Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-03-28
NO.26--SO5.

into trades, or become traders or seek
an education. Some are successful and
some fiat failure. In either case they
do not help at home. They are bill
Of expense from the start, and this is a
chief reason why so few are started,
and in the case of some the burden is
not lightened until it is thrown off upon
society at large. When from three to
six boys stayed at home until twenty
one years of age some work could be
accomplished. If as many boys could
be trained TO farm work now as former
ly with all modern farming facilities,
the resources Of farm could be made
simply immense. We are not discuss
ing what is best for boys to do, or how
children should be trained or in what
directions educated. We simply wish
to remark as to how the changed way
of regulating domestic matters affects
farming. 1t certainly comes in the way
of its highest success. In the third
place the standard of living has chang
ed. The influences of town life have
spread out over all the rural districts.
People with small incomes think they
must maintain the style of those who
have large incomes. Farmers have
better houses, better carriages, better
furniture, etc, than formerly, and the
cost OF keeping up these things takes
away from the profit of farming when
accounts are balanced at the end of the
year. The claims of society become
greater as the years pass. More time
and more money are taken out of the
incomes Of the farmers. If farmers
were willing to 90 back to the simpler
styles OF earlier days, live as their faith
ers lived, keep at home and attend
closely to work they might find more
money in farming. If they were will
ing to endure The same diseomforts as
those who make new homes in the west
they would find themselves in posses
sion of more money at the end of the
year. II might not be wise TO do this
1t certainly would not if one could do
different and at the same time deal hon
estly with his fellows. 1t is not neces-
sary that man should grow rich farm
inc, but it is important that he should
win his support from the soil he tills,
and pay the dues that he owes to osocie-
ty. The majority of men do no better
than this in other callings in life. In the
fourth place our farming here comes in
competition with western farming. The
business there is carried on in such
manner as to cheapen our products
Farms of thousands of acres in virgin
soil, stocked with the most improved
machinery, can produce wheat and corn
at such cheap rates as to defy competi
ton and more than balance any advan-
tages that we may possess. Our farm
ing is a struggle against the resources
of the newer portions of the country
We are inclined TO think that another
reason why farming does not pay bet
ter in Vermont is, that good many
farmers work their farms on the streets
of the villages, around the groceries or
anywhere but at home. Things are
not taken care of, losses in stock and
tools are heavy, and the simple failure
to buckle down TO hard work leaves
man short when he balances his ac-
counts. Too many have an idea that
farms can run themselves, and it is not
pleasant to strip to business, and hence
just as little is done as possible. When
our farmers can demonstrate that they
are chock full of days works farming
will pay better :han it does now. And