Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-11


education, together with perhaps more or less of
setting OUT when arriving at an age to enter
upon life for themselves, and still have the farm |
left, and sufficient personal property with it to
make them comfortable and Independent in
old age Not unlikely some of these children
have grown to be now the foremost men of the
nation, whether as leading business men in the
large cities, or as statesmen, or persons dis
tinguished for ability in various other walks of
life. If we examine the history of the leading |
men of the day, no matter in what department
or calling, we find that very large share of
them had their nativity and early training on
these farms in the country, and what is more,
the successors of these men will, a very large
degree, be again supplied from these farms.
have this moment in mind one OF the best
farmers in Vermont an active and able Director
in our State Agricultural Society, who at an
early age was left an orphan and penniess, and
was bound out by the town authorities for a
support during his minority. After the age of
twenty-one years, he worked for wages at farm
ing few years, thus accommodating few hum
dred dollars with which he commenced farm
ing on his own account, paying small sum
down towards the purchase of his farm, and
mortgaging a large remainder of its value, to
be liquidated in after years by annual payments
of a stipulated amount each He now owns
his farm clear, large and valuable stock of
animals, substantial and superb buildings, &C.,
all paid for has given his children superior
advantages of education, and is still an active
business man. also n well read man. uossessinp
a large knowledge of men and things derived
from personal observation. do not know of
a more complete triumph over adversely in
early life than this man has achieved, and his
worldly success has all come by farming.
Another instance now in mind. is that of
- 4
200 acres. paid for. but with considerable less
than 50 900 capital besides his land, and who
never possessed "A sufficiently rugged constitu-
ton TO do a full DAVIS work in the field. BY
nice care of himself aided by the naturally
heath-giying occupations and amusements of
farming. he considerably strengthened a weak
constitution and made it hold out to the ripe
age of some seventy years. Though not able
himself to perform the heavier kinds of labor
and cultivation of the farm, vet he planned and
directed It all. and with his own hands planted
and trained up orchards of various kinds of
fruits. and devised and executed various other
improvements, ornamental or substantial. He
raised an interesting and refined family, fitted
them well for active life, added more than three
fold to the value of his real estate, besides
leaving at his disease several thousand dollars
OF personal property invested at interest
In speaking thus favorably OF agriculture
do not wish to make an erroneous impression
upon your friend "E." Every man has his own
peculiar difficulties to contend with, and every
business has its drawbacks. To be successful
and contented and happy at farming, man
must have a natural and quite decided taste for
it, and considerable enthusiasm in its pursuit.
Perhaps there is no business whatever to which
this remark applies with greater force. The
farmer has to do continually with the great
laws and works of nature, and his pursuit is
certainly an intellectual one. Very interesting
and important subjects of inquiry are continual
ly presenting themselves to him, and to I'M
derstand and solve them correctly, he must
have turn for and the habit of extended and
minute personal observation, and of reading
and reflection. These personal and intellectual
attachments are what make him truly prdcti-
cal farmer, and enable him to generalize and to
devise a system of cultivation and farm man.
agement adapted to his own farm, and to cut
loose from mere traditions and customs of hus-
bandry which so often prove an incubus upon
farming, and have operated to bring the bust