Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-07-31
VERNON APH

Could not every practical farmer give
the mere botanist, however learned ne T
might be, much useful information about
plants! and still more mere graduate OF
college? A fact will perhaps answer
that question. In the year 1885, the elder
and the younger Michaux, distinguished
botanists, visited this county, under the di-
rection of the French government, for the |
purpose of studying American vegetables,
especially our forest trees. They were
continued on their errand Il years, when
thew returned to France and published
three large octave volumes on American
Forest Trees which is by the way the
most sensible work within my knowledge
respecting the vegetable kingdom, and
respecting American trees, it Is the only
work of my acquaintance of much value.
But that is valuable and interesting to eve-
ry farmer, aud every mechanic, and even
to general reader.
But where did they obtain the materi-
ais for their work2 Was it from the
graduates or professors or presidents of
colleges? Not particle: and very little
from any American botanist. Much the
: greatest and most valuable part Of the ma
; terials for these very useful volumes, were
I obtained of this ship builder. that carpen-
: ter, and another cabinet maker, or some
other mechanic, and large portion from
: farmers
. On many, probably most other subject;
: of Natural history, no less than botany
the farmer evidently has more familiar
: and more extensive knowledge, thar
= professed scholars, many of whom arr
:; proverbially ignorant of almost ever.
= thing that relates to common business, o
u to those pursuits which give support, ener
- gy. and prosperity to society. Every on
q = has heard of the very learned man, VIII
=. took up his beans and set them out tn
:. " other end up, because they had come u
~ the wrong end first; which was actual
az fact, with thousand of others, provin
10 no less strikingly the ignorance of Learn
ed men.
:; To me it would afford some satisfactic
~ to hear Unexplained, why knowledge
~ the best mode of hoeing a field of corn
' u. potatoes, or of feeding a horse or GOV
nv fattening an OK, sheep or pig, of Il
g. plants and manures most appropriate
~ different soils and situations, and thousan
We of other things, of which the scholar
90 90 entirely ignorant, is not equally en;iti
~ ~ to the appellation of useful knosoledge,
10 an acquaintance with the infections oil
Greek verb, or the various dialects sp
ken in the different Grecian Republi
two or three thousand years ago.
| have no wish to speak disparagine
4 Il
ses knowledge of any kind; only wish
of have things called by their right nam
+ and to have every kind of knowledge, a
lion every class of the community, pass
and what they are worth. The practice
and throwing science, or any kind of kno
lear edge, in the back ground, because it f
Full nishes US with our bread or of calling n
re- ignorant, because they do not know
'erl- great many useless things, appears to
my, to be equally at variance with republic
ach- ism, Christianity and common sense.
arly is to this abuse of things that wish
La a invite the attention of farmers, and es
;lng cially of young farmers, who are un
g In the impression that they must leave Ii
ears, farms to acquire an education, or to
lie Is respectable stations in society.
the The subject admits, and almost requ
llsh- being presented in many other points
nea- view, and elucidated. by other illustrate
ar but must leave it for the present, "
Ian the question; which have the erea
reek amount of useful knowledge, farmers
bout protested scholars2 If any should tn
llian the latter, have only to add, they di
little from me in opinion. With the high
IS of TEEN of your friend, ]. HoLBRooK
con-