Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-02-28
Farmers and Farming.

We know OF no class Of men more wor-
thy of respect and consideration in the com.
muniy, than farmers True, they have
not the polish Of dress, manners and speech
that is witnessed in city bred gcnllemen.-
Blu, then they do not make npsh pre,ensons
to these accidents Of quality, and seldom, if
ever, try 10 aci the cocknoy or the Top
No, no-not they! Your real genuine
New England farmer i. plain spoken.
but honest speaking man, whose conversa>
lion is marked by good sense and practical
wisdom. He is not highIy in his speculn--
tons, whether pertaining TO gunno or gold
mines-h has more faith in good barn.yard
manures than any OF Liebig's theoretical
fertilizers, and thinks j, safer 10 endeavor
10 get money by digging potatoes than The
quick sands OF Sacramento. In truth, our
farmers are the conservative class of COM
mun,y--lhe sheet>anchor Of society, when
tossed 10 and fro By the waves Of specula-
ton, or agualcd by The mad winds Of some
popular mana.
Il IS sometimes laid to their charge that
they are Glow TO make experiments and im>
provements, and haIIhey do nos keep pace
with the progress OF those engaged in com
merce and manufactures. Now this is the
very point on which is made vast mistake
The notion ~, now -a.dnys, wonderfully
current IN the scientific circles, and thence
reflected into other circles that farming is
susceptible OF as much progress as are any
OF the mechanlcs arts, and Tint this pro-
gress IS to be effected by the food Of light
n he a. a he f..
All sorts OF humbugg-ty is let loose upon
the devoted heads OF lne poor farmers under
the high,sounJiug name Of science And
here, too, the good sense OF our farmers
shines out gIoriously; they listen with pa
tlence TO these theories, or read the thous,
and add one transcendcnta stories OF the
golden harvests to be ped by the mere
aid OF science and then wisely cone lode to
stick TO the good old ways, until others
have tried the new, and found them to be
better. Why, il our farmers should hap
pen 10 be carried away with some Of the
new theories Of culuyaUng the earth, aud
Should proceed through one season accord
ing 10 hcsc theories, and tIs should be
general among them-lhere would be no
harvest but famine and the skeletons OF
mon and beasts would be the sad results oil
such a visionary scheme The truth is.
men, and especially farmers must get their
living by the sweat OF their brows and all
the new ways aud means 10 dispense entire
ly with the prlmeyal cursc.-or blessing
call it which yol will Twill only end IN
disappointment and ruin
But are there no Improvements introdu,
ced on the larm7 Yes, many, and excel
lent, bot mol by mere scientific men They
are the fruits Of practical skill and lngenui-
ty--worKs OF those who have known and
leI, what was wanting and have set their
wits At WORK to supply it The improved
plough, The cul,Ivalor, the horse and
lots OF other valuable implements were de.
vised BY men who had some acquaintance
with farming, before they devised these
new implements. So, too. ofthe new modes
Of Village, planting and seeding to grass-
the way was pointed out and the example
set by men who wcro engaged 10 The bus,
ness. And what has been tired by one and
found TO succeed, has been followed by an =
other, ill new mode Of husbandry has Ia.
ken the place, IN many respects OF the old.
|, IS idloto claim for scicace the improve
menls, Whatever they are, thai have been
made IN farming. Mr.. ColemAn--w is
preny good authority IN these mallers---tell.
as IN bs lsH book 90 European Agrieul.
tore, that the best farming he wraessed a.
broad was IN FLANDERS. where they knew
the lsas Of the scientific discoveries Of our
day.