Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-03-20

for earnest and continued exerton, will never
allow him TO rest, TIL his brethren arc reused
up from thi. sotliful ehargy, TIL knowledge is
spread through ut the land and the Object for
which he labors, the improvement Of the soil,
and the mimi, has been promoted 10 The utter
most Of his ability. And how boundless field
is here opened to all who wish to engage in it !
The investigation Of natures laws, Of the natu-
ral sciences, chemistry, geology, botany, physi-
oogy, all OF which are intimately connected with
the economy of the farm the diligent method
which looks ahead, and makes success depend,
not on accident but on forethough', prudence,&
skill the strict inquiry, constantly seeking out
tchy certain effects, are tie production OF car
tam causes, in order that from The results of this
search, rules may be esiab sled for the benefit
OF others these, and a thousand sucl, objects,
surely call for the attention of men Of mind, as
well as the pursuits Of law and medicine and
offer, to all Who follow them, opportunities for
dong good, aud attaining eminencc, equal 20
those afforded by any of those professions, which
have hitherto monopoli2ed the right to think and
learn.
The science OF hus5andry, therefore, is one
whose pursuits require head, as well as hand.
10 conduct It properly, the farmer should be an
educated man; and no talents, no education
need be thrown away 10 carrying it to perfec-
ton. 1t aims to make the farmer know the
reason OF his operations; '0hy cetain substances
promote the growth Of certain plants ariy GER.
\tain plants are best cultivated BY certain meth
Nds what constituents in a soil are requisite
l\r It's adaptation to particular products. 1t seeks
/ 70 inform him OF the best methods OF tlage and
u Engagement, in order that he may obtain great
or lfops from the same land, grea er profits from
the same outlay. 1t teaches him that he must
restore to the soil that which he takes from il,
| IN order that, by its increasing fertility, he may
derive increasing wealth. 1t would make HIM
man of deep thought, teaching hun that mimi
is the great power by which everything is az
compIIshed. and that well-traned, well Stored
and well managed intellect, is that which will
alone raise him to his proper place. 1t reminds
him tina, he is not mere drudge, provided for
the sustenabce of the rest of his race, but that
he has higher interest, more enduring occu.
patton, which shall survive the wreck OF time.
Now would ask thnse who have such an
aversion to :" book farming" wha. there is in all
this, so very worthy of condemnation! What
do you find here, OF SO alarming a nature, that
the name itself is bu, the signal for abuse and
opposition! Is the old. school farmer afraid of
possessing knowledge, opposed TO becoming a
more respectable member of community; hos
tile to Improvements Of which he is to reap the
benefits ! Surely it cannot be The opposi-
/ ZION IL TtceNcs 49, III great MEASURE, Owing 10
ignorance Of what 10. VI 81 of our farmers ha c
been accustomed to the old met ods from their
youth up and receiving the same return from
their land that their fathers received, they ar e
perfectly satisfied with their success, nor do they
desire any knowledge Of better system. And
when these meet with the accounts of expert
mens in science, and read the astonishing re-
suits attained by lis aid, knowing that in the ir
own practice they fall FAR short OF these, they
deny their truth, turn a deaf ear to the argu-
nents of their defenders, and vdously de
nouRce the system as mposture and false hood,
from beginning to end. But all this is sheer
mistake. The experience Of thousands has
placed this matter beyond a doubt, and we W III
now proceed by quoting some Of this experience,
to show that al that has been claimed for SCI
ence is no more than its just due, fully conf,
dent that more intimate know ledge OF the sys.
tennis all that is ncces,ary,'o commend 1t to the
approval and tho practice Of every intelligent
and rejecting individual.
Our latest and most obscrvant travellers in
Europe, have all assured us, that England
as an agricultural nation, is far IN advance ui
the United States. Though her division OF The
agricultural class, into landlords, tenants, and
laborers, exerts a powerful influence in dopa-
sing the lower classes, and exaitng the h gher
yet the immense resources OF her wealthy land
lords, them vast power for the improve
nent OF the profession, have been, OF late days
employed IN a manner deserving OF the hghes
nralse, and productive OF the best resuits.-
From Britain we have received most OF our i'm
proved breeds OF cattle and other stock our
blood horses Durham, Devon, Hereford, and
Ayrshire cattle our Leicester and South Down
sheep. Among them vastly more pubic spirit
and zeal for improvement is manifested, thar
among Us. Taking bat one example, however
OF The breeding OF cattle upon scientific princl.
Piles, lei us examine INTO the accounts of prof
and loss, on the famous Shot. horned Duraams
About fifty years ago, Mr. Charles Calling, n
grazier of the county OF Durham, resolved tc
improve the MT ve cattle OF that county. Form
lng his idea OF excel ence beforehand, he KEEP
1t constantly in view and selecting from differ.
ent parts oil the country such animals as suited
bis purpose; he produced in few years. race
noted Tor their early maturity, aptitude TO fat.
ten, and excellent qualities for the dairy. HIS
oxen iattened at no greater expense than COM
mon, weighed generally between two and
three thousand pounds, his mich cows gave, or.
dinariiy between 90 and 30 quarts OF milk daily
and all came to maturity, nearly year sooner
than The common cattle OF the country. Now
this is well attested fact,& look at the results
WINE the expense OF raising and keeping tins
breed oil stock, was no greater than common,
Collng not only received so much greater profit
while he kept them, but when he sold oil TO OBJ
tanned, IN spite OF strong prejudice against him
a sum equal TO $4,000 per head for every AMI
mai he owned! Can the advocates Of the Old
system show any such result as this And
what has been the history OF that breed of cat
tie since their origin Fortunes have been made
and are now making, by no other means what
ever. They have been spread all over England,
ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Holland
and the United States, aud SO pr4fiGbls have
they been found, that there is scarcelya respec-
table grazler or daryman in England. without
| them Aroused by this precedent, likewise,
other breeds have been improved, other AM.
ma 6 have been brought 10 perfection, and nov,
IN consequence, they have everywhere in that
country heavier beef, pork, aud mutton more
wool to the fleece, and more work for the feed,
| than we III America, at no greater expense.
! ! viii now take an example of the results of
scientific hiage, from Irish culture. The &C
count Is taken from the agricultural tour OF
heVd Henry CoIman, through various European
districts work lately published, which no far
fner can read without advantage. In Ire and
mere are many agricultural schools or colleges,
"here the natural sciences are taught, IN con-
nec'lon with practical farming; thus educating
the rising generation in manner which must
I produce powerful effect upon the product ons
| oi that country in years to come. II IL from
one OF these schools at Glasnevin, near Dublin,
that shall take the example, though as the farm
Is model farm It's produce cannot be cons der.
ed as the average Of the country. This farm
comprises fftytwo acres OF land; all OF which is
under tillage, and complete rotation of crops