Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-11-10

OF observation-disclosures, and those in posi-
ton to take panoramic view of our
our country are looking for movement
in the opposite direction.
Secretary James Wilson of the agricul-
tural department, who recently visited
Vermont and viewed the states large
crop of politicians and her other agricul
tural products at the state fair, was IA
voraby impressed by the opportunities
for settlers in the New England states.
He said In the course of recent inter-
view in Washington that ne knew Of no
better place for farmers to invest today
than in the so-called abandoned farms of
the eastern states, especially those of
New England. In his own state, Iowa,
for example, he says there is not an
acre of land that will not sell for S25 an
acre and the average Is about $40. Land
can still be purchased in that state as
well as in other rich farming sections.
but the desirable portions are all occupied
and it requires large capital to start
there. In his estimation there is still
good government land IN North Dakota,
but he says that unless the people of the
West stop their extravagant ard waste
full ways of farming the land already
titled there will rapidly become worth
less. He in particular warns people
against the dry portions of the West,
where there is not sufficient rain to make
farming profitable. Secretary Wilson in
speaking of the class of people who
would best succeed on eastern farms
said
That is the main point. You must have
country people-people who come from the
country and not from the city, people who
like the country as do and dislike the city,
who want to remain in the country, and
never go to town except on business, ana
that n ut often. 1t will do no good to bring
people TO these abandoned farms" from the
cities of Europe; they will fail. as thee have
failed in the West, and their failure will be
more striking, for they viii be near the gre 1t
cities and so subject to more temptations t,
leave the farms for them than in the prairie
West.
The soil will need much working over and
more drainage. While there are many good
farmers in New England aud New York, in
general some of the necessary devices used
in the West are wanting. And then there
must be constant fertilizing. The first thing
up as much stock as the farm will support.
This from the start Will be source of profit
and will assist in fertilization. The farmer
should then raise what the markets of Bos.
ton and New York want. These are the best
markets anywhere, ana that is one of the
great reasons why | believe the eastern
farmer will succeed.
These are excellent points for the
farmers of Vermont as well as of other
sections of New England, and if all
would profit thereby there would be
more satisfied as we'll as successful
farmers. Vermont has some of the
abandoned farms referred to, but their
number has rapidly diminished since
our board of agriculture took them in
hand. There are hundreds of farms il
Vermont as we'll as in other eastern
states that can be purchased for song
as compared with their former value
and II the present wave of prosperity
continues large snm of money will b,
made in the purchase of these farms ant
in holding them for an appreciation tina
is sure to come. The present rate a
which prices of farm products are ad
vancing will soon create an increased
demand for farms, and when the move
ment Is well under way the value o
farm land will move upward to an ap
preciable degree. If Secretary Wilson |
wise in exhorting the young man to e
East, as he undoubtedly is in view of tn
present tendency in farm holdings, the
1t follows as cOrollary that the wis
young man already in the East will sta,
here, instead of going West.-Burlingto
Free Press.