Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-13
very Farmer the Maker of His
Own Place.
ee0ter individual Thrift--Dcttcr I'm.
Iders standing OF COndltiOns-Free.
dom of Competition - Good
Roads - Preservation Of
Forests.

DcRoer, President National Life In
urancc Company. Montpelier. NtD
Il Is always wise for the farmers OF
kw England to keep steadfastly in
md. first. the fact that the United
Ates constitute a great country and.
KIT, the fact that tho we'll being of
$ country is conferred in its aSricul-
re-. which, more than manufactures
In, employs by far the largest per
ht. of all its citizens. Every tiler of
b soil. every caretakcr of stock. every
lit grower and dairyman. every man
10 wins his bread from the earth,
" take and should take a Just pride
II inspiring courage from the fact that
pr thirty-iive out of every hundred
izons. employed in gaintul occupa-
ms. follow agricultural pursuits. The
)ital used in agriculture is close to
enty-four billions of dollars. thus
king this industry first in the number
people employed and second only TO
nufactures in the value of its prod
$.
Agriculturc. manufacturing and conf
|rcc are tenderly related. Everything
ht fosters. strengthens. and extends
lnufacturing and comnerc" Will I'M
bvc the value of our agricultural prod
IS and of the lands which produce them.
|crything. also. that will tend To inn
bvc the character of our immigra ion.
|rcase our population and maintain
ges ut a high point and keep them
re will increase and maintain the value
agricultural products and of tillabe
d. pasturage and forestry. Such in
(asod values will depend in part. also,
rn general conditions of widespread
bspcrity. upon improved and increas-
market facilities ard upon distribut ed
bulation. Every one of these economic
nciplcs governing agriculture and de
mining it's experience and results has
In notably demonstrated in the great
ties of the West and South, where,
hin the last quarter Of century. farm
DIS have doubled. trchlcd and even
ldirnlod in value. and instances are
wanting of values multiplied twenty
hes over These splendid increases in
m values arc not speculative but act
based upon the producing ability of
and at the same time. accordingly.
farmer has experienced n drop OF at
st one-thrd 10 onc-haf in the rate
interest for money hired. with pract-
~ an open opportunity to get UNI
tied accommodation in the money mar
of the world.
he influence upon this splendid aC-
lltliral development of railroad build
and the invention. Introduction and
of agricultural machinery has been
" great and its bearing upon the SUBJ
must he kept in mind. 1t is 50
at and so important that our farmers
rrywherc should use whatever ma
mes they can control. which are prac-
Al for the working of their own farms.
see all this clearly and to make use
this understanding of changed condi-
rs is one of the needs of present time
ming. Success in agriculture. as in
frything. depends upon keeping up to
q and in taking advantage of every
ng which will Actually econonize ef-
t labor and the costs of production,
rkcting and sale.
COMPETITION IN PRODUCTS.
lie wise manufacturer. salesman, shop
tper and professional studies clostly
constantly shifting force of competi-
IN, as related to his individual interests
at affects small districts sometimes
again whole sections and, at times
ZONES international in its effects; hence
idea Of protection by tariffs and ol
|nulation through recoprcities. The
rmer has his competition. both loca,
general, and it's appreciate is 4 need
order that its effect may he discounted
met. He no longer farms merely &c
. but also to exchange and sell and &c
10y the varied products of commerce
Il manufacture in the country as wei
In the town
he study of agriculture, as a whole
bws that from $50 TO 1909 the center
farms and for such great crops as
is, corn and wheat has been IN {
stward direction. always away from
East. along u line rather parable
the valley of the Ohio than toward
South. Indeed the center of the mum
of aces in farms was located, ~
back as $50 in the county of Brca tn
Kentucky; but this was the farthcs
int reached in the South. since which
AR il has gradually extended north
Asterlv until the last decade when it.
ldency was again slightly 10 the South
st. thc center of the number of farm.
now in Illinois and the center of III,
lucs IN farm properties also remain.
that State. There are nearly two bill
n acres of land in the United States
which to-day probably ono-half is in
rms, and of this half the amounts q
proved and unimprovcd lands are abou
same.
n Il general way. therefore, II Woul,
rm prudent for the New England farm
to keep in mind these figures. thc~,
pvcrnents and these values relating I,
riculture. because that will tend /,
press him constantly with the fac
1T there exists now II broad distribu
IN in the competition of products ~
ist remember that the advantage is Il
rge extent against him ana in favor o
stern farms in the growth of cereals
e raising of beef cattle, the making %
rk and in what may be called TN
Onomy Of mechanical farming, due Il
nature of soils and the lay and broa'
Peep OF lands. The satisfactory though
Pout this is. however. that there /
i'lp"hsat0ry advantage in the indiSSOlu
rcihtohShp for success of farming
hhuiacturing and commerce which vii
nu 10 equallZe the rewards of labor Oi
~ Wherever expended and applied Tn
rmer mas unusual, indeed the largest
1ancial ana political interests. but. Will
is is so, 1t IL necessary to recopniz
lat this most independent of all M
alwart citizens may not expect To IN
ally force the prices for his produc,
II that. like all the rest, he must do
srd upon the ability of the market I,
~ big prices and that will depend. II
nth, upon the average wage earnin
bility of all others except farmers ano
a certain extent. upon competition fror