Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-03-27
Does Farming Pay?

5. IL. HoLBRooK, in Express and Standard.
In my former article gave the average
income from NV herd OF cows as SILL.
made no claim that it was all profit |
as Mr.. Massey seemed to suppose; al
though might truthiully have done So,
for sold in produce from the farm more
than twice enough to pay all hired help
and the grain which bought.
thoroughly believe that we farmers
can and ought to produce all our grain
that is necessary to feed our COWS, and
to feed our families as well.
lit is not practicable to raise our
wheat, we can raise potatoes and beans
that we can exchange for our flour. II
farmer does not find it profitable to raise
corn, then RAISE an extra supply OF oats,
to exchange for corn.
do not think we can any of us afford
to raise corn with the methods in vogue
forty years ago. But il we will keep up
with the times and farm by modern
methods we can raise our corn cheaper
than we can buy il. And Just the same
with potatoes. BY modern methods of
cultivation we can raise them at one half
the cost OF following i'll the ways of our
grandtathers. Don't be AFRAID to read
and keep abreast OF the times. Capital
wisely invested IN improvements on the
farm will pay a great deal larger interest
than in the savings bank.
MIR Massey would have us believe that
for farmer to keep accounts with the
different branches OF husbandry WAS Il
very complicated affair. Tins hdvenot
found to be the case, neither need any
one with very limited education go very
far astray i'll this regard.
1t a farmer sells in produce OF various
kinds from his farm III a year 5000, $500
or more or less and pays for help $50 or
$3.50 as the case may be, he can tell very
easily low much there is left as net i'll
come for the support of his family and
for improvements or tor paying for his
: farm i'll case he is burdened with such
debt.
| But Mr.. Massey seemed to think that
22l pounds per COW was Il large amount
to make. know OF dairy not tar from
where live that the owner sold 2+5
pounds per COW beside supplying his
family, and another dairy that have
good reason to believe did full as well.
have set my ideal, to which l am
aiming at forty cows to average $50
pounds per COW. And do not think It
by any means unattalnable have thus
far been hampered by untavorable conai.
tons.
propose to build this year barn $50
feet long and 80 wide, OF modern style
and convenience and see what the re, ult
will be.
One thing is certain; | have faith in
farming as any man must have in his
calling or profession, il he would be sue
cessful.
And now with hint or two which
believe will do many farmers good il they
will take heed will drop the subject un
til some other time.
And first, the village store or village
E street is very poor place to farm Will
) success, Of course they are necessary
but when our needs are supplied at thu
store, and our business transacted at the
village, don't forget that the farm il
waiting for us and will suffer if we don't
And again as business now and ther
l calls me over this and other towns, fine
alongside the highway, land gone tc
waste-grown up to bushes and covered
e with stones. Now if this land was re
claimed bycutting the bushes and takin.
] away the stones each of these farms
! would produce enough to nearly or quit,
: keep another COW. 1t would enhance tn
, selling value of these farms more thai
: double the cost of such clearing up, anc
\ again it would pay more than the cos
S i'll satisfaction of having done a gooC
thing foryourself and setting an exampl
: worthy of limitation by your neighbors.