Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-11-03
agricultural
Address
DIFFERED al the Washington Comfy Fair
hid ai Montpelier, October 2la., 1869.
BY non. JOHN GREGORY

marks, that / ulu not consent 70 address YOU
on this occasion until three distinguished gen.
tlemen bad declined the invitation. in conso-
quencc Of previous engagements aud a press
Of business but for the want Of better adj
vocate of the rights Of the farmer and me.
chano, have thought proper 20 comply with
your request, aud speak for q short time upon
such topics as trust may entertain and stir
you up to greater activity, IN your noble and
manly calling. Sensible Of my incompctency
to instruct men who have call thcir lives
long made agriculture their study, may | be
allowed, if nothing more, TO act the part Of o
sign-board az the corners Of our highways to
point out the road, that you may pursue the
right path that leads to honor, usefulness, and
prosperity in the sublime art Of farming.
Consider 2 that our Fair has been post
poned twice this fall on account of heavy
rains, and that onc-half of our county is un-
represented in our exhibition, I think much
praise Is due our Farmers Cor their courage
aud perseverance, IN that. neither the SHOWS
that whitencd the earth yesterday morning
the badness Of the roads and bridges. nor the
lateness Of the season, have prevented you
from making a commendable show of your
farm products; and we trust another year, APP
pointing the Fair at an earlier day YOU may
be more successful than you have been at this
time.
THE SOCIETY AWAKE.
And before proceeding to my subject, let
me congratulate you upon this awakening
from a nine years Rip Van Wrinkle sleep, as
a society, and the favorable circumstances
under which you lind yourselves in this good.y
year of 1869. You have remained inactive
for long time as an agricultural organza-
ton but am thankful that q few spirited
farmers in an parts of our county, were not
disposed to sleep the sleep that knows no res
direction, but with commendabe spirit. YOU
have organized your scattered forces aud
made fine exhibition, showing 10 the world
that Washington county when once aroused,
can make display of stock and farm produc-
part of Vermont May we not hope that
from this reawakening, exhibitions Of this kind
may annually take place IN our county that
shall excel this, aud thus become noted for
great excellence IA agricultural products.
GROWING INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE.
Mr. President rejoice that coumcpdo.
Bile snirit Of omnlation rossosses the hearts
Of opr farmers and ,nocharics and that tboy
fool 4 iboir dutv 10 or,onizo into sociotic. IN,
each oiber's welfare ana innrovcnont Tborc
h a growing spirit manifested and IAN bv our
farmers generally. and they are striving TO
increase Fl practieal science. This is worthy
of inc farmers of the Greon Mountain STATE
With every facility necessary to compete with
the agricultural ;ntorosts ofcvorv mart of o,r
leys 10 generously bring forth " seed for fine
sower and bread for the eater." with our rail.
roads conveying with nreat rapidity our pro-
duets TO market. we have everything TO en-.
courage rs and mako ms strive In imnrove
our stock. brighten mn our farms and make
Vermont wear, If possible. the proud title ofl
the first agricultural State of the nation. con. |
sideripq her size and ponulation
OUR COUNTRY AN AeR1cu1runAL ONE.
NJ pros;aon, o,,r;o,,l,,ro ,o,- or,,.l,.,..
,ho 80, III. ~ ~ - nJ ~ 49, e
~ 49,. ~ - 49, 80.
~ -. - c'.i.N% ~
~ va, '" ;.; Wv peGl.o ".o
~ 40 pursuits %. o'"1i i"'eiVa's
~ enasn' uPon ~. FINISHES 'nVanS
Il al e. 10 IL
NV :, ~ 80 ~ IL
wy PaoIrss lJ., y, s' -. I
: n@'on@ I 49, s"1 nIo. "a ~
80 P "1,. VI '"'O' ""' :" '''''
'uls sun u inuu''iy ,.,nt
Gui 0ou".i! 70 "uu a." NJ NJ w o''0''''',
ueNo'ec !" "Siiou''I'e' We n"'o ."s'
mount Oh 'errl'oty' embracing every variety
y SOIL climate ana productions ou' IN no
department Oh Nnowleugo Is 'nGre !elt so
nucn UNDISCOVERED ana uneXplorea' as III that
elating 10 inc laws oil nature as connected
Sith agriculture, IN regard 10 eaeh ana an o.
nese' ms science Is YET III us infancy
ra a., nave not inc means 'na' lrus' 'nvy
Nl.a s1on nav, ,Ol seuor"' "uu 'Aso I 49,; ~
yation Agricultnre Is not studied or regard. |
"a Inv the mass as a science. hut conducted
often in !, confused and inconsistent variety
of modes according To lone nraetiees
STRANGE TO saw. a large amount of what
NAV he called yoS,ti1e fapming still prevails
in his country Tho soil Is tiucd The same
seed sown. and the crops succeed each other
voar aAe- voor In some cases where the
soil Is ipexhaustible. This NAV lie the best
method of farming for the present owners
besides. the example of father to son is in
valuable, provided that example be good.
Practical knowledge is certainly superior to
mere theory; hut 10 persist in The same sue.
cession of crons. in REMAINING the same and
often the poorest seed in pursuing the same
methods Of culture. in rearing tho same
common breeds of stock, in using the same
poor implements Of husbandry, is to deny the
value OF the aggregate experience OF men OF
similar pursuits, and to ignore the progress
OF the age in science and the useful arts. L
should be the aim OF every young farmer
TO do not only as 'oeH as his father, but to dc
his best to make two blades OF grass grow
where but one grew before"
GOOD TIME COMING.
But BRIGHTER day is dawnipo Bv mean
of agricultural societies and fairs. our farm
ers are beginning to sec the utility of i'm
movement In all farm implements witnessin
as thew do the great variety of such produe
tions. that make " farming easy and labo