Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-18


Of . fev years. Consequestiy, unless shia
eontinSeney b provided for By proper man
ures and feftili1ers. there cannot be any val-
liable successive cfops either for family ~
or the markets And seglecsed farms thus
become Improbable, the haildinss and barns
become dilapidated and the fences are laid
low. Such 10 the history Of many Of the
abandoned farms in Maine. There has been
belief among - enquifing people. that
4 vs coald introduce the frugalify. the con-
slant labor, the temperate and industrious
habits Of the Svedes and Norvegians Of
northern Europe, that these lands, nov cheap
and almost worthless. might again be re-
stored to their original capacity for giving
their tillefs . livelihood. Sometimes The
introduction Of 9 new and hardy race Of nen
endowed With the equipments Of courage and
confidence will make . wonderful change in
the face Of country. Besides the compar-
asively few deserted and neglected farms,
there are Thousands Of acres of the best
forest lands in the world in the good old
State Of Maize waiting for the woodman's
axe. l have confidence in the latent and
hereditary chars cterissics Of New England
pluck to fiji the bill. and make New England
farms and homes the best in the civilized
world. But the gates are sjaf for the honest
husbandman beyond the ocean.
CulsavsteA Farns.
We turn from the abandoned fafms in
Maine with delight 70 the "a 900 farms
owned and cultivated by our own people.
many Of them representing agriculture con-
Quoted according to intelligent and enlighs.
ened methods. They exist everywhere on
our hillsides, in the valleys Of our rivess
and on the shores Of our lakes. We find
there the homes of industry, contentment
and independence. There is no danger of
farming becoming lost art in Maine. Our
annual agricultural fairs and exhibitions
show q wonderful improvement and an in
cfeasiug interest in farm life 1t 10 the care
full and judicious management Of intelligent
farmers that has kept up the producing
power Of the ancestral acres; and thus the
history Of abandoned farms has never been
written where intelligence, self reliance and
frugality have asserted their authority. A
few years ago, Matthew Arnold. the distin-
guished English critic, made tour with our
honored American poet, John G. Whittier.
through the agricultural sections of New
England. Among its rocky hills, he noticed
homes and sometimes elegant
residences. He naturally inquired where
do your tenants and workmen liveY When
told that the tenants and working people
were the owners of these farms he was
greatly surprised.
Alien Lani10rds.
Land holding 10 the strongest element Of
national prosperity and c0ntentment. The
Grange looks with great distrust upon the
inroads that have been made of late by alien
landlords upon our public domain. It is
said that 22 900 900 acres Of western land are
owned by foreign sy indicates, an acreage larg-
er than the territory of all the New Englaud
States. The action Of the grange should be
decisively against this kind Of occupancy Of
American soil, and the legislation Of the ma
ton should be invoked against this danger
Gus policy. which has brought so much mis-
cry, discomfort and oppression upon the Irish
people. Edmund Burke the Eaglish states
man and scholar Of over . century ago said,
THAT it takes ten times the energy, skill and
foresigh, to succeed in farming that 10 need
ed in any other business" If this was
true 100 years age, what must be The neces-
sary qualification for the husbandman Of the
nineteenth century surrounded by the com
plex interests and disturbing elements Of the
present period. The farmers should be ed
ucated, for .'knowl ledge is power" to this end.
i
10 ito advance tue cause of education among
the brotherhood aad their children. by all
mesns in its power"
ProAts ofthe Farm.
The farmer hardly ever fails in his legiti-
mate business, notwithstanding adverse in
fiuences may beset him. Ninety per centum
Of our farmers are financially successful.
This presents most cheerful and satisfac
tory statement in comparison with the actual
Of failures in mercantile and
other business pursuits. Mercantile agencies
show that only 10 per centum Of the whole
thus engaged escape financial embarrass-
ments. But farming as we'll ~ any other
business when neglected, is recorded fail
ure. We complain that the profits Of the
farm are too small. Sometimes it 10 our own
fault, and when that 10 so the remedy 10
found in changing the conditions and circum-
stances which invited our past failure. Il
have frequently heard it said in answer to the
words of complaining farmers, that 'if farm
ers worked each day as many hours as mer
chants and mechanics they could double their
profits, and their complaints thereby would be
croundlees." do not take any stock in its
general application, for no class of men
work harder or more hours than the intelli-
geut New England farmer. 1t is not 10. but
oftentimes l5 hours per day. Still have
noticed that farmers sometimes neglect their
farms for other ventures. The excitement
of party politics, the Improbable gossip and
of the country store sometimes
absorb too much Of their attention. This 10
lost time. The nearer the farmers Of Maine
become associated with and follow the quali-
fcations and examples Of our early ances-
Al ~ ~ 80
farm life The same frugality, energy. self
reliance, independence, foresight and labor,
supplemented by the possession and assist
ance of the marvellous inventions of farm
imple ments. and the tested results Of expert
mental and scientific agriculture. give the
farmer Of this period advantages which the
earlier husbandmAn never dreamed of, and
cannot fail to secure for him generous and
honorable livelihood, in that vocation which
alone clothes and feeds mankind.
What has the Grange Dones
The grange has gone on record as one OF
the most powerful aud successful agencies
in securing for the American farmer many
of the public laws which have recently
passed our national Congress and our State
legislatures. The interstate commerce Law,
which brings the great railroad transporta-
ton interests of the country under the regu-
lstion and restraints Of national law in the
interests of just and equal rates Of fare and
transportation, never would have been enact
ed but for the continual demand, influence
and efforts of the Patrons of Husbandry.
The oleomargarine law, so-called, and other
public laws in favor of pure and un-
adulterated food are part of the triunphs
of Grange principles. The national appro-
pristions for agricultural experimental sta
lions, BY which each State in this Union re-
ceives its equitable share. have contributed
much in furnishing desirable information
and scientific knowledge in every depart
ment of farm work. The experimental sta
ton is a public necessity for scientific agri-
culture. which increases and enlarges the
dignity Of the pursuit and adds much to the
profit Of the farm. The Agricultural Col
lege is a national and State institution, and
its proper ends are accomplished when agri-
culture and its methods are taught. The re-
cent recognition Of the high and important
mission of progressive agriculture, BY plac-
ing its interests in the hands Of . separate
and distinct national bureau, and making its
head q member Of the Cabinet Of the Presi-
dent Of the United States, n the result Of
the persevering efforts and effective work Of
our organization.
what IL te be Dsns.
But We have only made commencement.
New public questions are continually being
thrust upon n which require delibefat3ou
and discussion. Idleness and indiAefencs
=. 800. 60 rlunus ua into t3anser and the