Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-03-24
ADDISON COUNTY FARMING.
A NEED OF THE FARMERS IN THIS SEC

NEED OF THE FARMERS IN THIS SEC
TION.
WEST CORNWALL, VT, March 20, 1893.
Editor Of the RegiSter-IIon. j. o.
Sanford, who has arraigned so forcibly
the farming interests of this county, is
resident of Stamford.a "A mountain town on
the Massachusetts line, very accessible to
good markets in thriving Massachusetts
towns. Thus situated, he can practice
"lntense" farming, advocate raising no
grain and taking "several" crops of hay
off the same ground in one season in
fact, he throws all his energies into
"truck farming.
The farmers of the western part of
Addison county are not so situated either
in regard to nearness to markets or quail
| ity of soil. Farmers living near manu-
featuring towns find a brisk demand for
all their products. The western portion
of this county is adapted to the produc
tion of hay and grain. When the farm
ers of this county can feed their hay to
stock and get something approximate to
Its market value, then aud not until
then will they desist from their sun
thrifty ways"
If the splendid water privileges on OF
ter creek were put to their best use, we
should see local demand for our pro-
ducts which would place us beyond
Western competition and aud millions to
the value of our farming lands.
f. ii. WARNER.
FURTHER FROM SECRETARY wINsLOw.
BRANDON, March &c, 1893.
Editor of the Register Some weeks
ago saw an item in your paper as a
single quotation from Mr.. Sanford, and,
thinking it only fair to both Addison
county and the board of agriculture
that, if one side of his remarks were
given, the other side should also be
stated, wrCte out, us fully as | could,
his whole remarks on that subject and
sent to you for publication.
Since then | have read several letters
and an editorial on that subject, and
would now like to add to the list letter
of my own.
No one seems to deny the charges, but
the writers appear to lay the blame up
on the farmers themselves, and, on gen
eral principles, claim they should seek
to interest themselves in their calling,
and ennobe it, all of which on general
principles Is true, not only in Addison
county, but in all the State of Vermont.
From what other class of men have
brain and culture of our State? How
many generations back shall any man of
local or national reputation IN any or all
callings, where influence or brain are the
standard of superiority, go without
coming TO the farm? What calling on
earth could stand this steady drain upon
it, without ruin, but that of the farmer
What class in the world but the farmers
have so many men that are by nature
fitted TO step INTO any position of re-
spOnsibility or trust, and honor the Of
flee? The yeomanry of the State of
Vermont always have been, are now and
always will be the strength, the sinew
and the power of the State.
The farmers alone stand the brunt of
taxation. They, single-handed and
loyal, fight against trusts and combna-
tions against their products. They
alone are the prey of produce gamblers
and spectators, and, still sturdy and
strong, support the government and pay
hundred cents on the dollar.
The farmers of the Champlain valley,
, including portion of Chittenden and
Rutland counties, are situated different
" from those of almost any other sec
ton of country in New England, and
believe the farmers are not so entirely
, responsible for their condition as the
combination of circumstances entirely
beyond their control.
This section, as has been truly said, is
naturally the garden of Vermont, and,
under the old system of farming, made
its Inhabitants The wealthiest in the
State. | have heard of the time when
Addison county pastures were filled
, with cattle awaiting transportation to
market, or for home slaughter. | have
been told, often, how Jack Simonds
secured the country for beef cattle, and
paid The farmers good prices. Those
were the days when the farmers could
feed their cattle at stacks, and fatter
, them on grass in summer. and make
money; but that business is all swept
, away.
can remember when the farmers OF
Addison and Rutland counties crowded
their pastures with sheep, and fed every
ton of hay raised, and could sell every
? pound of wool for from 80 to 80 cents q
t pound, but that business, too, is al
2 swept away. l can remember wher
] Addison and part of Rutland counties
2 were the source of supply of Merino
/ sheep for all the West and Southwest
e and at large prices. That, too, is past
e and today the Addison county farmers
! have not recovered from the shock ol
e having their business and means of live
D llhood all swept away from them, bul
! are, believe. in position, to rise
' phenix-like, from the ruin and estab
+ lish new system of agriculture, will
h. new source of wealth, but In an en-
4 tirely different line from the old.
e 1t must necessarily come slowly, bu
e ! believe it Will eventually come In I
: new system of dairying. The chang'