Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-27
Che Jarnrer.
Hon. George P. Marsh's Address.

Hon. George P. Marsh's Address.
Hon. Geo. P. Marsh, of Burlington, de-
livered the annual address before the Maine
State, Agricultural Society, are part of which
we find in the Transcript.
The speaker awaited himself of his obscr-
vations in foreign lands to compare our sys-
TEN of agriculture with theirs. His address
consisted of somewhat desultory, but very in
terestipg sketches of the general physical as
poet, and agricultural productions of Central
and Southern Europe. He pointed out the
differences in the distribution of the soil and
the modes of culture, INDUCED in some states
man like remarks touching their political and
economical consequences, and as the results
of his observation, threw cut some hints TOR
the consideration OF our farmers. He did
not speak of England, he said, because its
agriculture rcsembled ours-difierlng only
in degree and not in kind.-English farming
is more thorough than ours, because they have
more capital. and look more to utimate re-
suits rather than to immediate gains.
On the continent, however, all is different.
We meet new vegetables, new methods, and
novel, and for the most part inferior imple-
ments. The first point of difference that
strikes the eye, is the smoother surface OF
the cultivated lands Not that they are fiat,
but thousand years Of toll upon them have
worn down inequalities and softened the gen.
eral contour. Then there are no fences or
hedges, but the whole green field is spread
out, at pleasure to the eye. Yet the earth
looks decrepit and poor.
The second point of difference is the alb
sence Of forests. In England, any piece Of
enclosed uncutivated ground is called Il for
est, though there are very few trees upon it,
the name being retained after the woods have
disappeared. In some parts of France and
Germany there are extensive forest, but they
are not often visited by travellers On the
principal highways woods are no where seen
only fringe of trees along the roads
and streams, the clippings of which furnish
thoscanty ire-wood.
In Fraace the most striking feature of the
country is the minute division of the land
You see patches of ten or twenty yards wide
extending considerable length and diversified
with all the products of farm and garden in
terminged. The proprietor lives miles dis
tant in the hamlet undersome ruined castle
or convent This minute division of the sol
is the result of the law which divides estates
among heirs, and the attachment Of the peas
ant to the soil. 1t has some political advan-
tages, and some economical evils. The mar
who farms but few rods cannot keep stock
or improved implements. or have barns, and
must live in howell Therefore you see nc
herds of cattle, but by the road side, occasion
ally, dozen sheep, or single COW, tended
bya woman.-The average amount Of ground
cultivated is not more than five acres to the
individual, and often not so much, yet on &C.
count of its garden like cultivation great
crops are producted The moral and politl-
ca results of this system are unimportant.-
The producer is more than mere tenant. he
has ali interest in the soil The system is
the result of the French revolution, and since
that event the condition of farm-aborers has
greatly improved, and are beginning to make
themselves felt in the Government This Ii
why so few Frenchmen cnigrate, and why
France is still able to raise large armies
England, on the contrary, by her system Q
large farms, and of driving off the peasants
to makeroom for sheep pastures, has reduced
her rural population, aud crippled herself a
"a martial nation. The accretion--ior it can
not be called growth-of her great cities, i
an indication of national decay.
The lecturer next spoke of the vine rego
OF France, and said there was no poetry o
it--nothing but little black stumps tied t
stakes In Burgundy the mulberry, the 6G
and the olive are grown. The olive, like tn
willow, does not, as DO other trees, have ii
periods Of growth, maturity and decay, bu
continues to live on after its heart is destroy
Cd. Thus there are olive trees in Franc
which have borne for hundreds Of years, an
it is said the olive trees now standing in tn
garden of Gethsemane are the same that GU
Saviour saw there. it is certain that the
have remained the same for at least ten Cen
tories.
The lecturer next spoke of the productions
Of the German and Italian States. In Lon
hardy Indian corn is much cultivated, an
hasty-pudding enters largely into the food {
the people. In Switzerland. he said, tn
house and barn is under the same roof an
hay is stored over the principal rooms. Th
Swiss apply liquid nature as a top dressin;
to hay fields, Immediately after moving.
In conclusion he threw out several hints
as tho results of his Observations. II
thought our farmers would do well to initial
the Italian style Of farm-houses, built O
stone in peculiar manner. This would b
n security against fire. Another suggestio
related to the preservation of forests, the ey
results of their destruction being shown i
the dennded hills and washing torrents c
some parts of Italy. Oxen, he thought, fror
what he had seen abroad, would draw bes
attached to d four wheeled cart by a DO,
across the forehead. When the bow wa
fastened in this way they would walk taste
draw HEAVIER loads, and have more cheerfr
and lively look.--From the turks he learue
that horses should never be kept in the dari
as it makes them purblind aud causes them t
shy,
REoEIpE FOR CURING HAMs.-The follow
ino raoa; pau n ra can't no hu n fr;a,d -, NJ,