Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-01-08
Agricultural.
A Little Farm Well Titled.

The greatest obstacle to the improvement ofAg-
riculture in New England, is the propensity, the
mania might well call it, TO o,on more land than he
can till TO advantage. And it is thus that we see
scattered the country large tracts Of sterile
unproductye land, which under good cultivation,
would yield bountifuI aud valuable crops. Not
only the dictates of sound philosophy, but numer-
Gus facts drawn from experience, are constantly
and loudly calling the farmer, from every quarter,
TO occupy a small farm and cultivate ii IceH | wish
that this admonition could be Numbered into the
ears ofthe agricultural population ofNew-England,
until complete revolution should be produced in
the farming system.
This great truth is already beginning to be un-
derstood in other countries, and is attended with
corresponding advantages. The deiisest popua-
ton in Europe may be found in Flanders and Ionl-
hardy, where the land is divided into small farms,
and being thoroughly titled, produces abundant food
for the inhabitants And the experience of quarter
OF century in France proves that, by the occupa.
ton Of the country under small working farmers,
the land is producing one third more food, and sup.
porting population one.third greater than when
it was possessed in large masses.
The law is universal-t applies to every coun-
try-that the secret of success IN Agriculture con-
sists in the thorough cultivation of small piece of
ground, which, well MANFRED and well worked,
yields up its treasures in prodgal profusion. In
almost every part Of New-Engand, one capital er-
for runs through the whole system of farming 4
great deal of money is arrested in land and Uery
little money employed Ss its cuitirdtiOn. And it is
sad to see the owner Of large farm, pride himself
on the number Of acres which he possesses and
undertake to cultivate the soil without sufficient
means. Such man has been happily compared to
a merchant. who expends all his capital in build
ing for his own large roomy store, and is
afterwards seen gazing with complacency on his
bare walls and empty shelves.
He has chalked out TO himself hard lot, and
voluntarily enters on a state of serytude, worse
than Egyptian bondage. His work is never ac-
compished. Heteils at all hours and yet is never
ahead of his work, and his work is never half done
He has not time to accomplish any thing through
out. His house is out of repair-his barn diapidat-
ed-his cattle poor-his fences in ruins-his past
ures oyerrun with bushes, and acres ofaud, which.
under proper cultivation might be made to yield
rich harvest are but little removed from barren
ness, perhaps dotted with mullen. burdocks, thst-
les, or filled with .sorrel white weed, and other
noxious plants, which root out the grass and eat
up the life of the soil, without afording noursh-
ment to either men or beast
What harrassed, unhappy being must be the
owner of such farm He has no time for rec
reaton mental improvement. He is doomed to
the tread-mill Tor life with his spirits depressed
dependency stamped upon his haggered Inca
his heart, with him there are no pleasant associ-
aons with the paSt-the present is full Of anxiety,
care and hard labor-and dark cloud rests upon
The future. He reminds me Of Hoods touching
Song fthe Shirt and it may be well said or sung
Of him.
Woodwork
From weary chime TO chime,
Work-work-work
As prisoners work for crime
Pow, and harrow, and hoe
Hoe, and harrow, and pillow
Till the heart is sick, and the arm benumbd
And misery stamp'd on the brow
Such man has little reason to pride himself on
his extensive POSSESSIONS and paradoxica as ii may
appear, he would in nine cases out of ten, add to
his riches well his enjoyment, by giving away
one half of them at least. He is, in the true sense
Of the word, mserably poor, in fact slave and
when his eyes opened to his real condition,
it is no wonder that he is clad 10 emancipate him
SELF by selling his farm for what he can get, and
escape, post haste, to Texas or Iowa.
SieePer's Agrieuh. address.