Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-10-21
One Summer i'm the west.

Statistics derived from the census reports
and from assessed values for purposes of tax
alton, show that the average wealth of farm
ers in the western states is not as great as the
wealth of the same class in the eastern states.
Thousands that have emigrated from New
England to the West are less comfortably cir
cumstanced than they would have been in
their native states. Not few return, and
more would do so if not deferred by the want
of means or a kind of pride making them re-
luctant to confess their mistake. The expe-
rience of New Highlander who, after trying
farming in Minnesota for single season,
fortunately had the means to return, is given
below. 1t is perhaps more truthful picture
of actual results, than we get in the glowing
accounts of success that we oftener read:
Like many New England boys, grew up
with longing desire to go west. Circum-
stances did not favor the qualification till the
spring of 1874, when thought the time ia
vored my adoption of q western home. AL
though branches from the family tree had
their residence in nearly every state from
New England to the territories, a spot seemed
waiting for me about 40 miles west of the
Mississippi river in the southern tier of coun-
tiOo VI 4hihhOoOAuY Oh al hOOue
two miles from a railroad town and within
six miles of the then termination of the
Southern Minnesota road. So many families
from Connecticut had made their homes in
that locality that the idea of living among
strangers never intruded in the household,
and the 20 years which had elapsed since the
first settlements had made many removes
from frontier life, and the fertility of soil
and fine undulating prairies had given the
section the appellation Of the garden of the
state.
Very early in April, when the burrows
plowed the previous autumn crumpled from
the frost to the depth of two inches, the
seeder whether by hand or machine, started
at sunrise, followed by team with harrow,
and continued till the sun sank below the
western horizon, with a renewal day after
day, till the fields for wheat and oats were
finished. Here in New England we must
wait for the frost to leave the soil, but nc
waiting there, and while the frost is many
feet in depth the seeding goes on in sol
fine and dry as the best required for the mos
tender garden plant. Flocks of wild geese
hover over the fields and seek the opening
water courses. Numberless ducks fill the
last years stubble field, and an occasiona
flock of sand hill cranes forage in a corr
field, and look like a herd of yearlings OF
sheep, when seen at the distance of half {
mile, but possess wholesome fear of a gun
which preserves them from often becoming
the repasts served on the farmers table.
have never beheld finer sight than a fiocl
of these majestic birds with spread of six Il
seven feet of wing, curling upward and utter
ing shrill whistle, which, not sounding LOUD
when near, could be distinctly heard wheI
their upward flight had lost them to the eye
1t seems incredible, but have often seen
speck, as they described a circle, and theI
lost to the strongest eye, while still the cry
came too distinct TO believe the distance
Never in New England shines so clear SUI
in so blue an atmosphere never here do tn,
stars look so near and inviting as they ap
peared on those beautiful prairies, 1000 fee
above the tide water in the gulf, more thar
2000 miles away, where all the water in tn
creeks and streams were hurrYing fast as tn
land would allow.
Beginning about the 9TH of April, befor
the 10th of May, my brother and myself hat
sowed 40 acres with 800 bushels of seed
Then followed 80 acres with corn, and seed
ing was done. season of comparative res
followed. The corn fields needed more cul
tivating than they got. Nobody thought o
hoeing, and in many fields the grass was tn
best crop. The farmers were mostly seen il
the towns, looking at the new harvesting ma
chimes, talking about the yield of wheat o
the prospective crop, and perhaps obtainin
groceries on credit, with the crop already IN
der mortgage. then and there learned m
first lesson TO use a harrow on my GROWN
corn. The grass and weeds were GOVERN
the ground before the corn, and knowing
never could conquer unless in advance,