Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-01-09

labor, or those which have been made in
husbandrv in other districts and In some
other counties. On the contrary II Is but
too apparent, that, with individual and To-
cal exceptions, our old lands have been de.
teriorating in fertility without any mate
rial Improvement in the mode of their cul-
ture. A bare reference to the wheat crop
in the valley of the Mohawk, comparing
it now with what it was forty yeas ago,
will serve TO substantiate this truth.
From the examples have cited, and
from the personal observation which NEST
of you have been enabled to make, think
it will readily be admitted. that we are ca
pable of greatly improving our farming
operations, and of thereby adding 10 our
[ wealth, our comforts, and to the substan-
! tial prosperity of our country. If by
means of new farming mplements-the
improvement of our domestic animals
and better system of culture-the labor
which now nets US fifty dollars, can be
made to nett US one hundred dollars
which consider within the range of prob
l-abiIitles-we may then double both our
products and our profits; and, under the
guidance of correct principles, double, too,
our usefulness to society.
The progress Of Improvement in hus
bandry, will be graduated. in a measure.
by the degree of intelligence which directs
| lis labors. 1t appears to be strange
and yet we see it to be true "-says The
Rev. c. Young, "that the more ignorant
a man is, the more obstinately is he wed
ded 10 his own notions and wavs-the
more ready to scott at and oppose every
thing that is new. Sefconceit and pre-.
jndi:e, the greatest foes to improvement,
are the legitimate offspring of ignorance.
And in proportion to the degree of ignor-
ance, In community, will be the hosti j.
ty TO Improvement, and the derision, and
even persecution, at which all attempts at
innovation and reform will he met. The
spirit of Improvement is thus cowed, and
even smothered. And if occasionally. a
bold genius struggles into life, and exhib-
It's his inventive powers, he hazards his
peace-sometimes even his life. When
Hargraye, less than a century ago, al
tempted to introduce the spinning Jenny
| which he had invented, In The cotton man.
nfacture. he was obliged 10. fly from Ian
cashre in England. where he lived. at the
risk of his life. The first saw-milI ever
erected in England was DESTROYED bv
mob, because they thought it would take
bread from the families of the sawyers. -
Fortunately in our day and country. acts
OF violence towards innovators upon old
modes of farming are not to be apprehend.
ed. We can on Y complain of a lis,less
indifference to Improvement, and Of con.
ceited Ignorance. which rejects the useful,
because it is new.
If our neighbor discovers on his farm
| valuable mineral, and works it 10 oreal
proht-we commend him for his good
fortune. II the like mineral abounds on
our own farms. and we can worl, il TO
equal advantage, what course. as prudent
men, ought we to pursue2 Should we
not deem the man highly reprehensible,
who neglected such an opportunity of ad
ding TO his wealth, by adopting the exam.
pie of his fortunate neighbor2 Now wha,
are our farms but mines of wealth, if right.
~ improved :? They are certainly 50 to
many cu!!ivators and if we will follow
their example in working the mine. and
in hnsbandIng the wealth which it Yields
our farms will be such TO US. IF we lack
The knowledge which precedes improve.
ment, let US seek for it. by observation. by
study, and mutual interchange OF opin-
IONS and lnfor nation with our brother far
mers in associations like the one am adj
FdressIng. We shall see and hear at these
meetings much that is new,-much that
IS lnstructing and useful, aud much to
stimulate us to new exertions in our bust
ness
Agaln-ifa man embarks in a specn-
latlng business, and prospers in it, how
ready are his neighbors to become his ri.
walls and competi,ors2 Good farmino is
a speeulation-wi,h almost certaintv nj
gain-wi,hont the probability of loss. In
agriculture, besides, competition eyries,
no unkInd feelings as it is apt 10 do in
other empioyments, or should not, for tbe
Improvements OF every competitor may
prove beneficial TO all What one makes
does not lessen his neighbors' profits: but
on the contrary has tendency 10 better
the condition of all around him, There
IS no monopoly in good farming.
The propensity which has too much
prevailed of late years. to quit FARMING for
more lucrative. more gen,eel, or less
labonous employment, has been a great
obstacle 10 agricultural improvement. and
mas tended much TO lower the respectable.
| lily OF oar yeomanrv in the public es;ima-
uon. How many farmers have we Seen
who were doing we'll upon their farms
aiiured by weak ambition, into some
"ntr!ed business. in which they had eve.
rYthing to learn-how many such. SAY
nave we seen bankrup'ed in fortune. and