The Somerset reporter., 1885-06-10
Farm, Gard en-. Hon1e,
STICK to Your State.

The following sensible article from the
usnrhpster Inlon will be read with inter
ct. and the truth of its statements con-
coded. 1t is equally applicable TO Maine rs
to New Hampshire. The mon says
There was time when II was popular 10
decry New Hampshire as place Oh resl,
dence. Its climate was pronounced cold
and induciye to consumption; its htiIsides
rocky and sterile. Deserted farms ano DC
MATED school districts marked Its progress
toward, decay, and there were not wanting
extremists who saw the State IN the nlsh
futule "A barren waste except IN tue N'|ihl-
ty of he few cities and more Important
towns which were kept alive and flourish
inv nv manufacturing. 1t must ne con
f,.ssed that few years ago the condition oil
many country towns and farming cohlihu-
mites was such rs to give rise TO ioiNo'u-
nrs on the part of those disposed 10 iooh
upon the dark side. other Ne" hus'aho
States seemed to possess 50 many greater
attractions In the way OF business open
inps for energetic young men, that they
drew LARGELY from the ranks oi the bone
and sipeW of New Hampshire, ana the Ter
tile prairies of the west lured many more
from the old homesteads to seek th'lr ior-
tunes where nature was more lavish III hel
ha, vests and yielded more oountltui re-
turns to the toler. With the young toiks
far away and the old folks past the age
VIII, d active work was possible, no wopuer
the f.. rms ran to waste, the rural popula-
lions grew smaller, and e current sayin
that New Hampshire was good state To
emigrate from but Il poor one 10 lNc III
gained general acceptance.
But a new generation has come upon the
stage since they days when this was true
and the conditions by which they are sur
rounded are far different. Though the
larger cities of New England hold many
attractions for the country YOUTH they no
! looyer offer the opportunity Tor maxi S
fortunes rapidly that they once dio. AS-
rregated capital has largely snppianteo iu'
| diyidua effort, and 1t Is essehtiai W pos
| sess money in order to make money. ne
erich and boundless west has los1 ihueh
of its glitter by the wear OF active colhpe-
ti,iop, and fortunes are not won without
Toll and sacrifice even there. More than
all else. perhaps, the railroad has steauliy
pushed its wap through the valleys anu
| among the rough hills OF our State, WORK
| inc marvel US changes, and bringing tue
once isolated rural districts III close coui,
munion with the busy centers oil trade ana
manufacture
The residents of country towns, the boys
and Young men upon the farms ieei the
| thrill of active life, the push ana enter
| prise that mark the mttIopolisi t"cJ az
| no longer out in the backwoOds, shut away
| from nil that makes life Pheasant. The
press. too. has done its part III bringing
about this chanse The daily and weekly
| psper finds its way into every nome now
| ever humble, and where once Inc lan'N
Bible and The almanac constituted the sole
fund of reading, books CT various KINDS,
by their very cheapness have torceu thelr
way, improving, reclining ana elevatlns'
| The farmers household of to-day lives IL
very different life than it did fity or even
twenty ivc Yeas ago, and by as mucn as
its comforts and attractions are greater,
the motive and the desire for change grow
less.
Nor is this all. Far. ers have learned,
by slow degrees and through many 1aiiures,
that Intelligent farming Will pay even IN
rock-ribbed New Hampshire. Here Is
where the agricultural societies. the farm-
ers' meetings and the grange nave "ohe a
great and benetcent work. Haphasaro,
slipshot methods have in large measui
given way to scientific cultivation or III c
soil and stock raising. Instead OF starving
upon the proceeds of All hundred acres,
good living and surplus are gained from
iifty or even less. The husbandma has
learned to study his trade, to become ac-
uuainted with the soil aud its capacity, ana
10 concentrate his labor where 1t will bring
him the largest returns, ana ooln ne anu
his boys are beginning to find New lamp
shire farm life not only enduraole but ooth
pleasant and profitable.