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


us could we have icIi ins,itn pns among us and
10 not be doubted ~ That ael our farmers become
xeaoisy engaged in the first process ri Improvement
the establ shnent Of societies we may look forward
with hone to the time wien they viii une IN his mn
poiiant also; an take their stand amongst
the foremost in the march of agricultural eoh atom
Nh is there anything unreasonable IN such an ante
patibu. II farmers would only cnp!oy Their leisure
time Of which they have more than other class
in reading and in study, their zsa would soon increase
III favor ot education. lfthc intervals OF business the
interruptions of foul weather, and especially me llne
winter evenings spent with diligence ana care ~
the ncq ,lrInp oi knowledge the hcnch TO individuals
and the public would he almost incaIt'nhe. rms 10
n matter on which instant arinn, can he tnNen nv
every individual who wishes for improvement; ana "
is one whe there il great ROOM ana great necessity
for amen lment, especially among me Young
Ru let us arrenl more 10 practical tvlhcnce III
relation ia III, benefits of education. VINO are these
men who have led the IN the march oi improve
,upnt Are thcy the ignorant the rrelnilcod tue hig-
o,ed7 We have never heard OF these cong nnY'nlne
but mischief To the cau.e, aud o that they have done
enough in all science. Our henciactors are OF
very different character. They are the ednra'cd;
such men MS Elliot, Dcanc, Dexter Lowell, trssrn:
den. I.oulon Buel, Gaylord, Prescott. men OF the
highest mental powers. and the best edncati"n ana
there are the Peters, the Aliens, the Columns, rhe
Pren,ce., the SINNERS the Norrel's; men OF pracll-
cal skill, combined with elevated and cultivated minds
who are striving TO better the condition oil Amer
lean hushandry. .
have Tins FAR cndcavored thowcver feeby) 10 dis.
euss the utility of these modern means, for improving
on ancient profession generally. ] come now TO con
sder the unriic lar application If the foregoing 10 the
farmers of Chittenden County. OF the need oil mn
proyemcnt in this county shall snv nothing since
many of onr farmers probably think that II does not
exist. Blu, If they who ih!t thus, would visit those
sections of the land whore these means nave been
employed AMI their beautiful cattle Their great
crops their substantial and convenient buildings.
fear the contrast would be too great, to otter much
ground for self conGratuatinn Moreover, has been
universally found true that the more men KNOW, me
,,,;ll md tlav ~ u
less they know The less they care to know. Now ms
to Chitenden County, TO say nothing of agricultural
books papers. or educaon) it has been found no ersv
matter to find 200 practical farmers, ont of some 2OOO
who form lis agricultural population. 10 come forward
and take the first STEP towards bclering lis condition.
repeat It, 1t has been hard work TO in luce nne tenth
part of those men TO Jam an agricultural society," whe
all sho lid rush forward TO clam lis privileges WIN al
the eagernrss they are capable of manesting. From
this fact, each may draw his own conclusions as 10
the past history OF oar knowledge and public splrt II,
this Co inty.
But as to this society. all are probably aware that
oil the session of our le.sllJure IN 1913 the sum OF
5000 was appropriated annually for distribution
among the several counties m this stale; proportion
nly the number of their Inhabitants, to lie spent II
the mprn, ement Of agrleGltnre on condition tina
each county should lprm a so'ir'y. ana raise sum
equil To It's share in This a'propu'pn. TINS county
,hctcc,rn was entitled to about & 50 and through iht
active Ell ,rts o few individuals. society was form
ed, the money raised, and that from the treasury re-
ceived. The first wear, lSi the tar was wc attend
exhibited. hi! hlv crchiablr 20 he producers -
From this beginning we had ri-h to expect good
conllnn1nre aud increasing zeal in the good c1use
It when the years fair came ronn t. il appeared
to the dis ,pnoin,mcn If all its friends that the inter
est in It's success had ahat,d; tina novelty was tho
only charm WHICH had pro ucrl the former rcspec
table turn out and now that had departed some new
scheme must he adopted some new attraction dis
covered, the ATTEMPT must he abandoned. Obe'
tons began be urged against it, most of which argu
ed tn part of the Obi ctnrs, any hing bnt that en-
lighrned brraily, which we had right 10 expect il
is behalf Most of these we shall pass by as NJ
requiring notice, hut some of them sccn to carry
some weight, and be of some importance. we will en-
deavor 10 answer such as We have heard, TO the bes
Of our ability.
One obisc,on is on arcoun, Of he fairs being held
Burlington, instead of at some m)re central position
The country farmers consider il too far 10 come, wit
their cattle and produce, whereas were at Wllsio
it would be more Convenient OF access. But on tn
whole there not more and better reasons. FOR hold
ing these fairs at Burlington, than can be shown i
favor Of any other town in the county? Hilbert
there have been Burlington from so to so out of
number OF msn ers y yaFy u he society, expense
than any other town. are surely 'ned to prei
strong influence, IN fixing its location. IDLY, Thes
members likewise exhibit greater number OF article!
cattle perhans excepted, than any other town; VIII
should not the fair he therefore the most convenle1
TO the greatest nunber 3dy, The roads from III
several towns TO burlington, are in many cases NOR
direct and better travelled, than from one town t
another through the country so that on the whole
the journey is no greater, though the distance may III
But the strongest argument, perhaps rem 'Ins benc
For il is painIy our interest to exhibit our produc
where may expect the greatcs, number 10 com
and see it. II back village were chosen as the spo
for the fair, the population beng comparatively spnrs
we should have but few comparatively 10 inspect III
fruits of our labor; whereas, at Burlington there ar
many more Inhabitants many more strangers, an
our exhibitions are thronged by crowds, all anXo
eea and admire, what is exhibited lGt her gratlhc'
ton. 4thly, Burlington Is the market Of the count
Mas farmers n several
wear; why can they not therefore make this a dl
of business, well as pleasure, and thus arrange the
matters 50 ms to lose M time These are nons of r
snail c1nscquenc. in the regulation of this matte
and surely in ca h and II Ofihcn, Burlington has III
advantage. But there is nothing in the cons,irIri1
requiring III the fairs be held al that town. 1t h;
been matter Of annual regulation from year 10 yea
and when il eNpedlcrt 10 he managers, al the
annual meeting, tn transfer the fair to any other tow
IN the County they are At per- Get liberty TO do so
Another nhiocuon which has been advanced
that the rich farmers get all the premiums, and
the tendency Of the society is To make the rich rich,
and the poor poorer.'' Now this II lection 10 real
very like ahsurdny. For supnosjng it true, how mut
IS impoverished ly the loss OF dollar yer
and how much is another enriched by an occasion
inward Of ten dollars Che highest premium of red
the Society?) Is the object in view the making
money are we investing our means IN railroad COZ
pany, or banking institution, from which we are
receive again our principal and interest! Or are
not rather seeking for improvement in hushandrN
And II by this agency, we can secure the npro'
nent. oil what consequence is ", WHp gets Tue PREF
umsl And surely if ameniber has been a. lie by a
means TO raise and present good article, why sho
h riches or HI. poveElv influence the committee IN
award of its premiums II NAV indeed be true IT
men in good circumstances have drawn the grea
proportion OF premiums but his tact Is not owing
the committees, twho have been in all cases dlslnl
ested persons but 10 a dee ,er and more inndamen
cause. What keeps farmer poor, except his wa
of management, his poor crops, and worthle S catt
What makes a farmer rich, unless 1t he his good mi
agement his good crops and good cattlsl And
a>innch as these last are the very things which I
society proposes TO encourage, the greater share
the premiums has Of course fallen 10 the share
those who well to do in the world,
Another objection IS 81 that the 'clety insend
paving Ou' Their funds IN premiums, has let them
81 interest thus collecting money from The hard en-
ings of farmers, for which they get O return" n
the facts of this clse are isr the Every doll ar
the treasury has been appropriated on premiums
inasmuch as there has been competliipn, these +
miums have not lcen pail VIVA, therefore was
be done with the m 'neyl Must It ne returned To
donors IL would arguc I'tle wisdom lhul
throwing i, away in that manner The only alrcr
tivcs that remalne', there!re, To keep it dl,
the treasury, or let II OFT AZ interest. And who
carp at the latter course None surely but those ,
are governed by that strange aud unarr0unlahle 81
of 0pp ,sitinn, which il 700 often met with in tee,
thai gcneron. aud open handed assistance, winch
such in ,itlIiions need so much in thrii infancy.
Bu the great objection made nrainsi The soc
and the one which has had the most Eff Ct, is "
en'h member If the society, Is required 10 pay
dollar year, lnlp lis treasury Ali Tins enprn
tax this lnpos ton on the hearts II Il
VIII Sc hearts md ,ckets are one and ndivl. lhc,
had IF C, IN hindrrns the sorl"iy's success. ~
every man who urges such an uhlecton should h
to own, To think of spending one nio's d1Hd'
Improvement What horrld extravagancs!
an unwarrnnlaIila waste Of money Bot gentle
without attempting Ia rXcuse the p1 I truly ntror
conduct of the slripty in this matter. | ham