The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-06-30
Small Farms as a Conservative Power.

The policy of New England from the
start has been in favor of small farms.
Some other States tolerated baronial
grants, which allowed the land to be
absorbed by great proprietors, but the
result was disastrous. Our older read
ers recollect the fierce contests between
the Anti-Renters of New York and
the PATRON. An amendment of the
State Constitution mad to be made
SO as to necessitate the division
of overgrown estates before a dead
ly feud, which menaced the peace
of the State, could be healed. Well did
Wendell Phillips say: .'Capital shrieked
'Pillage and agrarianism, but none the
less did the Empire State accept a
a Barn-burner Constitution. And
our National Legislature, by home
stead laws, has sought to multiply the
class Of landholders. 1t has been felt
that the more there are who have a di-
rect interest in the tilling of the soil, the
larger the class ofthose who give host
age to order.
At times we have felt fear of the
mischieyous results of the purchase of
large sections of land by capitalists for
wheat raising. A class of bonanza
farmers are seeking large returns from
the virgin soil of our younger States and
Territories. They are unanxious about
gathering a class of actual settlers on
their broad acres, but desire only labor
ers. Sowing and reaping require but
few weeks of actual labor, and if they
can secure work enough to manage their
plows, harrows, reapers and binders, it is
enough. To provide families with
homes is no part of their policy. They
can be barons, their laborers serfs or
Ishmaelites This course may purchase
large profits to the landholder, how
ever, but it fails to supply intelligent
citizens for the State. Happily it can
not be permanent system. Even if
occasional droughts or other drawbacks
endangered not the profits, the soil
would soon become exhausted. 1t de-
mands diversified agriculture, rota-
ton and variety of crops, to exempt
land from ultimate sterility. To man
age successfully, smaller quantities of
land must be held by individuals, and
wisely titled.
And this brings us to point of local
Importance. Complaint has been made
that farming towns of New England
are fast becoming depopulated. Home
steads that were once occupied by Wig
orous families are almost forsaken.
Houses are tumbling down; gardens
are overgrown with weeds; fields are
growing up to forests, and everything
betokens neglect Now there are farm
ers who protest against this policy as
suicidal. Not long ago we were talk
ing with sagacious yeoman. He rid
iculed the notion that Rhode Island
need depend for its food on distant re-
gions. Our own soil, rightly TILED, can
largely feed its people. He shows his
faith by his works. He has brought a
few acres into rich garden, whence
he draws revenue of hundreds of dol
lars. He uses manure without stint,
obtains the choicest seed, works dill
gently and skillfully, and supplies an
entire village with peas, beets, lettuce,
and cabbages. And not content with
this, he makes his moving fields groan
under the burden of grass. And what
he is doing hundreds of others can do
if our sturdy farmers will cling to their
patrimonial acres. Let the restless and
the immigrant seek the West, but the
vigorous son Of New England can prof.
itably stick to the home of his fathers.
-PrOvidesce (R. H. Press.