Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-03-12
Agricultural.
The Proportion Of Farmers 60 the En-
tire Population.

The Proportion Of Farmers 60 the En-.
tire Population.
We have tried bard to correct the error so
frequently made by writer's aud public speak
ers in stating that the number Of persons en-.
gaged in agriculture exceeds that in all other
occupations yet this mistake is still made,
even by some Of those who are privileged to
read The Pt@niH, An exchange that is re-
puted to have a circulation Of 80, 600 recently
gave the number Of agrcultursts at 81 per
cent Of the whole population.
The census Of 1880 reports the number Of
persons in all occupations, 1882 O99
Farmers 4,225,945
Ael laborers, 3,323,S7G
Total in agricultural occupations, 1870 l93
This is but a. per cent of the whole, leav-
ing SO per cent engaged in other occupations.
OF the number engaged in agriculture, a frao-
ton over 10 per cent are farm lsborers or hir-
ed help, many of whom are only temporarily
at work on farm deducting these there
remains between "a and 20 per cent of farm.
ers, exclusive of hired hands. And not every
one that is enumerated as a farmer has his
chief interest in farming. The Hon. j. S.
] hOIIlll uuNu " kiNo hlb bNbuihtlOh 10
farmer, and many others not practioallyen
gagged in farming except as a recreation call
themselves farmers.
Mr.. ]. r. Dodge, the statisticsn of the de-
partment of agriculture, says there has been
decrease in the proportion of the outivators
of the soil, and an increase in the manufac-
turing and mechanical class, a small increase
in that OF trade and transportation and in that
of personal service. This is an indication of
progress and prosperity. In earlier times the
agricultural class has been greatly in excess
and other industries undeveloped. 1t is found
that the best cultivation, the largest yields and
the best net results are not in districts exclu-
sively agricultural. This decrease in the pro-
portion in agriculture, during ten years, from
A. 80 to A. per cent of all workers has not
been attended with loss of farm area or farm
production. On the contrary, there has been
large increase in the number of farms, in
the area in cultivation, and also in production
and expectation. Farm implements and ma
chimes have facilitated labor and enlarged its
results. The Eastern and Middle states have
considerably reduced proportions of the agri
cultural class. The southern Atlantic states
show a smaller reduction, and the Gulf statet
very little. The corn and wheat growing re-
gions of the west are now less exclusively az.
rcultursl The relative proportion of farm
laborers has diminished, while the proportion
of proprietors has increased. 1t is crafty
ing and promising fact that the relative mum
Der of farm aborers is decreasing. Land
are yet abundant and farms will increase b!
subdivision, and it is for the highest good o
the country that owners and tenant occupier
should outnumber laborers.
Among those classed in the census report
as farm laborers the colored people of tn
South constitute large proportion-a fac
which should be taken into account in est
mating the political influence of the body O
agriculturists in case they should act in cor
cert-which is hardly possble-on any quet
ton affecting their interIs 1t is not true
as so often asserted by persons who do nc
read The Pl Hni1 nor examine the figures c
the last census, that farmers are majority
and for that reason can have anything in Mt
tional legislation that they unitedly work for
but they should have abundant recognitio
from the government for better reason, viz
Whatever tends TO advance agriculture is
benefit not only to the farmer himself, bu
directly or indirectly, TO every individual
other occupations.