Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-08
Ths Revival Of Ola WAYS


Few problems have been of greater inter-
est to all who have studied the relations and
conditions of the different classes of our
population-ve speak nov In reference 70
Maine ard the New England States in gen.
erai-than the changes which have come
across agriculture in this section of the eoun-
try a. result Of the westward expansion Of
our population. and the competition Of west
ern farmers and methods with our own.
These changes have been called by
some Journalist q decline" Of our ag-
riculture and they picture the above aban-
doned farms, deserted farmhouses and bush
grown fields in evidence Of the low condition
Of farming in New England. In many par
ticulars the picture is true, and no class feels
il more than those farmers who are still try
ing TO carry on their own farms at the East
in accordance with former methods and
plans. IL il also true that western eompeti-
ton has for many years been pressing east
ern farmers into very close quarters. Our
-four, corn, shorts. pork, lard, beef and dairy
products now come largely from the West;
and the eastern farmer who tries to grow
these products is surely finding the odds
against him. The cheap lands. machine Gull
tivation, large crops and low transportation
of the West, are all against the New Eng
land farmer.
Notwithstanding these opposing fac
n.tr
ern farmers not going to give
up their farms or their business. But
they mus. change their methods with the
changed conditions into which they are
brought in contact. 1t will not do to work
large farms at the East on the same old lines,
in the face Of accumulating western COM
petition. Il is folly for the eastern farmer
TO attempt to do what the western farmer is
doing he must do something with his farm,
stock and crops which his western neighbor
cannot DO Capital and labor must be con-
hned upon a less area. The size of farms
must be decreased, even if that part least
adopted for tillage is left to be re-forested-
this would be better than to half fertilze
and half till large farm simply because i.
always had been done in the past. In gen
eral it is the small farms at the East that sell
more readily and for a higher price than
large ones Large farms sell Tor half their
value small ones for a sum nearer their
former value before the days of extreme
western competition had taken place. The
A.
logic OF these facts cannot be misunderstood.
VIII relief for western agricultural
competition ever be sought IN the old styled,
Independent, mixed husbandry system OF
Maine farming of nifty years agof We con-
fess to some faith IN such scheme 1t
was good Tor It's DAY ana the conhiuons' may
II not be sound ana safe ana Satisfactory Tor
the day that is coming' Large cities and
towns and manufacturing places call Tor
large quantity of perishaole farm and gar
den produce "hich can oe grown AZ iaif
proht; the growing summer resorh call Tor
a favorable OUTLOOK out oeyoho all these
there are masses OF FARMERS nov situateu 10
the above markets. or TO orahch
out much beyond their own wants. why
not the independent mixed system Oh agri-
culture and stock growing Tor suchf
An article IN the century Magazine tor
February described the revival OF hahd SPIN
ming and weaving IN the country OF west
England The writer tells OF the
long time decline and depression among
the common people IN consequence OF the
abandonment of the above named occupa-
tons, relative upon machine work; and the
icy, comfort and independence which mas
resulted from the revival of hand spinning