The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-23
ARANn0NEn FARMS.

Tho Commonwealth Of Massachusetts finds
itself about TO be stripped of its farming
population through tho abandonment OF it's
farms to such an extent that it has found II
necessary 10 go. rs a State. into the business
OF advertising farms for sale. catalogue
has bsen issued under the auspices OF the
State Board of Agriculture. descriptive OF all
the abandoned. or partially abandoned, farms
in Massachusetts and this has been done
under the authority of recent act OF the
Legislature, which provides for the collec-
ton OF all necessary information in regard TO
the opportunities for developing the agricui-
tural resources Of tho Commonwealth
through the repopulating OF abandoned or
partially abandoned farms" The cata-
iogue is to be circulated by tho State Board
of Agriculture. and it shows that the entire
number of abandoned or partially abandoned
farms in Massachusetts, "a reported
to the Secretary Of the Board, to DO
.06. The largest number, 256, are IN Nor-
cester county. The only other counties
with moro thar hundred are Berkshire 49,
and Franklin. l0S. Eighty-six acres IS the
average area Of abandoned farms, upon when
there are buildings. and eighty-seyen acres
the averages area Of those without buildings
Tho average value of the farms with build
ines is stated to DO ESQ.,. and those without
s56l
New Hampshire has likewise found II neces-
fary 10 try the same means OF preserving Its
lands from becoming wildernesses. Accord
ing 10 the New York Sun that State also has
published a pamphlet which has been largely
distributed describing the various localities
within the State at which summer boarders
may find accommodation. The fact that this
has been done by the State, instead Of as else
where by railroads and private parties shows
that the condition Of tho New Hampshire
farmer is so alarming as to make it a subject
worthy Of State attention.
What is true OF Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire is also true of Vermont and New
England in general, aud it is evident. from
this Abandonment of farms in that section by
their owners. and the failure Of the States
even to secure tenants or purchaser to take
their places, that both climate and soil there
are unfavorable to profitable agriculture, and
tina. farming cannot DO carried on in New
England under ordinary rules and systems.
Vermont has succeeded somewhat in arrest
ing the decay Of the agricultural industry by
the introduction of Swedes on the most lib
eral terms. but this is only an experiment in
the nature Of an heroic remedy for what is
almost fatal disease.
Now. very useful lesson NAV be learned
from all this We have in Virginia very few
abandoned homes. and all can easily obtain
tenants, but we have great areas of arabic
lands without improvement that cannot be
rented or cultivated by their owners and they
possess every advantage of climate and pro-
duct. Why do not these disheartened New
Englanders come down and take charge OF
lands so faYorably situated as are these and
where they can still hope to pursue farming
operations such as they are familiar with, both
with pleasure and profit? Let them leave
bleak and barren New England and try our
kindly soil and genial climate. 1t will per-
haps pay them to make the experiment.