Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-01
Agricultural Legislation.

Dy bLlG pCudtC OOluIullGc0 UPON
On the same page, also, we give an article ia
ken from the Vermont Patriot, but which is
understood to have been written by the Demo-
cratic member from West Fairlee. The bill we
publish is, also, substantially the Same as re-
ported by the same Committee in the House,
and which was summarily dismissed on Friday.
There are amendments pending in the Senate,
which body it will, no doubt, pass by con-
siderable majority, if not, in fact, by q unani-
nous vote, when it will again come before the
House. In the House, also, q reconsideration
of the vote dlsmissing it has been moved,
and considerable discussion already had upon
the legislation proposed, from which we discov-
or that the farming interest in the House is being
awakened and the subject will receive proper
consideration before it is finally disposed of.
When we suggested to our readers the pro-
priety and benefits from greater legislative
interest in agricultural affairs, we did not con-
template the immediate creation of a Board of
Agriculture, in full operation, but we wished
to direct attention to subject more justly re-
curing and deserving legislative action than
many subjects engaging much IN ore attention.
This consideration has ripcncd into the propo
sition for Board of Agriculture, whose bust
ness shall be to investigate, institute inquiries,
experiments, and collect and difuse among the
people the abundance of real practical informa-
ton which already exists, and may be gathered.
And should such measure succeed, we have
no doubt Of its utility, and general good effect
upon agricultural pursuits There is much
reliable KIN owledge derived from continued ex-
periments and observations by practical, we'll
to-do farmers which would be of incalculablc
advantage to our people could they receive it,
But the lack Of agricultural discussions, lack of
agricultural newspapers, of farmers clubs, &C.,
&C.. in the State, has left us an age behind all
our neighbor States, and even Canada, in agri.
cultural Improvements. Our fairs have stmu-
lated the breeding of horses and stock in such
q manner as to place Vermont in the lead in
raising good horses cattle, sheep and swine
This has been done by demonstrating the fact
that a farmer could improve his breeds at q
small expense, and that that expense would be
doubly and threbly returned in the increased
price of his animals Now if we could awaken
the same interest in improving the breed Of
our farms-meadows, pastures, gardens and
felds-if we could demonstrate the fact that
the expense of improving the condition of our
fields by the collection, manufacture and appli-
cation of moro manure, or sub-soil poughs,
, would be doubly and threbly returned by the
increased products, then would our farmers be
, led to dig up the hedges, the NOISY knobs and
, brcr pastures, and drain their swamps, bring
, up few inches more SOIL turn their hogs into
laboring animals and their muck beds into
compost for their exhausted fields. If oul
D farmers supposed that the sums now annually
t expended upon Agricultural Fairs would, il
, expended upon Board of Agriculture, enable
l this Board, which should be composed of oul
, leading, best informed and live farmers, to in
stitute system of experiments, collect wha
) information and facts there arc cxtant, anG
f properly lay them before the people, as the bcs
manner of improving their exhausted lands, re
) claiming their swamps and pastures, then d.
we believe that they would demand the transfer
of these annual payments.
, If our farmers supposed, also, that the ex
pendturc of ono thousand dollars in this way
would add ten thousand to the value of TIN
. farms in our State, then do we believe tina
they would instruct thoir Representatives to 81
= apply it. The legislation proposed is not in
tended toscreatc off ces, not intended to bcnef
the rich and educated; they have already, ant
9 are ablc to have, the advantages of all thes
contemplated experiments and improvements
but to bring this information to the eye, ant
within the reach, Of the poor farmer who can
not afford to spend his time upon experiment
3 and composts, wthou knowing that they will
prove beneficial.
When the subject came up in the House las
week, it was Surprising to see with what hast
i men, who knew nothing of farming, prounce,
: upon the young object. They were like doctor
n stranging new idea; and, in fact, we fea
that some farmers are as afraid of IL new ide
as these lawyers were of deyoting few hour
o to discussing agricultural intereste. 1t is no
l.. at all strange that lawyers. should oppose an,
r measure which wonld tend to onlighten tn
e farmer, or give him sufficient business in hi
G home affairs to keep HIM out of law. 1t
neither strange that the class which has alread
cost the State 50 much to define their technc
: alitits,. should seize upon the bud Of any othe
It legislation and trample it under foot. W
are not surprised at the moves and votes Q
Democratic members of the Assembly, for the
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