The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-31
BOOSTING NEW ENGLAND

One of the most significant signs
of the times is the systematic effort
that is being made to develop New
England. This region, glorious in it's
history, the nursery of the great and
powerful States of the West in some
respects has fallen behind in the
march of progress. Now an organized
effort is being made, particularly
along agricultural lines, to advance
the welfare of this region, which is
so near the great markets of the
East
Much has been written or this new
movement, but one of the best arti-
Giles appeared recently in the New
Englan Homestead, from the pen of
its editor, G. c. Sevey. in which he
said:
New England is on the threshold
of great commercial, industrial and
rural regeneration.
THE great human wave having en-
circled the globe, population will set
back eastward in an irresistible under
tow which no human power can stay.
New England industries and rural
enterprises will be invigorated by the
refreshing influence of this return
tide.
"A new agriculture is safely born.
Our new agriculture is the agree
able and harmonious amalgamation of
science and practice, plus a redirect
ed education.
Science alone means a lopsided ag-
riculture.
Practice or brute strength alone
means a lopsided agriculture.
Satisfactorily combined, they
mean a new agriculture which will
approximate the acme of results in
rural uplift and progress.
| with men or with nations, the con-
tributing powers must be effectively
correlated to show tangible results
Our new agriculture is correlating its
powers. Il Il
/ "All agricultural organizations are
getting on to their jobs. They are
working for rural development, in
stead Of being content with talking
about It.
! Boards of Trade and commercial
organizations are taking hold, realiz-
ing that they cannot prosper unless
| the sections upon which they depend
prosper. A notable example is the ac-
tivity of the Boston Chamber of Com
MERGE along the lines OF rural enter
prise.
Even rural churches sense a new
obligation. They see that spiritual
welfare can be advanced by sys-
tematic and efficient interest in local
problems.
Dignity of agriculture was never as
generally admitted as now
False standards formerly sent
brilliant sons and daughters to the
city, keeping the scrub stock on the
farm. New standards interest some OF
the best blood, and keep it at home
to develop the problems in the rural
sections, which have so long been neg
These are matters of great signi-
fcance to New England. 1t means a
realization and appreciation of New
England resources and the supremacy
of optimism as opposed to conserya-
tism,
New England soils are not sterile
but are teeming with countless mil
lions of bacteria, anxious to work fol
the farmer and humanity when this
new agriculture is intelligently ap-
Piled
Our production and returns pei
acre materially exceed any other
State. The average corn yield in the
so-called corn States is 81 bushels pei
acre, with value of $14.09. New
Englands yield is 40 bushels, with 9
value of $2754, practically double the
return than from the pompous States
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.
New England receives 81 each foi
roasters, SIS each for lambs, straw
berry returns of $500 an acre, mar
ket garden crops at $4,000, large fruits
$780, tobacco $500.
Western lands cost $3.50 to 5000 al
acre; New England $40 to $50.
An eager market is at the door O
New England, with veritable net
work of steam and electric lines, car
rying both passengers and freight.
Our educational and social features
and all that counts for culture, are
not eXcelled in the world.
New England Is rapidly escapine
from the deadening and demoralizinf
rut of criticism, skepticism and liner
tia. We are becoming boosters, back
ed with a mine of optimism
Capital Is being invested at home
instead Of IN dividend-less mining
stock or desert-like orchard sites IL
the Northwest This will repopulat,
New England's hills and valleys an,
set the wheels Of industry humminl
as they never hummed before.
"The signs Of reawakening are OF
every hand in every section. Note tn,
better farming special train thai
toured Maine. New Hampshire, Yer
mont Massachusetts and Connect
cut four years ago, preaching tn,
gospel of the new agriculture to 100,
GOO neonle. Note the greater New
England conference of Governors. he'll,
at Boston two years ago, the unifyins
spirit of which is still fresh in mind
Note the New England Fruit Show