Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-26
netter Tlmes for Farmers.

Better Times for Farmers.
In the midst of the almost universal dis
position to decry the times and bewail the
hard lot which has befallen all the farming
interests of the country, it is refreshing to
read something which is distinctly hopeful
and encouraging, and we therefore quote
in full the summary on the agricultural
outlook given in the May report of the de-
partment of agriculture. All indications.
this summary says, point to an unusual
degree of prosperity of farmers. Pseudo
>tatsticians have cudgeled their brains to
prove from statistics the irrevocable down
ward tendency of prices and profits and
rural prosperity. Others, possessed of
desire to find crumb of comfort for de-
>pairng class, have sought to distort facts
to show that the limit of all farm pro-
duction is near, and the future consequent
~ roseate with glowing results of high
prices and large profits; and, further, that
the only chance for future prosperity is
thus hinged on the firm belief that the
doubling of our population would be near
ly equivalent to prospective starvation.
The western prices of corn and oats are
more than a hundred per cent higher than
they were twelve months ago, wheat and
meats very much advanced, and an up
ward movement in nearly all rural values,
those of lands included, has already COM
menced, in spite of the fact that there has
been no reduction of area planted, no dead
line of limitation to rural exploitation
found.
The forces of nature and the revolutions
of time and circumstance have worked a
benefcent change. First, bad season
cut down the crops of corn and oats, and
eliminated surplus that had reduced
prices below the cost of production Next,
two years of underaverage wheat produc-
ton of the world have reduced stocks and
advanced prices, while the unfavOrable
foreign advices of the present season,
coupled with the high prospect in this
country, render it probable that our sur
plus of the present crop will he large and
prices high. Finally, the prices of all
meats as was indicated in the statistician's
report for January, have materially adj
yanced as also those of the different
grades of beeves. Chicago prices, as COM
pared with last year, are as follows:
April y, 1891, choice to fancy, 500 to $3.50;
good To choice. $500 to $3.50; common to fair,
Sl3nto $500 Texans, $500 to S5.25.
April %, 1890, choice to fancy, 500 to $3.50;
good to choice, $3.50 to $40; common to fair,
S32j to $780, Texans, 81 - 10 $40.
Here is an advance in twelve months of
a per cent for choice beeves, b for good
to choice. b for common, and 81 for
Texans. This results simply from reduc-
ton of numbers by the severity of winter
mortality, the heavy shipments which de-
peted the herds, and the marketing of
COWS induced by necessity or disgust with
an Improbable business. There was an
excessive production and a natural cure
which for a time made prices lower.
These fluctuations in agricultural prosper
ity are inevitable, and they are intensified
by inequality of distribution, which might
be partially avoided by wise forecast.
Everywhere a hopeful feeling is voiced
in our official correspondence. a letter
just received from a veteran observer says:
The agricultural prospect is certainly en-
couraging, and the general aspect as COM
pared with several years past is more than
encouraging He says that bluegrass
PASTURES are being broken up for corn
planting in Illinois, and that land is in
great demand; that the old rule of two
ifths to the landowner and three-fifths to
the tenant is going out of existence, land
being rented at half to each; in some
cases with a dollar per acre rent additional
to the owner. In one case, half the crop
and $3.50 per acre were offered for a
thousand acres.
lie instances case illustrating the adj
vance in prices of beeves. On one farm
are so steers fattening that cost 50 per
hundred last fall, which could now be sold
for August delivery at So per hundred,
with probable average gain of 300 pounds
in flesh. More than $40, 600 for grass and
care ought to cure a considerable amount
of depression in agriculture. The same
farm was stocked with feeders in 1899 at
-. 10 per hundred, which sold at 50. 70 in
the very midst of an area of discourage
mcnt, which is rapidly passing away
These indications of marked improve
ment are stimulating demand for farm
lands and advancing the offerings as rent
and also the price of land. A high agri-
cultural authority in Iowa estimates the
advance in that state at 50 per acre. 1t is
confidently believed that farm lands gen
orally now promise to be good investments
at present prices.
Ii now imprudent settlers on the desert
areas could be relieved from the disabilities
Induced by their oyerconfdence in the
abiding resources of the 'rain belt in the