Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-04
WHAT OUR NE|GHBORs SAY
Thrifty French Canadians BUYING
American Farms and They Have
the Money Too.
(From the ST. Adams Messenger)

tFrOm the ST. Adams MeSSenRer.)
Anent the taking up of Vermont farms
by foreigners, the case of the sale
Of the Laporte dairy farm in Morrisvillo
owned by Mr.. and Mrs. c. r. Smith, to
Zephyr Lariviere and Wilfred Chapdelaine
OF St. Hyacinthe, Que, is an example at
hand. The Smith farm is an excellent one
having been brought to it's present fine
state Of cultivation by years of hard
work. The price paid for it is not men
toned in the news stories of the sale, but
it beyond question was a considerable
amount
One does not have to he narrow or
hide bound to regret that this farm was
not taken up by some Vermont farmer
and his family But the tendency is in
the opposite direction. More and more
foreignersare coming in--they are French
Canadians mostly who take up the farms
in the border counties-and in CORE
spending degree Vermonters are losing
their hold in the agricultural districts.
That is the tendency. not the accomplish
ment yet But. unless a change comes.
1t will be the result.
In the families of those who have pur-
chased the Smith farm are IL children.
1t is the French-Canadian custom to make
farming a family institution. Every one
puts his shoulder to the wheel This has
been recognized BY the Boston Cha mber
of Commerce in it's report on the dairy
industry of New England, and 1t says:
Many foreigners are taking up farms
and producing milk. working the entire
family on the farm. Few of these figure
labor costs, but their milk and cream come
into direct competition with the producer
who figures each item
The thrift OF the French-C'anadian, plus
the family effort. soon permits him to pay
for his farm In the process the farm s
apt to suffer as a rule because Of the
'skinning" process to which it is subject
ed. But IL is the owners farm and he Is
not to be censured unduly for doing what
he wants with his own. However. tina,
such is the condition Is cause for regret
Not regret that the French Canadian has
come. he is more than welcome in this
country, but because his coming means
that there will also arrive a method Of
farming which the State has been trying
to end by years Of educative work at the
cost Of much money.
1t is n pity that farms are passing out
The agricultural outlook for Vermont was
never better than it Is now: IL ever there
were any reason in man owning a farm
In this State 1t certainly exists now. The
West has filled up. The population of the
country has increased so that 1t is now
pressing on food production. Cheap and
rapid transportation has placed the big
cities of New York and New England at
Vermonts very door. Science has step
ped in with lessons beyond all value to
the progressive farmer. All of which gives
Vermont agriculture q very bright out
look. But still the farms pass into the
hands OF foreigners. However If Ver-
monters will give them up, we welcome
the French Canadian farmer for he has a
solid basis Of thrift and industry. and he
in turn can be taught the modern ways
In time He does not constitute an OBJ
structon, but simply a break. and in
time will enjoy to the limit the oppor-
tunites which our own people are passing
up.