Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-08-29
THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER.

In contrast with the gloomy reports
and predictions in which free trade papers
are in the habit of lndulging with refer
ence to the condition and prospects of
farmers in New England are some heal
thy and sensible suggestions contributed
to the New England Farmer, in reply to
a letter of inquiry sent out by that Jour-
nal. The purpose of the paper was to
ascertain, by direct inquiry of farmers
or those who have large dealings with
farmers, what is the prosperity of the
farming interests as compared with other
employments. Some of the replies were
particularly interesting. For example,
Mr.. L. T. Hazen, a New Hampshire dairy
man, says:
Don't let US go back to the old style of
living, but work out the old theory that
supply and demand govern values, by
continuing to produce and doing all in
our power to stimulate a demand by en-
couraging such manufacturing interests
as to make demands for our products.
-. We can 90 back to the old style
of our fathers, burn our pianos and top
buggies; lay away our good clothes
have for our living salt pork, corned beef,
potatoes and corn bread work from to
s; in that way we can accumulate rs did
our fathers and die rich at good old
age, but if we live to be ninety we shan't
enjoy as much life as we do now up to
twenty-five.
Mr.. George L. Clemence of the State
board of agriculture makes reply as fol
lows:
Agriculture here in Massachusetts has
changed as much in the past 30 years as
the methods in manufacturing, and OF
two young men of the same ability and
the same capital | think the one that
chooses the farm (if lie understands the
improved methods of farming and adaptS
himself to some speciality adapted to his
farm and his local market, at the end OF
% years will be the best off financially,
and enjoy life better than the one in 9TH
er business.
4 young farmer of North Andover.
Mr., George \. Rogers, puts the case
thus
Agriculture, properly carried on, is
sure to pay, and to those who engage in
it there comes a happiness, a peace of
mind and heart, unknown to those who
spend their energy and time fol- the solo
purpose of securing that article OF least
value to their mental and moral nature
money.
Breck Il Sons, dealers in agricultural
implements, seeds, etc, contribute this
bit of practical wisdom to the sympos-
ium:
If the same amount of energy and abtl-
ity were put into agriculture in its var
ious branches as is REQUIRED 10 make an
ordinary mercantile business a success,
it is to our opinion that such phrases as
the depressed condition of agriculture
the terrible distress of farmers, ETC.,
would not be certainly would
not rebound much to the credit of those
making them. If Il man daWdles
around and expects the earth or bust
ness to produce her or its fruits without
intelligent or persistent effort on his part
he will make failure either as farmer
or mercantile man.
The replies are, in fact, all of one
tenor, and they go to show the hollow
ness and insincerty of the current talk
about the decline of New England farm
ing aud the distress of New England
farmers. The fact is that farmers who
cling to WORKOUT soil or to WORKOUT
methods, in New England or elsewhere,
are sure to be left behind by those who
are most progressive. Most of the
grumblng is done by farmers of that
type, but the wide-awake men, who keep
up with the times and adapt their meth
DDS and their crops to new conditions OF
supply and demand, are doing well. and,
as one of these writers suggests, live in IA
style of comfort which would amaze
their fathers Boston Journal.