The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-16
Abandoned Massachusetts Farms

Abandoned Mass chusetts Farms
/ Abandoned farms Rave come 70 be 50
serious feature Of modern life in MaSss-
+ ohusetts that the state bureau Of labor sta
tistics has undertaken 70 collect some data
showing the extent 70 which the fiuctusiion
F Of population has lately been forSaking
/ the country and drifting toward the towns,
7 and migrating westward Despite al that
/ countless generations Of poets have said IN
praise OF agricultural pursuits there is APP
parent in New England an Enthusiastically
active tendency 10 turn from it 70 other
pursuits. Notwithstanding all that the
dreamy-eyed poets have told Us Of the
heslthfulness Of rural life the migrating
young farm lads pointedly call attention 70
the hitherto overlooked fact that poets have
never been conspicuous for their devotion
10 subsoil blowing, nor were they ever
greatly given 70 hunting estray pigs nor
contracting backache by splitting rails.
They always did all of their railing at Fate.
Systematic investigation of the subject
shows that the abandoned farm land of Mas
sschuse IS is chiefly confined 70 the western
counties, and aggregates s. As per cent Of
the farm acreage Of the whole state. In
value il amounts 20 about 0S7 per cent. of
the aggregate farm land valuation. Only
two counties in the state report no aban..
doned farms. OF those containing aban-
doDed farms the highest proportion in one
county is 6 SIS per cent. and the lowest ratio
is O.O6 per cent
These abandoned farms average in value
1894 with improvements and 1851 without.
Buildings average 1887 in estimated value.
That is much less than similar improve
ments on cultivated farms are valued at.
Improved farms average eighty-six acres,
while those unimproved average eighty
seven acres.
These farms are not wholly abandoned to
weeds and waste. They are either let to
partial cultivation by the owners or else
absorbed by neighboring farmers and used
for pastures or similar purposes. Farms in
Massachusetts, were formerly so small ard
closely titled that an increase in their
acreage generally involves q corresponding
deficiency CT care and productiveness.
While some Of the towns show a decline in
the value of agricultural products and
property consequent upon contiguous
abandoned farms, that is not invariably the
case. In some counties the shrinkage in
localitie les is overbalanced by the increase
in Others. Therefore, each county except
one shows an increase in the value of agri-
cultural products since 1875, notwithstand-
ing the abandoned farms, and every county
also shows an increase in the value of agri-
cultural property. Some counties also
exhibit an increased acreage of land under
cultivation. But it is not cultivated in the
thorough manner customary among owners
of small New England farms.
With the exception of two, every county
containing abandoned farms reports an
aggregate increase Of population since 1865.
But 1t is not equal to the increase in other
counties. Where there are abandoned
farms and no important manufacturing in
dustries in the county. a marked decline in
population generally appears. This con-
clusively shows that the activity Of CONNER
cial and mechanical occupations is drawing
the farmer from the farms to the neigh
boring towns much more than to far west
ern ranch life. That is easily accounted for.
Immediate returns for his labor tempt him
more than the possibility of larger ultimate
results long deferred. That restless
activity characteristic of the typical New
Highlander renders the necessity Of await
ing the fruition of hopes and the develop
ment Of prospects on the farm altogether
too uncertain and slow process to be
patiently endured.
Consequently farm land that was held at
from $50 to S1O0 an acre thirty years ago,
can now be had for $40 very readily and on
almost any terms the purchaser chooses to
stipulate.