VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



57 



ciatious for the purpose of discussing all questions of interest 

 to them and also for the purpose of devising plans to put in 

 force the results of their deliberation. 



It has become such a common thing for interests to unite in 

 some form of organization that it seems hardly necessary to 

 submit arguments showing the importance of organization among 

 the farmers, and yet, very many of them do not seem willing to 

 make use of this agency for the promotion of their own interests. 



As a country, we have progressed wonderfully, until the 

 estimated value of our visible property is more than sixty-five 

 billions of dollars, a goodly portion of which represents the 

 skill and industry of the farmer. Whether or not he has his 

 fair share of this wealth is an open question. I find that the 

 total value of all property in the United States, as given by the 

 census returns, was as follows : 



In 1850, $ 7,135,780,228. 

 In i860, $16,159,616,068. 

 In 1870, $23,997,221,474. 

 In 1880, $43,642,000,000. 

 In 1890, $65,037,091,197. 



This represents the tangible property as nearly as could be 

 ascertained. The total capital invested in farming operations, 

 consisting of land, fences, and buildings, implements and ma- 

 chinery and live stock, was as follows : 



In 1850, $ 3, 967, 343,580, or 55.59 percent, of the whole. 

 In i860, $ 7,980,493,063, or 49.48 per cent, of the whole. 

 In 1870, $ 8,885,658,218, or 37. per cent, of the whole. 

 In 1880, $12,104,001,538, or 27.73 P er cent, of the whole. 

 In 1890, $15,982,267,689, or 24.54 per cent, of the whole. 



This statement shows, not that the capital invested in farm 

 operations has decreased, for it has increased with each decade, 

 but that the amount of capital invested in other lines of industry 

 increases more rapidly than in the farming industry. This is not 

 surprising, as the acreage of farming land is limited, and when 

 it is all brought under cultivation and properly improved, fur- 

 nished with implements for cultivation and with all the stock 

 that it can profitably carry, capital will necessarily seek other 

 fields of investment where there is more room for expansion. 



The above statement does not pretend to give the actual 

 wealth of those who are engaged in the various industries of the 

 country. It only gives the capital invested therein. Much of 

 this capital represents the accumulations of the farmers. 



The real estate of this country in 1890, was valued as fol- 

 lows, valuations being "true" ones. 



