The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-04-21
AGRICULTURAL.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
FARMING IMPLEMENTS.

The hustle and excitement of an Asriru.-
tlIral + air and Cattle Show no. af1ording the
committee an opportunity for anv thing more
than very brief and hasly report-merely
awarding the premiums 10 the successful
competitors, they ask leave notC to present
few considerations connected with that de-
partment of the Socieiy's operations assigned
10 then charge.
The committee observed with regret but
little interest manifested in the exhibition OF
farming implements and labor saving ma
chnery-in their opinion, far short of that
which an intelligent appreciation of their val
ne to the agricultural interests of this Coun-
ly should inspire. When we contrast the
bungling and unwieldy implements hich orr
own youthful hands were wont TO ply. (ihc
relics of some Of which may still be found in
the Lighthouses of our fathers,) with those
now in general use among us, we cannot but
he forcibly impressed with the beneficial
change; bless The memory of the inventor
OF the patent fork and the cast iron plow anG
feel the importance Of carrying forward these
improvements, so intimately connected with
our comfort as well as interest. to still higher
degrees of perfection. At time when the
attention of the farmers of Addison County
is increasingly turned 10 the cultivation Of
grain, aud when the improved mode OF hus-
bandry brings into use greater variety Of
implements, too much importance can scare
~ he attached to the introduction Of all the
improvements which the inventive genius OF
the age is placing within cur reach. The
occasion of cattle show and fair as nun.er-
ously attended by the intelligent farmers Of
cur County as was our last, and as we hope
all our future ones will be. affords The most
favorable opportunity for exhibiting all the
best specimens of the various implements OF
husbandry which can be collected: and the
committee cannot but express the hope that.
not only the competitors for prizes, but eve
~ farmer and mechanic who is in possession
of any implement " hich lie deems an i'm
proveement on those in use. will present it al
the next fair; from the laudahle motive OF
giving TO others the benefit OF his skill in in
venliOn or his Judgment in selection, thai
thus our Society in this, as well as in various
other ways may tend 10 the permanent ad-
ganiage OF its members and the communitv
Although the application of labor-savine
machinery TO the business of the farm is be-
ginning 10 engage the attention both of the
farmer and the machinist. hut little progress
has yet been made in this department of re-
form, compared with lis great importance
both to the cultivator Of the soil and the con-
Snmer of its products. But few have awaited
themselves of those improvements already
perfected, and still fewer seem disposed 10
offer inducements TO the efforts of genius for
exploring new fields of discovery. The ma
jOriiy Of our farmers are avcrse TO making ex-
periments Involving pecuniary expenditure,
and a notion prevails 10 some extent, that la
bor-saving machines when applied to the pur-
poses Of farming, will prove injurious TO the
parties most intimately connected with them
in the first instance, 10 the hired laborer. bv
throwing him out Of employment and com
polling him to seek The means of support
elsewhere, and ultimately TO the employer.
who, it is alleged. will thereby be deprived of
an amount of farce which is indispensable.
With all due dihidence TO those who enter
tain this opinion, your committe conceive il |
TO result from false and superficial view OF
the case. One argument in favor of machin- |
cry of universal application is derived fron |
the fact, that IL cbeapenS the product Of labor
to trhich it IS applied, an ratio prOportionate |
to the amount Of manual labor trhich 1t Sdres.
and thus brings the article produced within
the reach Of greater number of consumers.
The application of machinery to the manu-
facture Of cotton, for instance. has reduced
tne price OF SnlfllDg from 81 - GEMS 10 or
Q cents per yard. and what mulritndes by this
means enjoy the comfort of cotton shnt,
who would else have 10 90 without any or
supply substitute at an expenditure of la
Dor greatly disproportionate to that required
for the purchase Of cotton at cents a yard
The same argument applies with equal force
in favor of the use of machinery for farming
purposes. II a threshng machine facilitates
he preparing Of wheat for market, it reduces
he cost of bread at the same time that it en-
the growth oflarger quantities, and
hus brings it within the reach Of many who
would otherwise be obliged still to content
themselves with the brown loaf and the johnny
AXE. ;
Blu; however plausible The arguments may t
ppear against the use of machinery in coun- I
rIes with superintendent and starving pop c
llation. your committee conceive they are 4
Utterly destitute of force when applied TO our t
wn favored land, when the field Of enter
rise is so wide, when the complaint is, not r