Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-11-15

our LEGISLATORS and others have not been
wanting heretofore in eulogy upon the an
tiquity, dignity, Importance and pleasures
of Agriculture; but where has been that
fostering care which wonld seek to encour-
age and promote it! Where have the la}-
mers BEEN who would demand for the cul-
tiyaton of the soil that conspicuous place
to which it is so justly entitled
But we are happy to observe that an i'm
proved sentiment is becoming prevalent
That "Agriculture IS of primary impor-
tacc;" that our nation has airc0dY "advanc-
ed in population and other circumstances
of maturity, TO that position which rem
ders the cultivation Of the soil an object Of
public patronage;" that til re is no "object
to which it can be dedicated with greater
proprety these truths are gradually
making their way into the minds of inteli-
gent thinking men
We have, at length, Home Department.
and the question presents ilsef-Can it, and
will it, do anything for Agriculture? Ii can,
and we trust that it will The politicians
mag seek to make it an instrument for the
fnrtherancc Of party; and, with the bug
bear Of constitutional objections" they
mag tell us that nothing can be done fcn
Agriculture under this Department. But
let the farmers, moving in a mass, call loud
y for Bureau Of Agriculture, with proper
and suitable patronage from the Govern
mcnt. Let it be managed by 'propor char
aclers selected with reference to their fit
ness for, and devotion to, the promotion Of
Agriculture. They should be men above
political continuation and having a love
for Science for its own sake; and keeping
constantly in view the one grt at object
which they were placed there to promote,
they would not be indu ed to "Give up to
party what was meant for mankind.
A Board Of agriculture, thus composed
ofproper characters, charged with collect
Ing and dilIusing information, and enabled
by premiums and small pecunary aid, to
encourage and assist a spirit Of discovery
and Improvement. by stimulating to enter
prise and experiment, and by drawing to
common centre, the results everywhere, of
individual skill and observation, and by
spreading them thence over the whole ma
tion," would soon be found to be " very
cheap instrument of immense national be-
neits"
/. This Board might be in correspon-
dence with scientific men in all parts of
country, and with Boards of Agriculture in
foreign countries, thus drawing to a com
mon centre, and from thence spreading
broadcast over the land, all new facts and
Improvements Of utility, all valuable sug
gestions, derive from the improvements and
new lights of the various natural sciences
which arc intimately allied with Agrcul-
r turc.
9 Proper premiums might perhaps be
offered to stimulate ingenuity, in the inyen-
tor and production of the most valuable
farm Implements and machines, and by
awarding to those which, upon proper test,
were found best to answer desired pur-
Pose, competition, and an Ambitions to excel
would be excited to the highest degree.
! 3. Persons in the employment of our Go.
, vernment abroad, might be directed to col
Iect and transmit to the Department, those
new or Improved seeds, fruits, plants, ami.
, mails, implements, &c, which were deemed
! desirable. As it would be a part ofthe bu-
siness Of this Board, to institute extensive
4 inquiries into the utility of introducing, fer
cultivation among us, the various valuable
, productions of other countries; and as the
great range of latitude, of soil and climate
which our country embraces, undoubtedly
, admits of cuIlvating the products of almost
every other country we may reasonably
suppose that proper effort, in this direc.
ton alone, would be attended with very i'm.
portant results
4. Premiums might be offered for the
most able essays and the most satisfactory
experiments to elucidate vexed questions
and developed principle, in Agriculture, -
4 if deemed proper and desirable.
5 Extensive inquiries might be institute
ed into the habits of insects troublesome to
cultivation and the best methods to exter-
f inmate them, or prevent their rayages. As
the nation " advances in population, and
other circumstances Of maturity" it be-
comes more and more an object, pecunl-
y rHy, with orr cuitivatora, to raise MANY
, sorts ct fruit, and tender plants, compare
S lively unlmportant at an earlier period
e Now II is a fair estimate, that one-half tha
i productions OF man, Of this descriptinn go
C to feed the insect world. Indeed, Of some
kinds, IN some seasons, they take the whole
S Their depredatlons upon the various field.
e crops are ollentmes extensive also. Tbnv
subject OF Entomology is vast and inexh3us
i. tiblc, it requires such extensive, and often
j. microscopic, investigations, that the effort,
d of ordinary associations of men can avail
r but little. But ii is believed that National
e Board Of Agriculture would have resources
d peculiar to itself, that might effect imnor
- tant results. Its inquiries might be yer,
< extensive, drawing in contributions from
}. individuals and societies, in every quarter
q the sum total of which would be hiobl,
l. useful,
J. 6. The various State and County Socie
If ties throughout the land, might be in cor
d respondence with the Department,-thu
i. receiving and imparting information upoI
s. these and other subjects.
al In short, in hundred ways such an or
: ganizatlon might forward The great inter
" ests of Agriculture. Indeed we may con
10 clude, that no other establishment coul
parallel this, as a promoter of the interests
m not exclusively of either section, but ofth
re whole country,
Of The advocates for such movement NAV
ID by some, be called enthusiasts. They ar
tie SO; for the magnitude and Importance @
If the thing very properly awakens them tt
10 enthusiasm 1t is right that our own Stat
he of Vermont should be foremost, a zealou
r. pioneer in this business Our people ar