The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-12-14
Editorial NOtings.

Editorial NOtings.
WE have delayed longer than we
should to notice the adoption of the
quarto form. with new dress of type,
by our venerable and worthy contem-
porary, the Maine Fdrmer--the oldest
weekly agricultural paper in New Eng
land, we think. And yet it is not so
old that we cannot remember its first
issue Its founder, Dr. Ezekiel Holmes,
was for nearly all his life family
friend of our parents, and his little ven
ture in journalism was what first in
spired us with the idea that we would
some time be an editor, too. The
doctor lived to see his paper triumph
ant success; and since his departure it
has continued to prosper exceedingly.
It's publishers seem to be satisfied with
its large home circulation; but we see
no reason why it should not find a
public as widespread as that of any ag-
ricultural paper in America.
THE Vermont Agricultural Report is
at hand, by the kindness of Secretary
Cooke. 1t contains coed deal of we'll
selected matter from that contributed
in the form of papers at the various
meetings. The board is very capa-
Bile one, but it is shamefully hampered
by the meager appropriation made for
its support. This small paper-bound
volume, with the marks of parsimony
all over it, is in this respect no wise
creditable to the best agricultural state
in New England 1t is, indeed, much
inferior to the Vermont Reports of
twenty years ago. A few pages only
are given to horticulture and fruit
growing, which industries are already
extensive in Vermont, but might easily
and profitably be quadrupled by proper
encouragement. 1t is of no use to
blame the legislature for all these short
comings. If half the money expended
and worse than wasted in Vermont for
the benefit of horse. gambling could be
used wisely for the advancement of the
worthy interests of our farmers, we
should see very different condition of
things in the way of progress and profit
on the farm.
THE subject of farm help is one that
we have rarely discussed in these col
umns, not because it does not have suf-
ficent interest, but because of the hope
less conditions which surround it. Far
mers, making little or no profit from
farms, have to compete in the labor
market, at the worst possible disadvan-
tage, with wealthy corporations and
prosperous trades. What can we ex-
pect, outside OF our own families, than
the culls and refuse of labor for our
share? This is not saying that there
are no good and reliable farm hands in
the state; but it is saying that such are
comparatively few, and that the fact is
extremely depressing, in fact it may
be called truly the most depressing of
any thing connected with The business
of agriculture, all over New England.
1t is the one great encouragement in
farming, overshadowing even the evils
of our transportation system and the
competition of the West. No tariff will
protect us in the matter; indeed the
more profit we give to the manufactur.
ing and commercial portion of our pop
ulation, the harder we make it to get
good help on the farm. Perhaps this
view of the subject has had something
to do with the recent political overturn.
Who could have believed that Ohio,
that great farming region-to say moth
ing of other great agricultural sections
could give the cold shoulder to the
protective system?
THE use of kerosene as an insecti-
eide ia not as we'll understood on most