Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-11-11
lFOr the Plough, tho Loon and the ANVIL
Is 1t wise for the Farmer to incur
debts in the Improvement of his
Land

by HON. n. II. HUBBARD, SUNDERLAND, Ms.
In recommending to farmers improved
methods of culiure--ln urging them 10
drain their swamps, to fill their yards with
muck, to purchase mineral manures when
needed, to plough ollener aud better, to ex-
pend more for seeds, to keep their stock
better and better siock-I am often an
swered thus -" We have not the means.
We can barely make the ends of the year
meet; aud TO incur debts IN the improve
ment of our lands would be worse than
folly"
Allow me, Messrs. Editors, TO reply TO
such objections through the medium OF
your valuable journal.
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth
doing we'll" This adage holds good in
agriculture, as well as in the culture Of The
mind.
Now, If agriculture is not paying bust.
ness. let IL be abandoned for that which
pays better, If such can be found. Ii can
not, however, be denied that the proper I'LL
lage of the soil pays, aud pays literally
that of all employmenis in which man has
ever engaged, II is the most conducive to
health of body aud vigor of mind the most
PiOhct'S VI tpSbbNhNt III hiOuEuit III
word aud in action, aud of moral purity
both private and public.
1t is also the natural employment of man
In the history of the creation, we are told
that after the habuation of man was fitted
up and made ready for It's new possessor
:" there was not man TO til the ground -
implying. most certainly, that tllling the
earth was to be his avocation-that 10 the
economy of Divine Providence, this was the
post assigned him.
Furthermore, we are told that "the Lord
God took the man, and put him into the
garden of Eden, to dress ii and TO keen IL 4"
Are We not warranted, then, in asserting
that tie most natural, the most appropriate,
the most dignihed employment, for the de-
sceDdants OF Adam Is agriculture
IL this be true, farming, properly conduc-
ted, must be remuneralIse. TyraDis COM
pei their vassals To labor without pay, and
even TO make bricks without straw. Not
so with Him who has promised seed-lime
and harvest to The husbandman
The ,lller may, and often does fail TO OBJ
tain subsistence from the fruits of his labor.
Let him blame the culture, not the soil"
But to the question: Is il polite or wise
IN the farmer to make Improvements faster
than he Can obtain the means from the
products Of his farm
The merchant borrows capital on which
to trade The me chanlc aud the manuiac-
turer find il for their interest 10 do the same
To IN every department of human industry.
Among the most enterprIslng aud the most
successful are those who husband their
means SO as TO make capital pay more than
the legal rate Of interest, and who conse-
quentiy are induced to borrow.
Why should the farmer constitute an ex-
ception
merchant wishes TO purchase -four
he has no mohey TO spare from his busi-
ness. Thinking the operation safe one,
he borrows enough ,opurchase FIVE hundred
barrels. Al the end OF three mathis he has
disposed OF his honr, refunded The borrow
ed money. and pocked five hundred dollars
the net proceeds of his adventure. Al
farmer has ten acres which he intends to