Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-03-13

Part 3D. of the 2lst annual report of the
Massachusetts, bureau of labor statistics
contains a large amount of carefully gath
cred information in regard to the "aban-
doned farms of that state. Since
there has been so much criticism in Yer
mont of the use of this term it is well to
give in exact words the definition of Mr..
Horace g. Waldin, the chief of the Massa-
chusetts bureau He says:
by abandoned farms in this inquiry is
meant those formerly cultivated but now
deserted, upon which cultivation is now
abandoned, and the buildings, if any, un-
occupied and permitted to fall into decay
In some cases the grass is still cut on these
farms, but nothing is done in the way of
enrichment of the soil, and the land is
practically unproductive and left to run
wild"
There are in Massachusetts, 1861 aban-
doued farms, 772 with buildings and $50
without buildings with total acreage of
l26, 800 and an assessed valuation of ST.
07G, 1928. AS would be expected, the great
er part of these farms are in the western
part of the state, where Berkshire county
Franklin 300. Worcester county has 344.
but owing to the superior size of the coun-
ty the proportion is not so great as in the
others named.
The acreage of the abandoned farms is
3 40 per cent of the aggregate acreage of
the farms of the state. The assessed val
ue of the abandoned farms is / Is per cent
of the aggregate assessed value of all the
farm land in the state. The value of the
land of the abandoned farms, excluding
buildings, is only 81 per cent of the aggre-
gate value of the farm land of the state.
That is out of every 800 worth of farm
land in the state, only S0.87 worth is aban-
doned
Whatever comfort the croakers may get
from this showing is offset by the fact that
every county in the state with but one ex-
ception shows a considerable increase in
value of agricultural products, the net in
crease for the state being %. 20 per cent
The net increase in the value of agricul-
tural property reaches % OF per cent, APP
proximating the increase in the value of
whole there has been an actual net increase
in acreage of cultivated land of 1928 per
cent,
In other words, in spite of the decline in
some sections, the total value of Massachu
sets farm products has increased in recent
years, the total value of agricultural prop
erty has increased, the total acreage of
tiand under cultivation has increased. The
| farmers of the state are raising more
crops than ever, possess more property,
and are cultivating more land by better
methods than formerly We doubt not
that facts gathered with equal completeness
for Vermont as are these for Massachusetts
would show a no less favorable condition of
the agricultural interests of the state as a
whole, One thing should be said in pass
ing, and that is that these statistics give
no encouragement to the free-trade theory
that the protective policy is running the
farming interests of the country.
One paragraph from Mr.. Wadlin's report
on the reclamation of these deserted farms
will bear quotation in full
The states of New Hampshire and Yer
mont have undertaken to colonize their
/ abandoned land, which is more extensive
| than exists in Massachusetts, and have in
vited immigration especially TO that end
/ Whether or not such "a plan could be per
manently successful here is probematical
| 1t is, of course doubtful if immigrants
/ who are led to take up this land can with
stand the inducements constantly tending
to draw them away TO the larger towns.
To prefer the country to the city requires
a certain point of view which experience
has everywhere shown is not likely to be
taken by those who would be most bene-
fitted by the change. To reclaim the aban-
doned land requires not only the choice of
country life, but involves hard labor and
that self-denial which prefers possible per
manent future advantage to present tenn
porary gain"
In the last sentence lies the foundation
secret of this whole abandoned farm prob
lem and its solution. 1t is by hard work
and self-denial, with needful amount of
enterprise and onward-looking thrown in,
that the Yermonter, who was glad enough
to get back home from Dakota, has made
the success lately told of in The Phoenix.