Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-09-24

more attentive observation oil the MARKERS, Dc'tcr huHn-
ted means, and u more careful application OF sound
judgment, un,lring energy, and prudent industry, can
buy the best and sell the cheapest, has always, been
seen TO be the earliest and surest t. accomplish the
great object OF his class, an independence Tor lliliseIi.
SO the mechanic, who. from Il more thorough instruc-
ton in the principles and handicrait OF his trade, or a
more intense application OF mind and Judgment WIN
labor, can improve the articles he inDrlcates, or the
machinery and modes of their manufacture, and can
thus produce the best, and sell the cheapest, has al
ways been seen to reach the same advantage over his
competitors, with equal readiness and certainty ana
that these results should follow these means aud efforts,
has been considered natural aud unavoidable.
still the agriCulturist has been content to ,iolIow IN
the beaten track, To pursue the course his faith RS have
ever pursued, and to depend upon the earth, the sea-
sons, good fortune and providence, for n crop, iidulg-
ing the hope that high prices may compensate Tor d.
occurred to him that the study OF the principles OF his
profession had any thug TO do with his success as a
farmer, or that what he had demanded from has soils
should be considered i'll connection with what he is to
do for them and what he is about to ask them to per-
form. He has almost overlooked the vital fact, that
his lands. like his patient teams, require TO be Ted TO
enable them TO perform well and especially he has
neglected TO consider that there Is a like connection be-
tween the quantity and quality of the food they are to
receive, and the service 10 be required from them.
Ready, almost always, to the extent OF their ability, to
make advances for the purchase Of more lands, how
few OF our farmers, in the comparison, are willing 10
make the necessary OUTLAWS Tor the profitable improve
ment OF the land they have,
These, and kindred subjects, are beginning TO oc-
cupy the minds OF our farmers, and the debt they owe
to this society for It's efforts TO awaken their attention
to these important facts, and to supply useful and piac-
teal information in regard TO them, is gradually re-
ceNIlg n Just appreciation, as the nSsenblngc which
surrounds us, and the exhibitions upon tins ground,
most gratltvinglv provc.
Many OF our ugricuiturists are now vigorously COM
mencIng the study OF their soils, the adaptation OF their
manures to the soil and the crop, the natures of the
plants they cultivate, the food they require, and the
best methods OF administering that food to produce
health, and vigor, and fruit and they are becoming
! convinced That fp Understand how 10 plpW. and sDH,.
ana reap, IS not the whole education oi a fnrnler but
that 1t Is quite as important TO know what land is pre-
pared for the plow, and what seed it will bring to a
harvest worthy OF the labors OF the sickle. Experience
is steadily proving that, by a due attention TO these
considerations, a better article, doubled in quantity,
may be produced from the same acre OF ground. with
n small prOportionate increase of labor and expense,
and that the farmer who pursues this improved system
OF agriculture, can, like the merchant and mechanic
referred to, enter the market with a better production,
ara cheaper price, than his less enterprislng coinpeti-
tor.
This change in the agriculture ofour state and coun-
try, opens TO the mind reflections OF the most cheering
character. Ii carried out to its legitimate results, 1t
promises q competition among our farmers, not TO OBJ
tam the highest prices tor inferior productions. but to
produce the most, the best, and the ~cheapcs; oi the ne
cessarics OF human life. 1t promises agricultural pros
peflty, with cheap and good bread, furnished IN album
dance 10 all who will eat within the rule prescribed to
ialIcn man, i'll the sacred volume Of the Divine Inv.
steady resolution and pcrseveiing energy are re-
CURED to carry forward these improvements to that
degree OF perfection dictated alike by interest and by
di Y ana the stimulus OF a steady and remunerHting
market VIII rouse that resolution and nerve that ener-
gy without this Encouragement in prospect, lew
VIII perseVele III making Improvements which require
close ana constant mental application, rs well rs Sc
we're physical labor. Agriculture will never be health
int!y or proiltably prosecuted hy him whose controlling
oiu1cct l. ms own consumption. The hope OF gain is
the motive power to human industry, and is as lieccs-
sairy to The farmer as to the merchant or manufacturer.
Al VINO labor are equally stimulated by the prospect
oil a market which is to remuncratc them Tor their toll,
uIlu N1tllOut. TINS hone neither ulCIiul ucfiyitv nor phVs-
icaI energy. viii characterize their eXe,tions. True it
Is tlat me Farmers OF our country, as n class, calculate
less closely the profits of their labor and capital. than
men engaged IN most other pursuits, and are content
with lower rates Of gain. The most of them own
t1eit ARMS ineir stocks and farming implement. un-
encountered by debt. Their business gives but an an
nual rclum. They live frurally, labor patiently and
faithfully, and at the close OF The year, its expenses ARE
pad IRON It's proceeds, the balance remaining being
accounted the profits OF the year. Although a mode
rate sum 1t produces con,entment, without a computa-
ton oi the rate per cent. upon the capital invested, or
me wages It WI pay TO the proprietor and the mem
Ders OF his family. The result is an advance i'm the
great object OF human labor, and, if not rapid, it is safe
ana certain. i Il surplus beyond the expenses of
ilvlng, 10 be added TO the estate, and may be repeated
IN each revolving year.
Ii, however, this surplus is left upon the hands of the
!armer, in his own products, for which there is no mar
het, ms energies are p%aralyAed, his spirits sink, and he
scarcely ieels that the year has added TO his gains. He
sees n'tIe encouragement IN tOiling on, to cultivate be-
yond his wants, productions which will not sell and
iie chances are, that his farm is neglected, his hus-
balary becomes bad, and his gainsin fact cease.
10 continue a progressive state OF improvement in
agriculture, then, and TO give energy and prosperity TO
thls great and vital branch Of human industry, u
healIhtll and stable market becomes indispensable,
and no object should more carefully occupy the attcn-
ton OF the farmers of the United States.
Deeply impressed with the conviction Of this truth,
benevolent minds have cherished the idea that n do
nestle market 10 be influenced only by our own ma
'oIhl pohcy, "ohld he 50 tar preferable, in stability
and certainty, TO the open market of tie commercial
world, as TO have persuaded themselves that n sufi-
c!ellt lIhF"'t Tor orr agricultural product, is thus attaln-
able. II IS not designed to discuss the souudncss of this
theory, where II can be reduced to practice but only
to mcguire whether the state of this country, the con-
dllloIl OF lis society, and the tendency and inclination
ct It's population, as to their industrial pursuits, are
suci, al the present time, or can he expected to be
such Tor generations yet To come as TO rem Ter it posi-
Die 10 consume within the country The surplus OF the
productions OF our agriculture. The theory OF an ex-
cilSlVc'y domestic market for this great domestic in
ttresi, Is certainly a very beautiful one, as n theory.
and can scarcely tail to strike the mind iavoranly upon
a l!ist hnpresalon. Sun, examination has produced
difference OF opinion between statesmen OF equal intel
llgence and patriotism, as to its Influences upon the
happiness and prosperity OF n country and its popnla.
ION. ANY examination OF this que slion would lead to a
discussion properly considered political, il not part san,
and all such discussions it is my settled pur nose to
avoid as inappropriate TO the place and the occasion.
] simply propose to inquire MS to n fact, which must
control the application Of theories and principles OF po-
ltlcal economy ion ching this point, to our country aud
lis agricultural population, without raising any qucs-
non as to the wisdom of the one, or the soundness OF the
oolcr' Is the consumption oil this country equal 10 its
agricultural production, or can ii become so within
any c%alculabIe period of years. How is the inctl May
! not inquire without giving offence, or transcending
The limits ! have prescribed Tor myself in the discussion !
Gan a iair examination, scrppulousiy confined TO this
point, take a political bearing, or disturb a political
lecilng /! II Is certainly not my design to wound the
feelings OF any member OF the society, or Of any citizen
OF the country and | have convinced myself that I
may make tins inquiry, and express the conclusions OF
my. own mind as to the result, without doing either.
II l slall prove to be in error, il will be an error as to
the tact inquired after, and not as 10 the souudncss of
the principle m political economy dependent upon the
TACT Tor lis application, because as to the souldncss of
the principle, ] attempt no discussion and offer no
opinion. II wlll be an error as to the applicability OF
n theory to our country, and not as to the wisdom or
policy OF the theory itself, because of the soundness, or
uusoundness OF the theory, when 1t can be practically
applied, ] studiously rrfruin from any cXpressi n, as
inappropriate here. With the Indulgence OF the socie-
ty, viii inquire as to the fact.
Our country is very wide and very new. Il embra-
ces every variety OF climate aud soil most favorable 10
agricultural pursuits. 1t produces already almost cv-
cry agricultural staple, and the most important are the
ordinary productions OF this country, and are sent 10
market in great abundance.
Yet our agriculture is in its infancy almost every
where, and at its maturity nowhere. Ii Is believed to
be entirely safe to assume that there IS not one single
agricultural county in the whole Union, filled up in an
agricultural scnse-not one county which has not yet
land TO be brought into cultivation, and much more
land, the cultivation Of which Is to be materially I'M