Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-20
ABANDONED FARMS.
what Occasions This State of A fairs Bar
gains in Vermont Lands

The following is taken from the NC'U
England Farmer, and is evinentiy Yer
mont correspondent, although the resi-
dence is not given. 1t gives a very candid
view oflthe "Vermont problem" which is
ing pretty thoroughly discussed nova
days, and will be of interest to breeders
living in oullState:
We see it stated in our State papers, and
i'll letters to other papers that u large
number of farms in our State are desert
ed, and buildings going to ruin ana the
tillage land growing up to mass OF
Orushwood and briars. In il olated cases
this may be true, but in a majority of i'll
stances where once.a farm has. been re
deemed and put into II high state of cult
walton, 1t is rarely given out to ruin and
loneliness. Indeed | cannot at this time
recall one where the buildings remain
standing that is not cultivated to a great.
er or less extent. Some of them are not
occupied the whole year, but the hay is
cut, and fences Kept in at least passable
repair.
The population has, 1t is true, gathered
more about the large villages from the
hills, but it Is also true that rs much land
was under cultivation in 1850 as there was
in 1870, and much more produced i'll
money value. tThe value of farming prop
erty had also increased together with
the value of all classes Of farm produce.
Looking over the.statesas whole we
see that the increas has been general all
along the line-the improvement of land,
fences, buildings, stock, products, nota-
bly, fruits and vegetables improvements
/ in dairying increased production OF dairy
! produces, and a relative increase in price
for the same. The farmer himself has
also improved, and instead of being a mere
machine he stands to-day rs the peer of
: those in all Other callings.
think the tendency still is to center in
around the villages-a law as irresistible
as the law of gravitaton which compels
men to seek the companonship of their
fellows in cities and villages. AS conse-
| quence a fewer number of acres is made
to produce as much rs larger number did
some years ago, and the hills are used TO
pasturage or the production of timber,
which can be proftably grown all through
our state. From this 1t can be seen how
travellers get their erroneous ideas con
! corning the abandonment of farms.
1t is true, however that Young men
who wish to settle in life can find some
excellent bargains in Vermont lands No
where else in the Union can such bargain:
be found, taking everything into consider
alton. The cause of the decline in values
is beyond my comprehension, though
many lay it to the eXactions of over-freig CHI
rates by the railroads. This point of the
question | viii not discuss. Yet, after all
the tide is turning. Already come inquir
les for farms from people outside The
State. Already prospector5 for the cheaI
land are searching for what suits them
and in some places values are rising
Slowly it is true, but none the less surely
! believe the time is not far distant whel
every farm will be fully cultivated ant
made to produce to its utmost capacity.
a bureau of immigration is talked o
and nothing would benefit the state more
, 1t need not cost much. comparatively
but its influence would be tar reaching
and would do more to arouse the flaggin
interests OF Nermonts population thai
J any thing the legislature could enact thi
fall. Add to this Il law compelling tn
savings banks to invest IS per cent G
their capital inside the State, and repea
our present tax law, which demands a
Q annual turning inside out of all privat
/ affairs, and Vermont is once more starfe
on the road to better prosperity and
firiner foundation for accumulatin
wealth. JANUS.