Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-13
WHAT CAN BE DONE AT HOME.
A. A. Halladny's SIx-Aore Farm--vermont
Better Than the South or West.

Under the head "A Yankee Fruit Farm"
a recent issue of the Rural New Yorker
contained the following article:
A cut on this page gives a view of the
small farm of A. A. Halliday, near Bel
lows Falls, VT. There are but six acres
on the place. yet this Is space enough to
yield a fair income. Three years ago there
was not building on the place except
the old ice house under the trees--this will
soon be taken down. All the other build
ings are new. You will notice that hen
house, barn and shed are connected so
that all are really under one roof. That Is
the way they do 1t in New England to
avoid going outdoors In bad weather.
Three years ago, there was not a fruit
tree on the place Now there are 200
plums, rs pears, rs peaches, $50 cherries
$50 current bushes, and ounces, apricots.
grapes, apples and small fruits. The main
crops sold are tomatoes and fruits. When
the trees grow too large to grow crops be-
tween them, the design is to stock the
entire place with poultry. Mr. Halliday
says that this seasons crop of tomato
seed, strawberries and raspberrics, will net
$1,000 above expenses-that amount repre-
senting TIE labor and profits of himself
and two boys, aged 10 and IA respectively.
He says:
MY raspberries brought 20 cents a bas-
ket all through the season, and my straw
about here were having hard work TO get
10 and II cents for berries that were just
as good as they grew on the vines. Tho
difference was in putting them on the
market, and between baskets scant even
full just as they came from the pickers,
and baskets heaped full and all carefully
assorted, every berry guaranteed a good
one or money refunded"
Speaking of varieties he says: The
Abundance plum has fruited for two years,
and | have not seen d single tip that has
been injured by cold"
The picture shows how beautifully this
farm is located. 1t is certainly worth
something to live amid such surroundings
The house stands on a terrace about 100
feet above the Connecticut river. The
hills across the river are in New Hamp-
shire. a railroad runs between the river
and the house. There are views for miles
up and down the beautiful Connecticut
valley. Is 1T any wonder that the New
Highlander clings to his home under such
circumstances?
Speaking of his little place. with true
Yankee pride, Mr.. Halliday says:
II am doing no more on my little place
than can be done anywhere in New Eng
land by any man who Is willing to work.
l do not believe in the large New England
farms. There is more cash, less hard work
and worry, and more real enjoyment on
small, Well-managed farm In New England
than anywhere else in the country. We
have better markets. and receive better
prices for our products than can be OBJ
tanned anywhere else. / have never had
the Western or Southern fever. | believe
that any man who cannot get living here,
could not get one anywhere, and that
farming is the best business in the world,
else three-fourth Of the farmers would
starve to death from their own shiftless-
ness"
The lessons to be drawn from this ex
perience are that where one is located
near a manufacturing town, small fruits
and poultry on a well-kept little place give
more satisfactory returns than ordinary
crops on a larger farm OF course, this Is
not a general rule, for some men are not
fitted for small farming. In any event,
considerable capital Is needed in order to
start right. That is q point not always
considered by those who figure on the
profits of a small place