Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-11-11

lsow with wheat. II is capable Of producing
but ten bushels per acre. BY an outlay Of
FIVE dollars an acre for phosphate Of lime,
ashes, puano, or such other mineral, veget-
able. or auimal manure as the soil may re-
quire, the yield may be increased to fifteen
bushels, and for several succeeding years
IN the same ratio, giving net gain as great
as in the other case supposed. The cases
differ only in this in the latter, the return
is not so speedy while IN the former, sue
cess is far more uncertain.
Thousands of acres are annually planted
with Indian corn which produce 10 more
than thirty bushels per acre. BY an outlay
of ten dollars an acre, the product might be
increased TO at least forty bushels, which,
together with the increase for four years
| following, would refund the outlay, with at
least twelve per cent interest.
! On most of our farms are peat swamps
yielding little else but snakes, frogs. lizards
and mosquitoes. This land may be made
valuable; but 1t requires labor. The owner
says he cannot afford To reclaim II. Can he
afford TO be deprived of its use Ii cost
him something originally, on which cost he
is paying interest. Then he Is taxed for it,
aud must keep it fenced. Yet 1t yields him
nothing but reptiles, insects aud miasmata.
Allow that II will cost fifty dollars per
acre to subdue and make II productive. 1t
will then be good for four hundred dollars
net profit of four hundred per cent Can
the merchant boast of more profitable in
yestments
Furthermore, the farmer has advantage
over the merchant in the certainty of his
results. The former invests his capital
hoping profitable return. His operations
are all based upon the doctrine of chances.
He is as likely to fail as to succeed, and
even more SO. No so with the latter. He
invests in stocks as sure to pay dividend
as that seed time and harvest will continue.
Most farmers are ready at all times tc
purchase adjoining land, aud run into deb
for IT, even when III possession of more thar
they can ptohtably manage. 1t is GOOD
E say they, for what it costs, aud may b,
worth more; therefore II is a safe invest
ment. The same reasoning applies will
greater force TO expenditures for the i'm
proven ent OF lands already POSSESSED.
When the spirit of enlargement, now 5,
: rife among farmers, shall give place to
healthier aud more rational spirlt-a spin
OF lmprovement--a new era in the hlstor
l Of American agriculture will commence.
/ i would by no means recommend need
less expenditures, or that farmers Shout,
recklessly involve themselves in debt eve
r ioT valuable Improvements but that rattle
than suffer from short crops and from vast
lands, as thousands are now doing, the
should do what is done III other department
of buslness--use their credit lof the lul
provement of their fortunes.
If they need more help, obtain it. |
+ improved implements are necessary to saw
, labor, aud do the work better, let them b,
procured. If an orchard IS needed let H.,
trees be obtained and planted and lei II b,
done thoroughly, even If it be busy sea
son.
Let the best of stock be procured, anc
kept IN good condition. No farmer car
afford to keep poor stock. In short, let the
farmer keep pace with the spirit of the age
Progress is the order of the day.
In no department of industry is improve.
ment more imperIously demanded than ~
agriculture. He who pods along ia the
old track, annually SHINING his lands with
out ever making them any adequate return,
VIII be starred into the reflection that az
riculture IS not paying business. While
he who reads agricultural papers, and puts
III practice the Information he obtains ;
whose constant aim is the betterment OF
his farm, the improvement of his stock, and
the increase of his products and who, 10
accomplish this, judlciously uses such cap
ital as he can command. whether his own
or that of his neighbor, will find agr,cul,ur,
lucrative and a most pleasant employment