Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-03-22
Farmers Debating Clubs.

district No. IA. Geo. B. Brewster is
president and Guar E, Jameson is sec
rotary. The subjects Of "Applica-
ton of Manures," Dairying," Farm
Teams" &C., have been discussed most
proftably. If the farmers in the Vi
cinity will take the pains to attend
the regular meetings Of the Club, ia
king an active part in the discussions,
it will inure greatly to their benefit.
Agriculture, and the things pertaining
thereto, the oldest of occupations, is |
at the same time the most neglected:
it is certainly the case in our country,
unless it be in the oldest settled dis
tricts or by those gardeners who live
contiguous to our great cities. While
it is the first occupation Of man it is
the most important one, for without
some kind of agriculture mankind wo'd
soon starve or become carniverous.-
We have often wondered why the far
mers in our state did not organise
town agricultural societies, meet at
stated times to discuss topics connect
ed with farms and farming, Interchange
ideas and compare notes-as being
the most practical and efficient means
of advancing their peculiar interests.
By reading we learn; by talking we
learn, but by discussing principles and
introducing illustrations we learn far
more. What we read we often for
get, but what we argue aud talk over
we seldom do. In order to talk we'll
we must read some reading gives a
clue to the truth; talking of what VIC
have read and have seen is what clin.
ches those truths and stamps them in.
delibly upon the mind. Therefore we
would urge with what eloquence we
are master of, the organising of arri
cultural lyceums in every town, whose
first object should be to learn of eacl
other the best modes of doing this OF
that thing, what peculiar Soil is reoui
red to produce this or that cereal. the
best time to plant any given root, what
breed of cattle is best adapted to our
peculiar wants and climate, how they
should be crossed in order to meet
the wants of the farmers, discuss the
butter and beef qualities Of this OF
that favorite, whether the Durhams
or the Devons, or the Ayershires, ol
the Attorneys, or the Herefords ar,
the better mixers, or are the NOR
hardy, or the favorite OF the butcher
or whether they are better oxen.-
The second object should be mutua
Improvement of the mind, irrespectiv
of dollars and cents, and with the dc
sign of shaking off the dull and pros
monotony which envelopes the brai
OF too many of our agricultural NOR
ey getters. This course would nc
only make a hse people, but an int
Hgent one, and intelligence is not il
compatible with wealth.
Too many farmers entertain til
idea that nothing can be learned frol
books or papers in relation to agricu
ture or stock raising, and scout f,
"book farming" and scientific agl
culture, assuming to know all becauI
their whole lives have been spent
the business, and think that becaus
they have succeeded in raising sc
bushels Of potatoes to the acre, or 3
bushels of wheat, or have produced
piece of pork that could leap a sew,
rail fence and not touch, they have g
rived at the summit of earthly bis
and that no more can be learned
the way of farming. There are tho
however that do not so think and ha
joined in the march of events and a
daily reaping the reward of their G
terprise in more bountiful crops. bt
ter stock, better wooded sheep. hare
er horses and in swine that canr
leap fence of any sort. There h
been great change in agriculture al
stock raising in the last ten and TIVE
ty years; there has been improveme
in everything connected with farmi
and the field for progress and limo,
ton upon long established custom
as broad as ever. We have as
reached but the threshold of adyan,
ment in this branch of human ind,
try, and we predict that the next Z
cade will witness greater wonde
than the past. Vermont is one of t
first states in the Union in industri
pursuits, yet We have much to lea
and the sooner we are about il t
better. Orleans county has no 81,
rior in the natural productiveness
her soil, unless it be Franklin conn,
yet we are probably far behind her
our implements of husbandry and a
rying utensils; this is doubtless owl
to our infancy as a county and nov
ty OF our citizens, rather than f.,
the lack of any desire to make use
them had they the means. This !.
lack which time will remedy. whor