Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-03-27
THE =: FARM.
TWO LECTURES
ON THE
IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE.


ON THE
IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Delivered in the several towns Of Chhtenden
County, by The laie agent for the Chinenden
County Agricultural Society.
PUBLISHED BY REoUEsT)
No. 9.
Agricultural Societies, Agricultural Publica
lions, Agricultural Education with an APP
peal in favor of the Ch,tenden County Agri-
cultural Society.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In former days, and in despo,ic forms Of gov
eminent, If a change was to be brought about in
public sentiment or revolution, an improve
ment, in any branch Of political economy, or So
cial relations: there we're employed but two in.
s,rumsns in it's accomplishment viz, force OF
arms, and the influence Of the great To the
force Of moral suason, nothing was trusted; to
the voice of private judgment, no attention was
paid TO the wishes and interests Of the masses
nothing was granted And it has been reser.
we'd for later days and freer governments, to dis.
cover the mighty principle of voluntary associa.
tion, by whose agency the public mind is en-
pressed, and directed with certainty and eflec,
towards The object in view. TO this agency,
which Of all agencies, is that of mind has been
owing an ncalculable amount Of the good which
has been done, and the knowledge which has
been spread, during the last alf.cen,ury. And
TO the effects of this principle as displayed in
agricultural improvement, as well as TO the
consideration OF the other means which have
beeen adopted with success, for the advance
ten,on this evening.
The fact that community stands in need Of
improvement, is alone sufficient evidence, that
the individuals who compose that community,
are each better fitted TO receive, than to dis.
pensc, whatever aids that object. A sense
in promoting an object of Public interest, leads
men to the formation OF such bodies Of indirid.
uals, as may multiply and increase the effect Of
their exer,ions, beyond what would be accom-.
plished by each person singly. In no case is
this exempll6ed more fully than in Agriculture
for in no profession are the people to be benefit.
ted, more widely scattered through the land,
local prejudices, than in this. II therefore far
iners would advance as class IN the communi.
ty, it cannot be by isolated individual efforts
alone (,hough these are indispensable to the
perfection Of the science) SO much as by the
united zeal of all who are interested, the stimuli
tancous uprising Of the whole agricultural pro.
tession. Hence we at first form societies. by
,,,b, ~ t,l..
sed by each member, may be communicated tc
all the others by whose means general spir.
it OF improvement is aroused, and such meae.
ures taken as shall ensure unity Of action. and
} the prosperity OF all.
Ii it be necessary to defend tho principle
which is thus announced, would ask, on wha
grounds that most glorious of all societies, the
union OF these twenly-eight states, was estab
llshed! Did not the trainers Of our constitution
!, know their own interest, when - uniting the
powers, singly feeble, into one, able TO resis
Great Britain - they taught pos,erity the man
f ner in which they should unite for the accom-
f plishment Of good among their fellows! O.
would it have been wiser on their part, to hay,
remained single in the effort 10 achieve thei
Independence, when as the event proved, their
united efforts were scarce sufficient to repel thu
foe ! Aanfesty not. Their whole force wa
barely sufficient to accomplish the object the,
had in view; and surely WE cannot expect b!
single efforts to recover the land from the igno
rance and prejudicss in relation 10 agriculture
, which have SO long, held undisturbed posses
, amonn ia And in followipp ont ba
: ample which our fathers have set, what a vas
: amount Of good, have our contemporaries accom-
' plished, IN every department Of religion, benev
olence, moral reform and mechanical improve
: ment And il all others of the human rae,
have concurred in establishing this method Q
doing good, and for half century, have expe
rienced its good effects why may not agricullu
rlsts resort TO the same means, With equal RICH
and equal success! Why may not agricul,u
raj societies, have the same effect in unitn
u our cxer,ons, in spreading Information, and ex
citing proper spirit of emulation among US =
a erary improvement, and for the thousand OF
jects for which they exist. produce in the fuI
. therance Of their aims
II Agricultural Societies then are the fir.
;, means 10 be resorted to, for the improvement
t husbandry. For they unite the efforts Of III
p many, where the feeble efforts Of the few ,coul
work no change; they create a spirit Of emul,
. ton, desire for excellence. which in turn ex
T. cites longing after knowledge, the only feelin
. from which proceeds that search after know
a edge which results in ito acquisition. For, it
a plain that know Wedge is that, BY whose promo
ton our obect is to be attained but know ledp
can be forced upon no one therefore we ,nu.
prepare The way for its dissemination by fir.
q creating the desire for it's possession Now az
% rcultural societies, when zealously supporle,
II are found practically 10 create this desire,
g fore they are the first means to be employed
y the pursuit Of general improvement in the pro
- fession. And 10 prove our position let us lur
II TO the practical demonstration Of the usefulness
of these societies. Beginning with that Crea
est Of all its race, the English Royal Agricultu
n raj Society, let US see what good or evil Thu
has accomplished since it's establishment,
!. 1897. | shall condense the account Of il froI
10 Colman's Agricultural tour through Grs,t Br
% tain. ....r
s. "This institution comprises abou, $500 men