Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-10-11
What the Legislature can do for the Farmer


What the Legislature can do for the Farmer.
Two weeks Since and last week we took oo-
eason to suggest the proprcty of the LcgiSla"
turc considering the matter as to whether there
could not something be done for the general
benefit Of Agriculture, as we'll as for the Mill
tia, Circuses, protection Of fish, &C., &C. The
morals of the State are in healthy condition,
and our educational system has not yet had
sufficient trial 10 warrant any change. Then
why not the Legislature inquire if there is not
some means by which an interest can be ava
kened in Agricultural pursuits, and asystem of
general improvement and reform instituted in
that staple pursuit of our people. The present
census will, no doubt, exhibit general decrease
in population in the purely agricultural towns,
~ will the census of other New England States.
And is not this owing to comparative de-
crease in the productivoness of this branch of
industry? Is there not lack of stimulus in
chc old Agricultural States, and an over in
&efests in mercantile and professional pursuits?
Are not our lands becoming exhausted, ard the
people decming it easier to sell out and 20
Wet, than to try and restore their farms? Dol
not tkeee farmers many of them suppose that
the land is past recovery, and that they must
be visited by severe drouth annually, with
nothing to c9unterbalance its effects. No one
denies the propriety of the Legislature doing
al possible for this all-important interest, but
the general superstition is, that nothing can be
done, or else everything is already done which
can be. No doubt cur Agricultural Fairs have
all the attention they deserve, and that more
time and money can better be expended in 9TH
or directions than this We want different
bump of agriculture cultivated 1t is not the
FAST horse, big OK or premium sheep altogether,
but we want premium meadows, for smoothness.
'oF the amount Of hay they produce, we want
premium pastures, premium corn fields, wheat
fields, aud premium farms for ne0tnoss and state
Of cultivation We want premium application
Of fertilizers, premium improvements of all
descriptions, and above all premium farmers
We want high premiums for the increased
amount which our farms are made to produce.
For instance, man has two hundred acres of
land, fifty meadow and tillage, fifty pasture and
City woodland, and the other fifty neither
meadow, pasture Or woodland, but part of all,
with stones, stumps, bushes, logs, swamps, &C.,
Sc. Now we want that last fifty acres put in
condition to be of equal value with the mead
ow and pasture. The bushes, stumps, and logs
pulled and burned, the stones laid into wall,
the swamp drained, and the muck applied to
the meadow and tillage land. Perhaps the
meadow bears only one ton of hay to the acre
we want two--perhaps the pasture is worn
ont, and keeps but ten head of cattle and one
hundred sheep, when we want double kept.
But you ask, is it the business of tho Legis-
lature to look after this and that mans farm
Certainly not, in a single and particular in
stance, but in such general manner as will
give the whole farming community the benefit
Of it. There is now Ger tain sums yearly paid
to our fairs, which is paid out for the cxhibi-
ton Of the first, second and third best, farm
productions, and fastest horses. Why not pay
out certain sum yearly, for experiments in
draining, applying muck, and renoyatng old
meadow and pasture lands. Why not publish
the reports upon geology already prepared, and
call for such others upon the nature of the sol,
as would enable the thinking farmer to judge
accurately what application to make Why
not tho leading men of the State interest them
selves in this matter, as well as in last horses,
the militia, quarryng, mining banking, rail
roads, education and temperance. Anything
looking to the welfare, prosperity and happiness
Of the people, is, or should be, the legitimate
business of their representatives. Let our Leg
stature take it upon itself to furnish proper
committee to investigate our agricultural in-
teresIs and the general condition of the State,
and report OF the peEt session, If there are