The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-11-06
st. JOhnsbury, Vt, November 6, lS47,

ns the next instant il did, with diilusing ebu-
litions, TO The top ofthe kettle in fleckered
mass of yellow foam, resembling some fan
lastic fret work of gold.
While the father stood over the kettle rnp-
idly plying his skinner TO prevent the con-
tents from boiling over, the stranger turned
10 the son, and entered into conversation
with hm,with the apparent object of drawing
him out; asking him many questions relative
to his stndos, aud often muniiesting both in
tercst and surprise ut the answers which
were promptly returned
"Hour son bears the name of great and
learned man," observed the gentleman, turn
ing at length 10 the father. "Do you intend
he shall try 10 rival his numesake in knowl-
edge and ihmei'
"Don't know any thing about that. But
you arc wandering considerable further than
you need 10 for his name. lie got that from
his mother her maiden name was Locke"
80, ho! But don't you think ofgving him
an education~
"Education? why an giving him one.
lie attends our district school regularly cy-
cry winter"
~ meant public education"
"I'heu say, No; intend him for a farm
en-"
"That is right--it is n noble calling, but
one, let me tell you. sir, that affords no argu-
ment against II public education. lam well
aware, that it is deemed unnecessary, by the
people of tue Middle and Northern States,
especially, to give liberal cducations to any
of their sons, except those destined for the
learned profession; but cannot but consider
this great error, aud one whose consequent
ccs are seriously felt by the agricultural in
tcrest which in its various relations, must
ever remain the great and leading interest of
the country"
GLOW so:'
"Why, the first and direct consequence Of
the course condemn is, that it places nearly
all the science, aud most ofthe intellect, of
the country in the professions; and from this
spring a train of others, all tending to the
same point. The business of agriculture is
thus leitto De conducted by the uuscentifc
and more minimizing portion of community
and its advance in Improvement will, off course
be comparatively slow. Grades arc thus es-
tablished in society, i'll which the farming is
made less honorable than professional bust
ness, operating ms an inducement for all the
most cnterprising and ambitious to leave the
former, already too much neglected, and
crowd into the latter, already so much over
stocked as 10 have become the fruitful source
of demagogues and shurpers. And besides
all this the farming interest, under the pres
ent order of things, will never be efficiently
or adequately represented in our legislatures
where those interests will always he best PRO
tectcd and promoted which furnish the most
talent to advocate and forward them"
swell some part of that may be true, sir,es
pecially your noton'abou too many quitting
work to 60 into the professions, and become
oilers and sharpers; but really can't see
what use high learning is to n man in carry
ing on the business of farming--can you:'
A
your grounds, thorough knowledge of
the sciences will give you many and great adj
vantages."
"What advantages, should like to know
zone, and great one, too, will be that il
will show you the true nature aud capabili-
ties of the different soils of your farm, which
can be accurately known only by knowl-
edge of chemistry and geology. 1t was
through these sciences that plaster was dis
covered, and its use in supplying the place
of some ingredient which,by the same means
was found 10 be wanting 10 make the soil
fruitful. You have used this le,perhaps,
on your own farm"
Eyes, have; and ifthe article came by the
sciences, should be willing, for one, that
the sciences should take it away again. A
year or two ago, laid out about dozen dol
lars in ground plaster to sow over an old,
worn out piece Of bottom land of mine; and
might have as well sown so much ground
moonshine, as for any good il did. Well,
the next year, put lot on to heavy, wet
piece ofland, TO see whether it might not
help that; and ! come out with just about as
much benefit as before. In both cases my
money was thrown away"
"And yet, sir, that is one of those facts
which go strongly to prove what have said
Without chemical analysis, it can with nc
Ill
lacking in any soil to restore its fertility. The
knowledge contend for would have taught
you this, and enabled you to lay out youl
money where, instead of being thrown away
it would have been doubled. 1t would have
taught you, that alluviul soils,or meadows,are
rarely, fever, benefit ed by plaster;ime, pot
ash, salt, or mixture of some other soil be-
ing required, to produce the necessary
change. And so with wet, heavy soils, whose
defects are better remedied by an addition
ofpeat, loan, or gravel; while high and dry
soils are generally made productive, to an as
tonishing degree, by plaster alone"
ais that fact? We'll never knew it be
fore"
ayes, sir; this, and much moro of the same
character, has already been ascertained, no
by practical farmers, but by men of science
who have made these discoveries by only oc
casionally turning their attention to the sub
ject. And if so much has been done by thos
who made it not their main object and bust
ness, what might not be effected by who'll
community of educated farmers, who's
whole energies and interests were devoted t.
the work of Improvement? Indeed, sir, Sc
riously believe, that if our legislatures woul'
establish fund for the liberal education OF
young farmers, with rhe condition that the
should remain such, they would do thou
sand times more towards promoting and el
evating the great interest of agriculture, t
say nothing of the general benefits whic
would follow-would do thousand time
more than by all the premiums they coui