The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-10
TO REVIVE VERMONT AGRIOUL-
TUREL


A few of the state newspapers, among
them the Middlebury Register and the
Burlington Clipper, oppose the plan Of
bringing over colonies of Swedee, on the
ground that it would subject our farm
ers to 'still greater competition" in selling
their produce (which they certainly
cannot stand" These papers argue that
the great need of the state is a large
home market more manufactures and
mining industries to consume the pro-
ducts of the farms, and that the lack of
these IL what ails our agricultural now,
While we want the factories and mines,
and while there is no good reason why
we shouldn't have them with our great
resources and our splendid water pow
ers on our mountain sides, it is the most
arrant nonsene to talk that we must
wait for them before attempting to do
anything with the farms. If the argu-
ment Of the Register and Clipper is
good, it would be benefit to the farm
ers that remained, to let half of the pres.
emit farms 20 back to forest or desert.
Do they believe that 2 ...s
There is no lack of market for dis
tinctively Vermont produce. The lack
10 OF proper facilities, of intelligence and
organized direction in reading the mar
kets. And there would be the same
lack, even worse, il the farmers were
cut down by nine-tenths. The Califor-
mia fruit growers have been through the
same experience. They used to dump
their fruit upon the market just when
and where it happened. The result was
waste, irregularity, ruinous gluts at
some centres, when there was no fruit
at all others, and dealers everywhere
taking advantage, 1t was only rarely,
by unusually good luck, that the grower
was able to make a dollar. The Califor-
mia farmers finally learned the lesson,
formed an organization to look after the
market, see that the different centers
were supplied with proper quantities at
proper intervals, and that reasonable
and regular prices were realized. The
result has been a great prosperity for the
whole fruit growing section,
This is what Delaware and New Jer-
sey farmers had to do. 1t is what is be.
ing attempted with the most important
Of all Vermont products, maple sugar,
what large part of the farmers them
selves are doing their best to spoil, by
insisting on selling to travelling specula-
tors, with the certainty that it will aid
so much to spoil the market by crowd
ing it with adulteTated substitutes for
the incompatible Vermont maple. 1t is
what ought to be done with butter and
vegetables, and must be before the farm
or can get such returns as he ought.
The discrimination of railroads and
the old vicious system of taxation have
had good deal to do with keeping down
productive energies, and bringing on an
era of shiftlessness that is terribly slow
in taking advantage of improved coudi-
tions. But a different era is surely APP
preaching Vermont. Farmers are learn
ing the uselessness of trying to compete
with the west in things where the west
has every advantage. Instead of trying
to raise beef at the price it can be raised
on vast stretches of land that cost moth
ing, they are goiug to turn their atten-
ton to dairying, and with creameries 10
save waste and duplication of labor.
Vermont butter is going to take the first
place in the market. The same is true
In a more limited degree of cheese. In
stead of wheat and corn almost exclu
sively, Vermont farms are going to be de,
voted more and more to garden sass
and the vegetables and small fruits,
which are always regarded as luxuries
when they come from Vermont. There
is always a great market for these things
in their season, and with few canning
establishments well located, there would
be no difficulty in always disposing OF
all that could be produced for world
wide trade. In the one matter OF vine
gar, which can be better made from the
cider from our scrub apples than from
anything else in the world, there is al
most limitless demand. So with cider
jelly that is nice. So with tomatoes, on
ions, cabbage, beets, squashes, and in,
Vulnerable other things which, instead
of our producing an over surplus, are
actually being imported into the state.
Supplement all this with the raising OF
horses, instead of buying outside, as we
do by the thousands every year, with
high breeding of cattle and sheep, for
which experience has amply demon.
strated our superiority, and there will
be no trouble but what there will be a
plenty of room for all the farmers that
we can get. .-
One of the advantages of the colonies
of Swedes will be to show our discour.
aged agriculturists what can be done.
They are hardy, thrifty, industrious
and frugal people shrewd in seeing and
improving opportunities, and they will
take the lead in many of the new meth
DDS that must be adopted.-Brdttlebor0
Reforner.