Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-03-08
VERNON MORGAN BREEDERS
SHOULD UNITE.
JOSEPH BATTELL,
MiddleburV, VT.

fIi(tlflI
in the issue of your paper of the date
of February y suggests that the YER
monters organize an association for the
purpose of cherishing, protecting and
improving Morgan horses. This is the
next and most important practical step
now in the chain whose first link was
the conception of register, whose con-
summation is to be IA horse so desirable
that breeders may find profit in their
breeding and our people better horses
for their work and their recreation.
The opportunity is peculiarly Yer
-monts for simple and obvious reasons
The Morgan family was Graded in her
borders. Her air and climate and hill
side pastures supplemented their excel
lent blood inheritances and powerfully
influenced their characteristics. These
again were reinforced by the close inter
breeding compelled alike by circum-
stances and by good Judgment. As the
reputation of the Morgan horse grew
Vermont became especially the benetici
airy. of their good repute. "Nermont
Morgans", as descriptive phrase, was
interchangeable with Morgans; his
'good will", to use traders phrase,
still continues to be hers more than any
other sections. Her stock farms are
still first searched to supply the quicken
ed demand for these horses. 1t is capital
with which she starts, giving advantage
over rival sections, She need not lose
it if she is vgilant, If she does not per-
NIT herself to be outwitted, if she does
not bolt the door on the opportunity
which is now knocking, but which she
will Gel tainly and swiftly lose if she is
negligent and Indifferent for even IL few
brief seasons.
The Importance of this prestige cannot
be oyer-estimated. 1t has been a cen
turv in making. 1t has grown by force
of circumstances and in spite of neglect,
under stress of present competition in
stock. 1t can be saved only by fore
sight, wit. energy and union. The
time is at hand to make a choice of ways.
MS pCNullhl ~ lbNOi"piN Nh"HNN iDi
the farmers of Vermont to enhance the
value of their time, intelligence and in
directly their land, has emphatic signiti-
canoe at this stage in the evolution of the
fortunes of New England husbandmen.
Our older eastern farms have become
the victims of new and irresistible econ
omic conditions. In times gone by their
simple products of grain, stock and
vegetables had populous cities of the
East for assured market The New
England farmer had slight COMPETE
ton; what there was came from neigh
bOrs similarly situated, working land no
better than his own, under conditions of
expense the same that he was subject to.
He was protected by expensive trans
pOrtation from the rivalry of products
grown beyond radius of few score
miles. Within forty years the whole
world has become, through steam and
railroads, his next door neighbor, econ
omically, and sells against him in his
own market. Its best land, Its cheapest
labor are combined against him. The
wheat of Siberia, India. South America
and Dakota lies in the granaries of
Liverpool, purchasable for one price and
that price amazingly low by reason of
rich, cheap land, cheap production and
nominal transportation charges. The
same agencies glut the market with
wool, mutton, pork, beef and cheaper
grades of horses. Egyptian onions sell
side by side with those of New England
in city markets. The old times can not
be reclaimed. Easy, careless use of
small parcels of land or of inferior land
is past possibility.
The lesson taught by consideration of
these facts is not, however, one of des-
pondency, still less is it one of abandon
Hment of the eastern farm, for human
nature, unlike brute nature, has endless
wants If the necessities OF life are
cheap and living consequently cheapen-
ed, the wealth SO saved demands more
variety and greater luxury. The swell
ing wealth of our immensely increased
urban population Issues imperative aud
measureless demands on the ingenuity of
the manufacturers in every field, on the
merchant, on the market man. and in
equal degree on the farm ana its pro
duct. This demand for special things
OppOrtune to the season and choice in
quality is a demand wholly beyond the
power of the wholesale methods of the
great stock ranch on the steam-ploughed
and steam-garnered grain field. 1t in
PRODUCES a new element which trans.
eends in Importance the differences in
fertility of soil and cOunteracts largely
determinations in transportation. This
factor is the conscience, foresight, en-
ergy, care and thrift of the farmer him
self, the personal equation, the wit tC
see wherein his land and his environ
II. Ii. ct. II, ~.