Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-02-24
ABANDONED FARMS.

Our farm journals are just nov great
ly agltated over the sahjcct of ABANDON
81 farms. aud the writers In general
seem o. d, at q loss Ia know fully the
cause. aud are trying hsr,i To flnd rrm-
ely. MANY causes have t-cn assigned
by different writers, hat have fsllci tn
nOticc Ia my opinion, the leading cause
II .o many deserted farms that are
everywhere found In sll sections II New
England, n We are to believe the reports.
And AK the question, what else can
ve expect, u We keep right ON In the
future a. We have In the past aud neg
lcyt to raise the most important crop
ever raisel on farm, q well rounded
crop of hoy- aud girl.s What IL the use
10 talk about "deprcssed sgrlculi-
urr," az the burdens of taNstion," or
anything clse being the cause, when the
fact starcs "a. plainly Ia the Fac, that
these deserted farm. are left In q major
lty ~ eases, bcyau.s no children arr left
Ia take them. All around Va to-day are
farms In the po.scssion ~ childlcs-
couples, passing rapidly ON beyond mid
de life, With never boy or girl, nor
any hope ~ any. to take the places soon
to bc left vacant, while In numerous
other ease. only Que or two childrrn arc
found. hardly enough Ia keep the farm
going. Ther. I. no possible chance for
such farms only Tor a majority ~ them
to D. addci to the long li.t ot abandon
~l." We remember the large families
% forty years ago. and the full school
house. that aboundci In our rural dis
tricts, bat they are In ton great meas
urc Among the thing. ths, Ncrc. Large
families Werr th-n the rule, nov the eN-
csp,ion. II l. true that many 10 our
tsnvs aud girls l-sN. for the village. snd
cities aud the Western States, bat that
don't arsount 80 much for our deserted
farms as the fact that Ne arr not raising
sufficient io supply the demand. N one
or two leave from family there arr
none left. That sr.ms Ia D. the trouble.
n I. sad o. go hy these homc.ieads
anil note the old couple In their cxtrvm-
lon-lln-ss. not knowing themselNcs what
!. going o. become ~ this home ant th"
money they have htorc'i ~ hsri to ac-
cumulaic. They have good attractive
t,rm.. sni splendid opportunity Tor
the Young couplc, for the .ons And
daughter. bat the young folk aIr not
thew. IlsVing neglct-,i thi. sll'lmPor-
taut crop. the outlook nov i to soou
stop out. iock the dooT., nan .olld IA"
" inios.. build a fvnc- b-tN~en hous"
ani fnsd and allow the grand old home
.tcad, so Associ,tel sith foni m~moti".
20 utlisr days. to - classei With the
''ahsnione,i
To Strengthen NV position on ihi. I'm.
i.otiant .ubi~,t. note the tact that "n
th- seven c"ntinu"u. iarins dir~ctly
north II ne. ani All lying Niihln tao
mllr.-ill adjoining each other and AT
gu.,i farms -iAfrs Hrs hsi f'Hr rAhfrrH,
and CA hSe ot the. firns ~ slHyif
ass. Whist Z. the probable Ouilook herr'
Can foreigner. D. Impaired, or !. " I'o'-
sihi. to draw fr,m som" action more
highly favored to supply the demand
that Nill surely Gomez ~ this u not
Ion. therv l. nu I-n.sihlc chance fur q
msiJrity ~ thcse tarms bat io BE- ahan-
lans,l.
live ar ever again to populiic and
cultivate oar des.rtsi fsrms, thrrr must
hs q breaking asay from th" too prvNa-
lsut lie, that family 10 chlllrvn u a
hur,ieu i"o grv,t a. d. tolerated; that "
L. h.ttsr o. folips fashion And pleasure
snd lay hy a hank acCount than Go put
In our time aud money In rii'ing tho'"
Uho Vili take the plscr. that wc must
al soou~t 90 later leave vacant. lNouli
aiirmpt o. chang m" veil knosu stanfa
-iu f.rr. a. iaai. - has,ssisf ll. WY.
Wt.sry ssath saruaaalsts. ani nsn dsrsf,"
Nud have it rad thus;
.tu farv. a. lshi 4, hssteuing So u reu.ss.
Wnh ns ai.auisnei kfus AL chitilrts h.stnss
49, N .Iu. E.rf,.r