Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-01-03
Agricultural Literature,

EDITOR FREEMAN AT this season Of
the wear, when the farmer has a leisure
time to devote to the Improvement OF the
mind, perhaps few words relating to agri-
cultural literature may be Of interest,
We say agricultural literature, because
we mean that kind which is tho nearest
adapted to the wants OF the farmer The
professional man has department Of lltcra-
ture or reading, which claims his attention
first Of all Others, aud it should be thus with
the agriculturist. He occupies a response
bic independent, and honorable position in
relation to the other departments OF society.
Indeed, he is the cornerstone upon which
they are founded, and from which, to GER
tain extent, they derive their existence
This being the light in which we view the
subject, it should have ang influence on the
farmer, that would induce him to place a
lust estimate on the relation he sustaDs to
the other departments Of industry which
nature has placed in such close proximity to
his own And in no way can he more readi-
ily advance bis own interests, and fulfill the
obligations he is under to the community,
and 10 the world, than by a judcioOs system
Of reading,
Neither need he loog hesitate as TO the
form or manner in which this reading IS TO
be obtained These are days Of lightning
and steam, and it is not long, after the indit-
ing, conveying and imprcssing Of thoughts
aud IDEAS, ere they arc placed IN cur hands
in nice aud convenient form for perusal,
and wc have only to turn over their richly
laden pages, to become acquainted with the
stores Of knowledge they contain - the re-
suit, perhaps, Of lifetime Of patient
thought and study.
In list Of weIl.selcctcd books Hc have a
dUecioru, to which we can turn at any time,
and gather those facts and IDEAS that would
often save us from many perplexng difficult
ties. Nor is it from books alone, that this
knowledge is to be obtained The agricuI-
tural periodical press has a most important
part to perform in charging and eleyatng
the sphere of the farmer. 10 certain eX-
tent the latter takes precedence Of the Tor
mcr; for, from their periodical nature the
matter contained is adapted to the season,
and many thoughts aud IDEAS experiments
and results, appear in this form, that would
not be accessible in any other.
The agricultural journal is the farmer
organ and most truthiully can We Judge Of
tic progress and Improvement in this depart
mcnt Of industry, by the character Of such a
journal. Is it fully aud ably sustained !--it
speaks volumes for this noble enterprise
Are its columns filed with the original pro-
ductions of farmers themselves nothing
can indicate more clearly the intelligent
power, the theoretical and practical kno@l-
edge. tie ability to advance and sustain
ideas-idcas that have been formed upon the
iarm-than this evidence from the tilers o.
the soil.
We like to see farmers the advocates o.
their own cause; not leaving it to the mer
Of the professions to write the books, edit
the papers, and deliver the addresses, But
there is a steady advance in this direction
and with confidence We may expect much o.
the future However, in anticipating the
future, we should not forget the present.
We should lay up for the mind good store
OF nourishment. a small sum expended iol
books aud papers will not be lost. What
farmer i, there who, as he looks upon his
library of weIl.seeeted volumes, will not fee
an Inward satisfaction, and honest pride, anJ
as be takes them down, one by one, and
gathers the treasures Of knowledge they con
tain, during the long winter evenings, vii
not, in the porusal, ielt more than repaid iol
all the trouble in obtaining them
Thus far We have only spoken Of litera
ture for the farmer that accords with his oc
cupation, that furnishes friend and accom-
panment TO his labor, without reference t
his being u member OF that great bod,
moral, social and polite. But We would no
forget that the farmer is also citizen. VI
would not prescribe his labors, duties ant
obligations to the boundaries of his farm
There are other objects that have a CLAIM
upon his attention, and in no way can b
more readily become acquainted with his du
ties as member OF society, than in keeping
himself Informed so far as relates to III
various principles and questions of the day
FARMER