Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-01-01
agricultural.


'-, ~>>~- -~t NSSN'
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
Il seldom offer an apology. If Ishould
fail you need not think strange, though
if I do it will be because am unwell,
but will proceed. Agriculture in former
years, and what it is now, and what it
should be. 1t is recorded that man should
eat his bread by the sweat of his brow.
Farming once was high calling; stood
at the head of science, but Satan so con-
taminated the human mind, that an opin-
ion is and has been for long time en-
tertained, that anything in form of man
will answer for the farm. / hold that
among our boys the brightest intellect
should be selected and then developed;
educated that he may understand the eff
feet Of the sun, moon, light and heat up
on vegetation, and the chemical combi-
nations of manures, soils and vegetables
70 certain extent, for it is the educated
Industrious farmer who succeeds, while
the ignorant slothful seldom. Send him
not of to a profession
~
Agriculture is the under strata of civ
ilization; it is the foundation upon which
everything else depends that pertains to
a nationality. The farmer should have
everything he needs that will aid and ia
cilitate his business; he should have an
educated wife. Farmers educate your
daughters to the highest point of civiliz-
alton, same time not to neglect their ed
ucation in the domestic arts. False no
tons have grown up among us. False
notions have rendered farming odious,
not eminating from the farming commu-
nifty but from the crowded cities. 1t is
the sure road to honesty. With whom
are your jails and penitentiaries filled?
Not with farmers. X
Again, educate your children at home.
Teach them that agriculture is the direct
road to happiness; yet would have You
take them to the crowded city to look
upon the signs and posters, hung out in
blazing colors over the dens of pollution
and vice-the guide boards to ruin
that they may shun the vanities, bubbles
and vices of life, expanding their money
not for the "Grecian bend" &c, for it is
detormity, but expend it for a library
or the like. 4 ~ r.
BE neat and tidy about the farm. In
conduct, spend not your time at the tav-
ern' or store, or shop, loafing, for if gone
from the farm it is neglected, soon the
sherifs crowd around, penniless children
appear, then the road to vice is thrown
open to keep up appearances, The far
mer's place is athome. would have Won
enjoy yourself, Circulate in society. Be
sociaole, sufficient to develope nature
and to properly facilitate the legitimate
business of your calling. You need no
gymnastlc exercise, once popular, nowb
scientific men called injurious; that ex-
ercise should be dealt out with modera.
ton. Farmers seldom need medicine,
II perchance your daughters become
weak give them proper dose of wash
board, boys of wood-sawing. In agricul-
ture you can have a combined exercise
to fully develope the human system.
Take the dandy who prefers the citv
his cigar. He looks upon farm
ing with disdain and contempt, while he
owes for the very coat he wears. while
those practically skilled in agriculture
can live independently, exclaiming owe
nobody" We should make and render
our homes pleasant by neatly constructed
buildings, transplanting trees, cultivating
flowers, dc. Beautify your homes as far
as you can; make two blades of grass
grow where there is but one, and YOU add
so much to nature-indeed have soma
pursuit, and farming comes the nearest
to the developing of our true natures
The farmer have said is independent
yet he may trade off with the other pro.
LESSONS; he may go to the lawyer for
ADVICE but keep away from them all Won
can You may occasionally call upon
the doctor. Still if he will study the Bi
Die and practice it he would be his own
doctor, for it contains more information
than all other books. | have said tho
pursuit of agriculture was the road 70
happiness. As long as he follows his
piow he will be honest, but when he
leaves 1t, neglects his business, spends his
lime away, begins to jockey, soon is
drawn into the pool of dishonesty. Some
kinds OF business will inevitably lead 10
dishonesty. Money-lending will lead to
corruption for it is done at the expense
of the poor and needy. The closer we
are brought in contact to the suffering so
1t benumbs our sensibilities. Again. all
Kinds OF gaming, cards, &c, lead to vice
and dissipation. The high minded far.
mer pursues an honest course, affording
an opportunity to alleviate the distressed
and that most successfully. Far.
mers to be thrifty should r;so -,