Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-21
FARMS AND SUMMER
HOMES.

Vermont has not kept pace with New
but our people have recently shown
gratifying disposition to profit by the
example of our ncighbors as we'll as
to take the initiative for themselves.
In the matter of the disposition of
abandoned farms 1t will be recalled
that Major Valentine of Bennington
conceived the idea that Scan
dinavians could make two blades of
grass grow on some Vermont farms
where not even one grew before. The
latest solution OF the problem is a
slight modification Of mat plan. We
still depend upon immigration. but we
are now acting on the theory that worn
out farms can be utilized to splendid
advantage by converting them into
summer homes.
New Hampshire has outstripped us
in this direction, however, for accord
ing to the report Of the board of agri-
culture of the Granite State our neigh
bors have added no less than $4,000, 900
to their aggregate wealth through the
summer home and summer boarding
! business 1t will be profitable as we'll
az interesting for us to study the man
nor in which our neighbors of the
Granite State have operated to bring
about these gratifying results.
Ex-Governor ~ II. Bachelor. who is
secretary and chief executive officer Of
| the New Hampshire state board of ag-
| riculture. is also master of the national
| grange, and while the occupancy OF
this position has unQuestionably en-
| abled him to do moro than some Others
might be able to accomplish under sim
liar circumstances, he has done in New
Hampshire only what might be done
in Vermont with the proper amount OF
energy and enterprise.
The report shows that when thu
work was begun the problem of th'
abandoned farms of New Hampshire
| II
tor placed in charge Of the case frs
made and published diagnosis, which
showed that there were no symptom
threatening the prosperity and well
being OF the state as whole; that tn
existing condition, which seemed mucl
worse to the casual eye than it reall,
was. resulted from natural and loca
causes.
Then he set himself to remedy thes
causes, so far as he might with tn
means at his command. The rapid in
crease in the price Of timber land ha
aided him, In that 1t has SHOWN thou
sands of New Hampshire acres to b
more valuable to their owners and I
the community when abandoned" tina
when occupied-when left to grow II
to forest, that is, than when othcrwis
used.
The better appreciation of tho poss
bilities in New Hampshire for dair
farming for fruit growing, for marks
gardening, for specialized agricultur
was another factor in speedily reduC
ing the hue and cry that agricultur
in New Hampshire was going to tn
dogs.
=, The instrument which has proved Il
most efficacious in accomplishing II
desires of the board in its SUNNI.
business" work has been the annu
- publication of book, New Ham,
= shire Farms for Summer Homes mao
-, as beautiful in Illustrations and as il
\ teresting In text as is possible. Fol
ia thousand copies a year are issued al
! distributed whore It is believed thu
will do the most good.
n Vermonts State board Of agricultu
Is has undertaken work along some OF Il
ID lines indicated. but there still remail
~ much to be done, and ii is to be hop'
~ that the coming season may see opcr
It tons undertaken along new lines.