Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-08

appllcat0n OF sclCnce 10 these worn out and
useless lands will reclaim them and render
them fruitful again. lie referred to Virginia,
much Of whose land was run out and not worth
cultivation, till recently, by the employment of
a sounder system of tillage, it had been redeem
ed, and exhibited all its pristine fertility. How
can we best do? Certainly, by comparing
notes, by comparing our experiments, our eff
forts and our processes in the great and praise
worthy work of striving to make two blades of
grass grow where but one grew before lie be-
believed that the gentleman from Newfane was
one Of those who are affected with zeal without
knowledge. lie was one who hoped to reap the
profits without taking the indispensables steps to
gain them. If he had failed under such cir
eumstances, did it follow that all must fail p
No. And the experience Of that gentleman
could not be received as an argument against
che project.
1t was said, too that our taxes were increas-
ing that lively years ago they were but $45,
000 Bnt the people of tho Stare arc better
able to pay 5000, 900 now than $45 900 then.
1t was not the pressure of taxation that drove
the young men from the State; it was rather
the poverty of the soil. But this will continue
unless the State arouscs itself and by proper
means arrests this deterioration. Let these be
applied, and the decline in Vermont will cease,
it will advance again The matter is one Of
such importance, of such broad scope, reaching
all the best interests of our people, as to require
the utmost prudence, the most careful delibera-
ton in maturing the provisions Of the bill, the
most ecrupulous consideration Of the varied
and complex concerns involved in this enter
prise. Bat one thing deserved to be under
stood that it could not be whistlcd down by
the bugabo0 OF taxes, taxes. But the useful
and desirable action could not be had without
discussion Oh the bill itself hence he trusted
that the motion for reconsideration would be
carried.
Mr.. Noycs Of Burlington said he was in favor
Of the motion to reconsider. Ills position with
reference to tie bill looked specially to n
amendment, which could not be effected in the
present stage Of proceedings. The main ques-
zion that is to be decided, on which decision
the adoption Of the measure hung, was in res
pect TO the expense. We now are paving
about $500 for agricultural purposes. But
the real question at issue is not how much We
may pay ior this purpose, but whether it be
wisely appropriated and judiciouely expended.
This was the controlling consideration.
Mr.. Field Of Newianc replied to the question
put by the gentleman from Springfield concern
ing the importation Of flour. The article was
imported because it could be bought cheaper
than it could be raised The farmers Of the
State, generally, could raise oats and buy THEN
-four to greater advantage, with more profit
than they could expect in raising wheat. The
object, then, Of this bureau. is to collect and
ditfuse knowledge. The Geological report was
akin to it. But no good would ever come of
it, no real practical benefits He referred to a
cabinet which his father, his brother and him
self had collected the best in the State, ex-
eept, perhaps, that in the University Of Yer
mont. 1t has been collected in their leisure, to
crafty their curiosity, but was of no use to
them, to nobody The Geological survey of the
State had accomplished nothing. No gold had
been discovered no iron, no marble, no coal ,
nothing was presented but was known before
Again a gentleman in Massachusetts Lad made
an A gricultural report for the State at cost
of some $4,000 Did any good ever come Of
that ? None at all. The reports are laidaway
as numbering rubbish.
The gentleman from St. Adams had sought
to tickle the farmers. lie had railroad interests
in charge, which might require aid. But the
farmers of the State did not wish to be ticklet
about their ears or their sides by this gentle
man.
Look, sir, at the history Of legislation in THU
State. The wool mania seized on the people
They went to raising sheep. The cry wal
raised that the foxes were killing the lambs
bounty must be given on foxes. Well, q
bounty was offered. What was the result ,
Every body WAS digging foxes. The boys wor
digging on week days, ard were digging on Sun
days The people became sick of it, and tho
act was repealed.
Then it was discovered that the crows wert
picking the lambs eyes out. A bounty mus
be given for crows. This was voted The boy
killed the crows carried their heads to tn,
town clerks. obtained their certificates, and tn,
clerks threw the heads out of their back doors
when the boys came in the night, stole them
and presented them again for bounty Thl
was also abandoned. Then the silk worm feye
possessed us. Somebody who had visited Ital,
had compared its scenery with our own. Yer
mont was the Italy Of America. We coul,
produce our own silk on our mountains. Thi
production must even be fOstercd by Legislative
assistance. Appropriations were made. Th
experiment was made in Springfield and else
where; the hill-sldeS were covered with rack
to keep the worms in. A few thousand were
spent, when it was discovered that Vernon
was not Italy after all; then silk raising was al
moonshine. But our experiments did not clos
here, Some $4,000 were appropriated for coun
ty agricultural societies. Had any good CONF
of this? 1t had shownthe farmers in The SINAI
towns that they could got up their own cxhibi
tons. 1t had been OF no use except to thu
small circle about the spot of the " show -
1t had offered premium on perjury and fraud
for the applicants for premiums would swca
like troopers They would bring out the bee
quilts that their graudmothars made, and ave
they were their own products Not good, bu
evil, came from this measure. Now we hav
the grand climax-this system Of experiments
Of folly and of unproftable expenditure is t.
eliminate in an agricu tural bureau. 1t is no
needed 1t is not wanted. The farmers of tn
State do not ask for it, 1t will turn out lik
the other schemes Money would be sunk. N
advantages would flow from it. 1t would b
L..