The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-12-19
The Decsdencs 81 rarming
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There IL very absnrri arti,le IN the
Popular Science Monthly for November
sih the above title. Our tners raise
more than We consume aud We Aaye enough
to supply the wants Of free de England
where farming is 10 a state Of collapse
Oar agricultural products are increasing
At snch a rate that few more years OF
such decay aud our gransries will all be
running over and yet farming is decay.
ingl
The article opens with statement
most Aagitionsly false. II represents good
farms in large numbers, in the midst OF
beauty aud culture. 10 the ncighborhood
OF factories and populous towns, in the
midst Of railroads ard schools snd
churches and most Intelligent popula-
tion, tsll unconscious that be is describing
a state Of things under proteciion), but
farming. farming alone is in terrible de-
cay The writer in bis zeal against the
protective tariff was innocently unaware
that be was refuting himself. Blessed is
such a community whether IT has farming
or not But in the midst Of all this
glorious prosperity good farms are worth
less Now this is most abominable lie
II he had said poor farms are worthless
by the side OF good farms he would have
come near the truth. No intelligent farm
or will cultivate poor farm when he can
get good one. have examined thirteen
OF these abandoned farms Not one OF them
was fit to be farm for an intelligent man.
Two Of them with comfortable buildings
Tor emigraDts from an island blessed
with free trade we're bought by 1rishmen,
who were getting what to them was
comfortable living They had not yet ad.
vanced far enough in the prosperous ways
OF our country so but that they were sat
isned with what few years later will
hardly content even them. Three OF these
farms, upon which the occupants had
toied in poverty, were bought up by an
intelligent farmer and the best part cult
waited for grass. They had literally 'gone
to grass, but not fgurstiyely, The 9th
or parts were growing up into woodland :
The farmer ipeDt largely for manures to
keep the land in heart, and he declared
that five dollars worth Of manure produc.
ed ten dollars worth OF hay. The wood
land needed but little trimming out, and
already the wood on an acre is worth all
be paid for the acre. There is no deoa-
deace OF farming there. although four
farms are now one
II goes without saying that farms are
bought and sold. so are houses, horses
and sheep, Lists OF farms offer for sale in
New England prove the intelligence Of the
farmer in seeking richer soil. Only a very
small part Of New England is al for gen.
eral farming and that poor coil are aban-
doned for rich and fertile soils proves the
reverse OF the writer's reasoning Ii proves
the progress Of agriculture ia the country
at large.
The writer's remedy for bis imaginary
evils Is very SILLY but very amusing. He
would have free trade speed It's blessings
over this community OF which the wealth
culture aud beauty OF scenery so charm
him. Large factories, popnlous cities and
towns cover IT, How can free trade ben
eft the fsrmer9 1t will shut up the fac
tories or reduce wages to starvation point
II will at once diminish the demand for
the products Of the farm esd fena thou.
sands and tens af Thousands TO agriculture
What will be the effect upon prices when
the supply Of agricultural products 10
creases aud the demand diminishes' An
other evil will follow Jnat so soon as
Eogland gets possession of al Industry 10
a foreign land and has Killed il by under.
selling. she raises the prices TO tnit her
herself. 10 this wAy size has killed the
Industries Of Turkey. Egypt and other
subject lands aud reduced them TO object
poverty aud nov she must seek other
lands TO conquer The evident disgrace
Of free trade is ihis, that no free couniry
10 Europe Or America has adopted IL On.
y one OF the thirteen large English colo
Gies has followed the mother country
twelve have adopted the Americsn policy
aud the solitary exception is so nearly
balanced that probably protective policy
will be adopted 10 1890. Then there will
not be a solitary Euelish speaking state
that does not r.lec, this blatant Lnglish
theory Of Tree trade.
Bot what is TO become OF these poor
farmsf The example Of the farmer Who
has tnrued three 81 them into grass and
woodlands ~iil dispose Of some Of them
Savage naiufe ~ili take care Of some
they belong 10 her and berer should bsse
tesn sres,sd from her domsia. And sone.
like ali other articles Of merchandise, will
be bousb, and soli AID cultivated by the
poor.
Another rnisspplicaiion 81 tie facts.
equally foolish aud seli-siuliiiyisg, relates
10 farm Mortgages, The writer srpsren,.
y knows uo.hisg q the real use Of mort
cages May bnsiaess men ia Boston
a a