Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1900-12-27
Bellows Falls Times
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 81. 1900
STATE NEWS.
ABANDONED FARMS.
Sad Tale Of Deserted habitations in Yer

1t Is sad and painful TACT that NAV y Of
the hill farms Of Vermont have been aban-
doned. These farms so years ago support
ed large families and large amount OF stock
This is great loss to the state, both in
income and population. 1t is well to know
what has caused it, and to see il something
cannot be done to have these farm occu-
pied sgain.
1t is not as pleasant to live on these hills
as it is in or near village, yet the air on
the hills is purer and more healthful than in
the valleys. The great cause why these
farms have been abandoned is that it does
not now pay to run them. If they paid they
would soon be occupied again.
When wool sold for 40 and so cents a
pound it paid, but the drop in price some
wear, to 10 cents pound has almost
ruined this industry, that was once the
greatest of the state. 1t has caused the
lo.s OF over million and half of sheep to
the state. If foreign wool and woolens
bad been kept out Of the country this would
not have happened. This country should
make all the cloth that it uses, and should
grow all the wool for it. The sheep bust
ness is looking up some, and it would be
well for towns to encourage it by exempt
ing sheep farms from taxation for q few
years.
Fifty years ago one who ran one of these
abandoned farms said that the income from
it was $500 or more each year, that his 100
sheep ST cared him 400 pounds Of washed
wool, which at 40 cents pound came to
| $3.50; the lambs were worth about as much
more. Then there was what be sold from
bis dairy, swine, poultry, cattle and horses
The fruit, maple sugar and wood amounted
to something.
1t did not cost them so much to live then
as now. though pr DIVISION and what they
wore were much higher. Many laborer
supported his family and supported it well
en- 5000 year.
A few facts will be given in regard to
some half dozen of these abandoned farms
that run together on row of hills. Farm
No. contains 1875 acres, 1t cut at one time
40 or more tons of hay raised good lot
OF grain, potatoes and apples; it kept a
large stock 1t has not been occupied for
several years. The grass is cut, the build
ings have not gone down. Farm No. 2
contains so acres; it cut some Is or more
tons of hay, raised good fields OF grain and
potatoes, and fine lot of apples; good
seasons there were from 500 to 1000 pound.
OF maple sugar made. The buildings have
gone up and the farm is now all in pasture
No. 8 contains 100 acres it once cut %
tons of hay and kept a large stock; the
buildings have gone down and it is now q
pa,ture. Farm No. contains $50 acres
and cut once so tons of hay; large families
have been raised on it; the buildings have
gone up and it is now pasture. What
has been SAID Of No can be said of the
next two.
These pastures are not very closely pas
tured so they are growing up to tree.
again. The soil of these farms is rich,
v arm and quick. The wood sold from
then once was from So to So a cord.
During the war and since it has brought
from 81 to $5 cord since so much coal
has been brought into the state there has
fore.
With the discoveries that have been made
in farmIr G these farms can be made to pro-
duce more than they did and with the new
impr owed tools they can be run at a n UGH
less expense. The grass on them was
once all cut and raked by hand. What
has been said Of these farms can be said Of
too many, many farms in Vermont. These
farms lie between two villages. A fine
road can be made through them for les,
than $1,000 This would give quick and
easy access to the market, and it would
more than double their value. The road
will command the finest scenery, and must
be largely used by tourists.
At one time 80 or more persons Of differ
ent ages we're living on these farms; 20 o,
more horses we're kept; over 40 cattle and
800 sheep besides the swine, poultry, and
bees. Three thousand pounds or more O
maple sugar we're made good seasons and
$50 cords Of wood cut and marketed eaci
yeal-New England Farmer.