Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-26
AGRICULTURAL.

n
constituent and regret, the conclusive
evidence which appears in every direc-
lion, that the business of agriculture does
not receive the attention due to it in this
country, but is treated with absolute neg
lect, compared with other pursuits This
ought not to be, and the inhabitants of this
country, will learn that they have COM
United gross error by abandoning the
cultivation of the soil for less independent
and more precarious modes of obtaining
a livelihood.
Who mas ever before heard of such a
state of things as now exists here! We
have soil as fertile as any that The sun
ever shone upon, a country almost bound
less in extent, and land so cheap that any
man may purchase farm with the pro-
ceeds of few months labor, yet we are
actually importing for consumption, i'm
mense quantities Of agricultural products
from foreign countries! A people thiny
scattered over land unequalled in fertil-
, ity and exhaustleSs in resources, and boy
ing their bread, at enormous prices from
countries so overburdened with inhabit-
ants that political economists have feared
that the earth would fail to produce suf-
hclent to support them Such an extra
ordinary circumstance should excite at
tentlon and awaken inquiry as TO It's cause.
The fault, as we have seen, is not
IN the soil nor is the country overrun
with inhabitants. 1t is therefore evident
that the cult1cdti0n of the soil is NEGLECTED
otherwise We should be exporting instead
OF importing agricultural products. We
apprehend, however, that it will be found
to spring IN great measure from the
same causes which have produced much
evil IN this country, and the bitter fruits OF
which we are now reaping The first
and chief Of these causes is the inordinatc
thirst for wealth, which pcrvades every
class OF society, and induces men to aban-
don their legitimate business TO engage in
some wild, hazardous speculation, with
the hope of becoming SUDDENLY r.ch. 1t
is also too often the case that the farmer
becomes tired Of the moderate accumula-
ton OF property by the products of his
land, and leaves The cultivation of it to
engage in the business Of commerce or
manufacturers. He finds CT: his eyre
gIous mistake when it is too late. The
property he had accumulated is squandcr-
ed and lost IN consequence of his ignor-
ance of new business, and he again signs
for the cheerful and independent mode of
IIte which he has abandoned, when it is
out OF his power to resume it. We have
IN our mind numberless instances of this
KIND where industrious and prosperous
farmers have been lured to their ruin by
being Induced to lay aside the implements
OF husbandry, and engage in the univer-
sal scramble after sudden wealth.
There is another great error prevalent
upon this sub ject, and that is, the business
OF agriculture is generally looked upon
as less respectable than that of commerce.
manufactures, or the professions and
wealthy farmers, instead of teaching their
sons their own business most usually
transform them into merchants, LAWYERS,
doctors, or clergymen. This is all wrong
Agriculture is the very backbone of all
business, the handspring of all wealth.
and should be regarded as a profession of
the highest responsibility 1t gives those
engaged in it a feeling of independence
genuine nobIeneness without ostentaton.
honey, honesty and frmness, well calcu-
lated to pcrpetuate the free institutions of
our happy country. The truth of the
eloquent panegyrics of the ancients upon
TINS employment, may be more easily re-
allied here than in any other country
upon earth. We confidently hope to see
public opinion speedily righting itself up
on TINS SUBJECT, and to find the people seek
ing their permanent interests and advanc
ing the prosperity and glory Of our wide
domain by engaging more generally in
'nls heaIthful, honest and independent bu
slness ~. Y. Sun.