Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-23

once too, which is but little understood by
the most experienced of us is fact which
every intelligent farmer is willing to admit.
How little we know Of the elements that en-
ter into tho composition of the soil we till.
How little of the different elements that form
the fruits and grains we raise. What intelli-
gent farmer has not felt desire to be able to
analyze the soil he tills, to know the compo-
stion Of the different crops raised, the needs
of the different animals fed, &c. But where
shall our sons learn these things? Can they
receive an education that will specially fit
them for farmers at our academies and COL
leges, porting over the dead languages, even to
the shameful neglect Of their own mother
tongue ? This tends to unfit them for this
employment, and often for the real duties of
life everywhere.
Our fathers could crop their lands without
return and yet attain very good reward for
their toll; and suffering their manures to run
10 waste, one by one, the different crop-bear-
ing elements that formed the rich virgin soil
which they found here, have become so far
reduced as to be in many cases unavailable.
Our lands are all more or less exhausted and
sterile, and it is the thinking, scientific far
mer who can successfully return these ex-
hausted elements.
Agriculture is not considered an honorable
occupation, from the fact that few educated
men engage in it, and the idea was once prev
aent, that in this employment there was no
need or chance for mental culture, and this
thought has deferred thousands of our young
men, from following willingly, agricultural
pursuits. Bnt there is brighter era dawn
ing upon the farmers life The idea is fast
getting hold of mems minds, that agriculture
is a field in which our profoundest scholars
can engage, and find ample room for all their
culture and research. A distinguished far
mer, or noted stock-breeder is beginning to
stand an even chance with the lawyer or
doctor, in the popular favor.
In view Of the growing mental needs of the
agriculturist, and the very limited chance for
those young men who would like to fit them.
selves specially for this calling, it would
seem that every rejecting farmer would say
at once, that we ought to have agricultural
colleges established in this State The i'm
portance Of this is not felt by the people. 1t
is an idea that has never been thought of by
but few of our farmers, and the arguments
in its favor need to be often expressed, and
debated in the public journals, that they
may become familiar to the popular ear.
was much pleased with the remark made
upon this subject by " Practical Farmer" in
the I'd No. Of the enlarged Freeman, and I
trust that we shall hear more from him up.
on the same subject. And farmers can if
they will, do much at home in every school,
district or in every village to ennoble their
vocation, and thus add charm to it, so that
their sons and daughters, will more of them
choose to follow the occupation of their
father. The young people Of this generation,
are educated too much to enjoy the unsocial,
unthinking life that most farmers lead, and
too little to enjoy the solitude of their own
thoughts, hence the dislike to engage in this
employment. Agricultural Schools, in which
our sons may be practically and scientifically
educated to till the soil, and Farmers Clubs
at home, for the interchange of thought, cul-
ture and to keep awake an interest in agri-
cultural pursuits. The benefit and organiza-
tion Of Farmers Clubs and the growing IA
vor of agriculture as branch of honorable
industry, in my next. Corn Coz.
Feb. 1860.