported as
sfailed'. 1t is evident that there is nothing
so sure and enduring as farm, aud they
have proceeded to prove their faith by their
works. Besides the sales above spoken of,
there have been large sales of what are known
as ''aboRdoned FARMS" in New Hampshire,
which have been readily taken up by laborers
and foreigners who have had enough of the
"hard times" in the city.
The men who bought these abandoned
farms hove worked hard when work was to
be had, and laid by money for the future;
but having seen the slow wasting of their
savings in consequence OF an enforced idleness
concluded to stop it where it is and provide
with what is left permanent home and an
opportunity to produce and save again. That
is genuine thrift, and it is based on the right
principles. Then, again, numbers of people
have come back from the West, where they
have been looking around, and they find that
naturally good soil is not all there is to be
considered. They have discovered that good
crops do not necessarily bring all the comforts
with them. There are compensations for a
more sterile soil hele in New England which
may be looked for in vain in the West. Mar
kets are remote out there. Villages do not
nestle under every hill as they do here. Civ
ilization, say what they will, is not, SO far
advanced there as here; and neighborhood
is an entirely different thing.
An immense crop of corn is not worth
raising to burn for fuel. Those who have
been to the West, many OF them, see just as
it is, aud come back to New England glad to
purchase home, however small and settle
down in peace and security among their ma
tive hills. They realize that happiness con-
sists in something besides a prairie patch and
lot of wheat and corn tor others to make
the profits on. In reference to a large pro-
portion of the farms recently sold it is to
be said that no more is paid than was asked
five years ago; so that if man who now
moves out upon a farm, after having been
squeezed and rubbed through the hard times
bad bought his farm five years ago, he would
have had so much the start and got rid of an
experience that has worn and torn him so
sorely. Farms everywhere are temptingly
low at the present time, and it is this that
induces so many people to turn their faces
toward the country.-Mass Ploughman.