Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-03-27

with which they regard them IL often in proper.
ton to the zeal for improvement, and public
spirit which they manifest on those occasions.-
And this is of great consequence 10 tlisln, for
il helps to break down the absurd distinction
which has SO long been maintained between
brains and labor, the head and the hand.
3D. II brings farmers more into each others
society, promotes the discussion of agricultural
topics; affords an easy medium for tie cominu.
nlcation OF agricultural information and thus
creates a strong class feeling, which has been
found of great utility in promoting The advance
ment OF the profession And last not least, the
premiums awarded to the best animals, encour.
age care IN the selection for breeders and lmpor.
tation Of excellent breeds and by this means a
great amount OF good in improving the native
stock oil the country, has been accomplished. -
And by the same means better systems uf tll!age
ale induced, better kinds Of fruit produced, and
batter agricultural Implements manufactured
than would be the case without this induces
ment. The minds Of men are drawn towards
the profession and their brains set to work on
inveations for its improvement.
Agricultural societies then, being q means
for arousing spirit Of emulation, and desire for
knowledge, the mex, means in order for the i'm.
provement OF husbandry are undoubtedly the
direction Of the former, and the qualification Of
lions must DO spread and read, by those farmers.
who wish to improve their abilities by that most
powerful Of all instruments - hnowledge. To
attempt to prove the old adsge, that "knowl.
edge is power" would be quite superfuous in
such an assembly as the present, but since there
are many who do not believe that ignorance is
weakness, it may be well 10 suggest to these a
single reflection. Are advantages gained, are
inventions discovered, public benefits con.
lerred, or fortunes acquired by ignorance and
neglect, or by knowledge and industry! But
axio'ns aside, let us exa nine first why a farmer
should read agricultural papers, and then wha
has been the result Of this reading, where it ha,
been practlsed
And first. this Is the cheapest and easiest mode
by which knowledge of improved method in az
rcuture can be gained. Farmers do indeet
learn the manual operations Of their calling b!
personal experience, but these are not the prin
ciples Of scientific agriculture, nor can these las
be obtained, except by the study of other men,
experience. For Of all professions agriculture
10 most apt to keep man at home. We there
fore find that particular systems Of tillage, par
tcuar breeds OF stock, particular agricultural
implements, are found in particular 6is,rcte
beyond whose lmi,s their pecuilar,ies are no
found. The consequences OF this are natura!
strong local prejudlces in favor Of our own sys
tens, and firm belief tina. we are be ter man
~s--- .i.-" ~,hris, tnOugh from tne wdhI ol III
tercourse between different sections Of tn
country, these opinions be formed IN Total ignor
ance Of what the systems Of our neighbOrs arc
Now through the influence of the agriculture
press, these walls of partition are broken down
and the good things Of each district, and OF ever
good farmer in each district. are brought togeih
er and placed in the hands of every farmer il
the land. Without this agency, as farmers ar
necessarily kept at home, each may indeed hav
some excellence not possessed by others, but HI
will be confined to this one excellence, nor cal
he without extraneous aid bring ali the depart
ments of his profession, up TO the same stand
ard. But by sending through the whole coun
try, good agricultural paper, collecting all tn
excelleaces, fall the different parts Of the lane
and presenting them together, to tho considera
ton of all, the means of improvement, so far a
knowledge is concerned, are brought TO ever
| firesde.
Again the press has been found the most pow
erful OF all agents, in spreading ligh, and know
edge, throughout every department of business
literature, politics, and religion. Look at tn
thousands Of ne wspapers, which flood this coun
try, and which are gladly supported by the PEG
pie. farmers among the rest. The merchau
has his commercial advertiser by which man
details OF his business are regulated; the phys
clan has his medical repository, from which h
learns the present state of his profession through
out the world, and the latest discoveries in hi
art; the christian of whatever denomination ha
his church paper, spreading before his ewes, III
progress of the truth, and the prosperity Of h
Zion; the scholar has his literary review; til
ladies' have their magazines Of polite literature
and above all the politician, Of every name an
party, con,rves TO send his organ into the hou-
OF every citizen in the land, and so essential
most men consider This to their comfort, that
political paper will be found in many hous
where literature Of any oiber description 10 NJ
10 be seen. Wv this encouragement. of
special organ for each department is all RICH
and all proper, and public opinion has pronoun
ced its most decided verdict in tie favor 81
while every other class Of men use so frsel
this means OF improvement, and pronounce It b
their practice to be most useful. Why may NJ
the farmer use it likewise, and with the sam
advantage! Without saying one word agins
the duty OF watching aud assisting IN the cours
OF political events IN our land, would II n
nevertheless be more profitable, 10 ourselve
and our country, If some OF that extra ZEAL an
extra expense, often only drown away on pol
tics, were devoted 10 the Advancement OF ou
own profession! II instead OF bestowing s
much time and money on this single SUBJECT, "
should lay out a reasonable portion IN the s'ua
Of works, proceeding from minds highly CUT
waited, and striving 10 benefit asricuiture' an
the world through it, should we not make nuc
more profitable investment
But let US rseur once more to practical ev
dence, and examine into the effect OF reading
upon agricultural improvement, where ina
means has been tried. On this point WI
take a few extracts from communications to th
Albany Cultivator. One says, 81 have seen
man 90 into neighborhood of farmers, respec
table men, who did not read and who iet til
old fashioned contempt, for those who did. Thi
man was reader nj agricultural papers, an
when an improvement was pointed out whic
was adapted TO his means, his farm, or his cir
cumslances, he adopted it at once. lie improv
ed his land by draining and nearly doubled tn
ordinary crops, by skliul cropping and rotation
lie improved his stock, by purchasing at srea
cost superior animals to breed from. lis neigh
bors at first called him J0ok, tarnier, and sneer
ed at his management. They soon iound Una
the laugh was on the wrong side, ana began I
inquire The causes. tie distributed his period
Gals among them, and by degrees induced then
to read Soon they perceived the usefulness q
agricultural papers, and became subscriber
themselves; an agricultural paper has now he
come az Indispensable as political one. and It
/ arrival is always looked for with inieres, an
pleasure. The principal farmers Of that neigh
borhood are now readers, and the effect OF read
ing rs plainly visible, in the improvement OF the
farms, stock, circumstances, and every tim
abou, them" Another correspondent says.
planted corn after The directions in your paper