Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-09-16

ltfhllt iit W say Illdnil duu WIN SNlDt
emphasis, that this indifference to hgricul-
tural Science cannot be suffered to continue
While Commerce, aided by vigorous and
well-sustained invention, is reducing the
dangers and diminishing the cost of nayipu-
ton, and thus bringing the similar produce
tions Of various Nations into competition IN
common markets. population is crowding on
subsistence IN many countries so rapidly az
to oblire them to study how to increase the
fruits of the earth which constitute that
subsistence. The Statesmen of great Brit
an and Continental Europe have already
employed Science to cbeck the'tfde OF an
impoverishing aud exhausting emigration
Even. therefore, If we should continue 10
neglect Agricultural improvement, England
Ireland, France, Spain Italy, Germany and
Russia would not. They must improve,
are improving, and will continue to improve
Agriculture and If we neglect to follow
aye, and if we fail to keep up with them
IN that Improvement, they will not only eN-
cludc us from foreign markets, but will
even, ultimately, underse!I us IN our own.
A pretty figure we should make in that case.
This is what they are already dong IA man.
ulaciGres, aud by the process have indi-
Gated
think that there is no lack of schools
aud seminaries and proiessorship-, adapted
and qualified for advancing aud disseminate
ing Agricultural science. Our present SEM
naries aud the teachers Of natural science
~ them, are quite sufficient and text
hooks, guides 10 experiment aud laborato-
RES are not wanting IA the country What
then Is wanting Only pupils. The stu
dents ~ all our semInarles, intent on-not
Agricultural pursuits, but what are called
the learned or liberal professions rush by
the Agricultural chair, to attend to instruc-
lions 10 mathematics, rhetoric, and classI-
cal literature. Ccriaiuly the professor
ceases to explore for new acquisitions, when
no one viii listen to his exposulons of what
he already has A desire to communicate
to others, Is always combined with the pas
sion for the pursuit If knowledge Why
then are there no pupils The 'ault-aGain
| pray YOU pardon NV boldnoss--ihe lAnlt
is chiefly with the farmers themselves
farm, of course, is necessary to him who IS
to be farmer Generally, only farmers
have, or expect farms, and 81 thew are the
class who must supply the candidates ihr
the profession Of Turning. Bntthe farmers
sons are generally averse from scientific stu
dy There - 4 general prejudice that Az
rlculinre Is a simple. easy art or trade.
which can be taken up and prlcliSeI with
out academic instruction or systcmatlcal APP
premiership, and thai theofetIc precepls
serve only to ihislead aud bewilder. Ou
the contrary. Nature has left all the human
faculties ~ one sense incomplete, to be per-
fected by general education aud by training
for special and distinct pursuits. She has
leit those faculties not less incomplete. and
without adaptation, IA the farmers case
than 10 any other. Her lass are general
add uleNlble. Bruies only have perfect
Instincts Man can do nothing, aud indeed
can do nothing at ALL but hy the guidance
oi cultivated reason. Notwithstanding all
milted differences Of natural capacity, aud
OF TASTES aud Inclnations, it is nevertheless
practically and generally true that success,
aud every distinction aud emnence. IN any
vocation, is proporioned to the measure Of
culture, training, industry, aud perseyer-
ance brought into exercise. SO lie Will DC
the best farmer, aud even the best wood;-
man or wel-digger, as he will be iiie best
lawyer, the greatest hero, and the greatest
statesman, who shall have studied most
widely and most profoundly, aud shall have
laborod most carefully aud the most acsdu-
ously
There Is another prejudice even more in
Jurious than that which have thus exposed
The firmefs son is ayerse from the farm
er's calling. He does not intend 10 pursue
il, aud is always looking !nr some gate by
which to escape from it. The prejudice is
hereditary in the farm-hnuse The farmer
himself is not content with his occupation
nor is the farmers wife any more So They
regard il as an humble, laborious and toll
some one they continually fret about its
prlvatIons aud hardships, and thus they un-
consciously raise in their children disgust
towards 1t. Is not this frequently 50 : Is
there a farmer here who does not desire,
not 10 say seek. to procure for his sou a
cadets or mIdshipman's warrant, desk ia
the village lawyer Office, chair in the ply
slclan's study or place behind the cnun-
ter IN the country store, IN preference TO
training him to the abors of The farm
fear that there is scarcely a farmers son
who would not fly to accept such position,
or a farmers daughter who would 10, pre-
fer almost any settlement IN town or city, Ia
the domestic cares of the farmhouse aud
the dalfy.
Whence is this prejudice II has come
down to US from ages of barbarisu. la the
savage state, Agricultural labor Is despised,
because bravery in battle, an1 skill an the
chase, must be encouraged and so herosm
Is still requisite for the public defence IN the
earlier stages IF ciiihzalion, aud the tlllers
OF the soil, therefore, rise slowly from the
condition Of vileln, serf, or slave. -
Nevertheless, ancient, aud almost universal
as this prejudice IS | am sure that It Is un-
natural to mankind ia ripened civilization,
such as that at which we have Arrived. OF
all classes OF society we practically have the
least need of hunters aud We employ very
few soldiers, while the whole structure of
society hiugeS on the Agricultural interest.
A taste, nay, a passion, ior Agriculture, Is
inherent and universal among men. The
soldier or the sailor cares little Tor learning,
mechanics or music but the solace Of his
weary waichIngs aud his mIdnights dreams,
are recollections and hopes OF cottage
home. The merchants anxieiies aud the
|, lawyers studies are prosecuted patiently for
: the ultimate end OF graceful repose IN
country seat; aud lunallcs, men and women
are won buck to The sway ofreason by,lhe IA
Il Il