The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-26
AGRICULTURAL.
Farming Near Cities.

There is a great difference between
the farm methods near large cities and
those of districts remote from the great
centers of trade. AS you leave the
paved streets and the city houses, you
will first find the market gardeners.
Though they are not strictly farmers,
yet they get their living from the soil,
and some men having few acres make
far more money than men having great
farms. 1t is a good thing for farmer
to drive by the market gardens and see
the way work is forced along. Several |
crops are taken off the same piece OF
land, immense quantities of manure
are applied, and no weeds are allowed
to grow. The next class of farmers is
the milkmen and milk producers. Some
farmers sell their own milk, some sell
to milkmen. 1t is hard work to sell
milk, and when man runs a milk
route and farm, he has his hands full.
Most farmers think it better to sell
their milk for three cents than to ped
die it for six. Still there are many who
sell their own milk. If one milkman
could take street and sell right along
from house 10 house, it would be very
easy thing to sell milk. But as it is,
one man sells to one house or family,
another TO the next and 80 on, making
long journeys for each wagon. One of
the worst things about the milk bust
ness is the early hours which have to
be observed. Some get up at two
O'Clock, others at three. Most of the
wagons begin to sell at half past five.
AS some of these drive from four to
seven or more miles, the need of an
early start will be seen.
Most milkmen buy their cows. A
COW is kept until she does not give milk
enough to pay; then she is sold and a
fresh one bought. But it is not easy to
buy such cows as are required for the
milk diaries, and many prefer to raise
their own stock. But this is found to
be expensive where land is worth $3.50
to 5000 or more per acre, and where
hay sells for SIS to $40 per ton. Sell
ing milk takes much more from the
land than selling butter, as butter is
only fat and takes nothing from the
soil. Milk takes considerable, some
calculations placing the value of the
fertilizing materials in each cows milk
at seven dollars annually on an aver
oge. Then there is large class of
farmers near the cities who follow a
sort of mixed farming. They grow
some vegetables, keep one or more
cows, and do little Of good many
things in order to get living. Fol-
miles around any large city the farmers
come in once week or once in two
weeks, bringing loads of farm products
In some cities a market is provided
where wagons can stand and sell out
their loads. In others the farmers sell
from door to door or to grocers. 1t is
a hard days work to get load ready
(unless it is got ready the night before)
drive long distance to the city, sell a
load, make purchases, and drive back
home. 1t is much better to live near.
er the city, so that one can ride in in an
hour or two. But the nearer the city
one is, the higher the price of land, and
generally, the greater the expense OF
living.
There are many advantages in living
near large city. There is a vast diff.
ference in cities, but many are desira'
BILE places to live near. 1t is pleasant
to drive in and pass the fine houses
watch the crowds, drive through the
parks and trade in the stores. If one
can live out few miles in quiet place
off from the much travelled roads, he
will find it to combine the quiet of the
ordinary farm life with the advantages
of being close to the city. As the
money of the country gravitates towards
the great cities, 30 one finds more
money among the farmers near the
cities than back from them. There il
an advantage in being able to marke
almost any farm product for cash. Blu
those who sell milk daily have stead,
and permanent income, so far as any
thing of this kind can be permanent il
this world. Money comes in with regu
larity and good degree of certainty
The great question is how to produces
milk of good quality and at low cost
This is the milk producers problem.
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