Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-03

they had the courage, they would no!
have the power or opportunity to borrow
money. Individuals, who are capitalists,
think in general they can find more prof
liable investments for their money than to
lend it to farmers, who have no other re-
source than in their own labor and enter
prise. Bank loans are in general too
short and capricious to be safe or conven-
lent for farmers besides that banks never
were designed :or farmers; they are only
for merchants and manufacturers and
for much more numerous class, who
are the very curse of every industrious
community, gamblers and spectators who
live upon the hard earnings of labor.
Under these circumstances the farmer
finds his task difficult. An unfortunate
year or capricious market gives him a
severe check, and perhaps produces entire
encouragement All thoughts of i'm
provement then are at an end. He drags
along from year to year continually EN-
barrassed by load of debt, which he can
hardly stand under and which he cannot
throw off; until at last when he can get
on no farther, his mortgage is foreclosed,
his premises pass under the hands of the
auctlonesr, and he is left again to shift for
himself, to find what employment he can
or to subsist his family as he may; or
gathering the fragments of the wreck he
leaves the home of his fathers to pitch his
tent where chance may direct him in
the seductive and perilous western land
of promise, and to encounter all the diff
culties and hardships of new and untri-
ed country and climate. This is but the
history of innumerable individuals among
US. The frequency of these cases, we
confess, throws damper upon our hopes
OF agricultural improvement unless some
remedy or preventive can be pointed out.
Let US then go little farther into this
matter.
Agricultural Improvements NAV be
properly divided into three classes those
which are mere embellishments those
which are necessary or useful but not inn
medlately productive; and those which
are directly productive. All that serves
no other purpose than to improve the ex-
ternal appearance of our premises, paint
plaZzas, colonades, blinds, ornamental
fences, pointed and faced stone walls: all
within doors likewise that is mere matter
OF establishment or LUXURY, papered walls.
carpets, and sofas; and so likewise grav.
Ell walks, and summer houses, and orna-
mental shade trees; and also all expens-
I've vehicles and equipments, all chaises.
and pleasure wagons, and plated harness
es, these things though very gratifying to
the taste and pride, and very reasonable
luxuries and indulgences in some circum-
stances, cannot be brought into the class
OF productive Improvements; and should
not be thought of by the farmer or the
farmers vile, who are in debt to the small
est amount; or who have few or no 9TH
CT resources than in their own industrious
habits and severe labor. Yet expenses
like these are often incurred and cripple
the energy of the farmer and withdraw
from him the means of making improve
ments on his farm OF productive charac
ter.
There is a second class of improve
ments, which may be deemed necessary
and useful. The farm must in the frs
place be well divided and fenced Tbi,
is necessary in order to the safe keeping
of the live stock and TO the protection o
the crops. The division of farm into
enclosures OF proper size renders tn,
cultivation more easy; permits will
greater convenience rotation OF croos
and the appropriation to different objects
os it may be necessary, the different Dor
tons OF the farm.-Then likewise b,
, poor or insufficient fences crops are often
! times seriously injured or DESTROYED
quarrels and heart.burnings and lawsuit,
are eng,endered among neighbors; anc
the good morals of your cattle are DESTROY
ed. The preparing also of cellars for re
ceivlng your crops, of vaults under YOU
stables Tor the manufacture and preserva
ton OF your manure; and also the build
! ing OF convenient styes, stalls, stables an,
barns Tor the storage OF your produce an,
: the protection of your cattle; and the Oh
tanning OF valuable and labor-savino ma
chimes and implements for cultivation an
y the preparation of your product for mar
: ket, all these are as useful. and nronerl
speaking, necessary Improvements on
!, farm, but which cannot be classed anon,
productive Improvements. Thew saw
0 much that might otherwise be lost. or in
: Jured' or perish; but they create nothing
. unless It be according TO Poor Richard
! proverb, that penny saved is two penc
= earned" A farmer may, as is often sale
D get along without any OF these convenier
" ces and facilities but it is miserable I'm.
: bandry when his crops are lost or waste
~ Tor the want OF convenient store-house
y and barns; when he dare not cultiyal
y many valuable products, because he h.
~ no means of securing them from the w
= or the frost; where his cattle suffer fro,
- the weather for want of commodious she
al ter: and mhan esnoa;an