Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-01-28
VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY.

THE New England Homestead prin is
an American farm census which shows
the number of farms in Vermont in
1910 to be SO, 900, the same as in 1900.
The value of these farms has increased
in ten years from $l0S, 900, 900 to $125,-
900, 600 on very substantial gain while
the value of farm products in 1910 is
$50, 900, 900 as compared with 1913, 900, 900
in 1900. 1t will be seen that the value
of agricultural products has nearly
doubled in ten years, record that needs
no apology. Montpelier Journal
About the time that people in and out
of the State began to stop talking about
our abandoned farms, which existed, in
fact, mostly in imagination, there came
revival of successful farming in Ver-
mont that has gone steadily forward
until, judging from the above figures,
we are very rapidly coming into our own
in an agricultural way
Farming in this State is not simple
or highly profitable trade The Herald
has freely said that it takes more brains
to run farm successfully than it does
to run railroad. This, of course, is
true only in degree, dollar for dollar
invested, perhaps, but it is true, aud
there is no finer opportunity for adj
vanced, scientific and highly specialized
farming than in Vermont today. Boys
who are leaving the farm to take clerk
ships, desks and drummer routes are in
many cases running away from 'acres
of diamonds" under their feet
Take any fairly well salaried man in
Vermont industrial or business life.
Unless of extraordinary thrift or par
ticulary fortunate as to opportunity, he
! oil l.. e. 4 l..
pay out all he can earn for the upkeep
of his home and family, with the occa-
sional spell of sickness or misfortune to
act as a drag and will finally decline
into penniless or laborous old age,
with practically no possible provision
made for retirement. There are of
course the exceptions, whose families
are small, who make fortunate invest
ments or who acquire little property,
but the average salaried mantle sort
that the farmers boy runs away from
home to become-wi live and die prac-
tically as outlined.
Suppose on the other hand he stays
at home. Let him get the best educa-
ton going, practical and theoretical,
and he will presently succeed to the
homestead, or part thereof that will
give him his start. With moderate in
telligence and application, he must at
the worst make living. With any
reasonable industry, he should come
into nice property with his old age,
with sons and grandsons to take up the
burden and permit him to walk placidly
down the sunny side of the hill of life,
with little real anxiety as to the future.
There are positive advantages about
farm life in Vermont, and the frequent
specialist who not only makes a living
and acquires property, but who makes
snug fortune is not beyond the aspira-
ton of any farmers boy. The agricul-
tural calling is something that ought to
call into service the pick of our citizen
ship, because, despite our recent strides
as an industrial State, agriculture will
be for many years the industry that en-
ploys the bone and sinew of our popula-
ton.
Between existing on a salary, as good
as such things average in this State,
and making living on the old place,
with the chance for independence and
real competence that it offers, the boy
who neglects the chances that are offer
ed on the farm is throwing away oppor-
tunity with both hands. Rutland Her
aid.