12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



THE CHARMS OF RURAL LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND. 



BY GOVERNOR CHAS. J. BELL, IIARDWICK, VT. 



Rural life has a far greater variety of attractions than any 

 other. This is especially true of New England. Yet there 

 are those who do not seem to appreciate the value of their 

 natural surroundings, and who spend their whole busy lives 

 wondering why the Creator, when He made the universe, 

 saw fit to make it so uneven, and then expected people to 

 earn their living from the earth among the hills. 



Yet among these same hills and mountains are broad and 

 fertile valleys, where can l)e grown the greatest variety of 

 all kinds of crops. Our friends from the prairie States often 

 wonder why we are able to grow so much farm produce on 

 so few acres. New England enjoys the distinction of being 

 able to raise a greater variety of the substantials of life than 

 any other part of the United States. Indeed, it is an oft- 

 repeated fact that, in my own sturd}^ little State of Vermont, 

 we can grow everything required in the way of clothing and 

 food, — I mean, of course, the essentials, — except the one 

 common article of salt. Now, as we all know, the men and 

 women of New England are the salt of the earth, so even 

 this commodity would not be greatly missed in time of need. 



While New England's greatest staple product, in an agri- 

 cultural way, is hay, we are able to fortify our thrift by an 

 abundant output of grain and fruit. In the past the New 

 England farmer has sufi'ered his calling to be looked down 

 ui)on and in a way belittled, and, indeed, has himself often 

 expressed the belief that New England is no place for the 

 agriculturist, but the man who chooses farming for a life 

 work must go to the broader fields of the great west to win 

 success. This is not necessary. Right here in New Eng- 



