The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-11-03
AGRICULTURAL.
ADDRESS,,
Det'rered at the annual Far ofthe Addison Cruulty
Agricultural Society," Oct. 7h Is47.
BY PROF. J. MEACHAM.
of Middlebury College.

~ l. NORs VI,
of Middlebury College
Mr.. President and Gentleman of the Society.
Custom makes IL necessary for man ad-
dressing Agriculturists first TO show himself
farmer. Every speaker,-whether from the
legal, clerical, medical, or political profession.
is anxious 10 put on thelivery Of this caste.
bow TO the salu'ary custom. Ifbuying a
small parcel Of land with promises 10 pa, if
maintaining an old brush fence between my.
self and the unruly cattle Of a Deish bor, for
eighteen months, without spelling the temper
and morals of both; if manuriug, and ploue h.
ing and clustering that land to feed the IAN
aud hungry grasshoPpers Of Addison County
for the year eighteen hundred and forty seven
will constitute me farmer then may take
my place among the fraternity, and proceed
to give you little broIherly advice.
1t was mailer of regret that was called
TO address you on this barren year. From
The rumors that come from different points Of
the county ] feared we might meet here 10
look gloomily on our lean kline and blasted
ears; that we should here harness our cara
vans TO go down from this Canaan TO buy corn
IN Egypt for ourselves and cattle aud our
little ones that we perish not ar: greatly
and happily disappointed. II Pharaoh should
look on this exhibition, GU the we'll favored
and fat-feshed, on the seven ears coming I'D
from one stock, rank and good, should have
no fears that his slumbers by night would be
disturbed by dreams Of famine ahead.
Nevertheless ii is true that. IN parts o: the
county. We have suffered severely from the
drou,h and the locust. We have lost lage
portion Of the substantial products of the
year. We have cause for thanksgiving 20
God that, while the food for beast. is curIa all
ed, the food for man is abundant. By this
We are shown our dependence. We should
learn something from this event; for we are
under the direction Of power thai regulates
ihe small as well as the great things of the
world, that clothes the grass and flowers Of
the field. & while riding on the hurricape is
pilot 10 the bubble on the breaker" ] do moi
deem II rash or impious to say that il is de-
signed to teach just what we are compelled 10
learn. that We shall make a thorough win
moving OF our f1oeks and herds, and give the
empty and useless chsff TO the winds Of heav-
en-, that we shall not waste the fruits Of our
labor and our land upon the coarse, the ugly
and shabby tenants Of the fold and the stall.
have no doubt that, few years hence, look
ing back to this time, We shall acknow ledge
that this seeming calamity has borne rich
blessing under its wings.
One thing necessary to the success of the
farmer is 10 understand and 10 follow the laws
OF nature so far as they pertain TO his calling.
By the laws Of nature ] mean the laws Of
God. Without this, every step, out of the
old beaten way. is a step in the dark, every
trial will be defeated, or succeed by chance |
Or by blunder. Why are those laws SO deep
y hidden Perhaps TO stimulate to activity |
Of mind, for wherever spontaneous produce |
supports the population Of land, the mind |
becomes as torpid and indoent as the body. |
Bul when means ATE discovered to increase
produce, or machines invented TO save labor,
The awakened intellect moves TO other pur-
,uits, with increased power ond rapidly.
In the old system Of ASTRONOMY, one error
1t the foundation called for a thousand lies 10
seep il in couutenance. The whole was a
piece of imaginary patchwork, II did not
:ause great evils, because the Sun aud Moon
business, giving light and heat notwithstsud-
ne tho whole foolish world taxed them as
uch arrant gadabouts. When the laws Of
he heavenly bodies are understood all is clear.
imple and consistent. In other things error
has not been as harmeless. Before The cir
.ulation OF blood was known, medical men
ooked on the arteries Of the human system
Is filed with air, and hence the name artery
means an air preserver. They judged thus
BECAUSE these channels were found empty az
err death. every thing in practice must con-
orm 10 that theory. Once the treatment Of
mall pox was a warming and heating process.
Every sppliance-festher beds, scarlet cur
aims and administered to that end. When
be laws of the system and the nature of the
isease is known The whole process is revers-
d, OF those ancient doctors it might truly
e said
While they shut up their turnpikes their patients
could 60
he old ronnd- about road to the regions below"
Once it was believed that flesh wounds I
ould heal only after suppuration by second {
,ienlion. Now il is known that nature de-
lands to close the lips ofthe wound and it
ill take care ofitself. There was practice,
pursume limited, do not charge it upon
,e faculty. Of auointins the instrument BY ,
hich the wound was made whether knife !
r scytbe or an axe, The wound Itself was
arely pinched together, and perhaps honored a
i:h some stray rag, while the wicked axe t
ad all the sympaty and all the salve; per- i
city in keeping with the treatment oil crlmi- Z
ais 10 these days. n
The plan worked well, II was Just what ma
ire wanted to be let alone and heal herself:
lille the steel had rest certain days without Z
aterial injury from the salve or The poultiee. a