Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-03-07
"S4e West, Yeung Mas" and "WhHi .
Knom AbanI Enrm,inR.u


Those words we're uttered hundreds Of
times by one who was considered, in his
day. the greatest journalist Of the country.
, The latter might he true. but " hat he knew
about farming was Of very little conse
quence This be- proved h demonstrs
ton Therefore failing in this point, Why
should the young man 20 West on the
strength Of his advice Since coming East
/ ! have received numerous inquiries with
regard t. the climate and soil Of the great
West So numerous have they become that
! am not able 20 answer them in detail
/ Therefore. Mr. Editor YOU will confer a
| favor on me by allowing few lines to be
inserted through the columns Of your pa
per.
To give brief experience Of my life in
the West also the southern states will say
The instinct Of even the birds and the wild
fowls teaches them better than to make
any permanent home in the South All in
telligeut people know that hot climate is
very injurious 10 those born and brought
Up IN a New England latitude The ma
tives and colored people can better stand
the scorching rays Of a southern sun. l
have lived in the West for Is years For
the last r. year. Sioux Falls, Oak. has
teen my home In that section the climate
3, generally mild and pleasant The soil is
u dark. rich loan composed Of a vegeta
bir matter It, depth will average from
three 70 FIVE feet. Our corn crop will av-
sraEe from 40 tn 90 bushels per acre oats
from 80 10 - barley. wheat and fax in
proportion have known 700 bushels Of
potatoes to be- raised one single acre with
out any dressing But enough Of this
You ask me if advise you o. 90 West
Ny answer it, No. You may not be any
more adapted for farming than Horace
Greeley was But il YOU are, stay at home
and carry on the old farm. At present
find there are hundreds Of farms through
out New England that are going to waste
through the negligence Of young men who
think they are adapted for some other en-
terprise This is why some Of you make
such sad mistakes II You can make money
anywhere you can make it in New England
Therefore, unless you have good atpock
ct book, stocks and bonds. you would make
no more money in the West than in the
East Therefore don't he blinded any long
er with regard 10 farming Its the great
underlying principle Of all other enterprises
on the earth therefore. fix up those dilapi-
dated fences. plough and cultivate more
land thus, instead of depending ON the
West for Your corn and potatoes. you will
have not only enough for Your own con
sumption, but some To sell your neighbor
whose son has gone West
DO not mistake my meaning. neither
think / wish to convey the idea that all the
boys should become farmers But try 10
lind out What is YOUR calling The old
record SAYS, study TO know myself " and
should your taste run % cultivatiug the
soil to raising fine stock AMI high steppers,
driving out and looking after Your large
flock OF SouthdoWus aud Cotswolds. Of sit
ting under your veranda shaded 10y vines
luhaling the pure mountain air scented by
the balm of n thousand flowers, taking "a
view over your broad acres, listening to the
songs Of birds aud the humming of bees.
comparing your situation with the poor la
norer of the dusty city / say, under those
circumstances stay on the farm And who
could help saying brace up, clear up, and
fix up the farm Respectfully,
DEXTER j. KNAPP.
Brattleboro March 4 1870