Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-14
House, Farm and Garden.
L. ID. II. COLLINS, Editor.
To the Agricultural Patrons OF the
Standard.

A few weeks since, after the proprietor
Of the Standard had decided upon enlar
ging his paper, he proposed to me that |
should assume the control of an agricultu-
raj department therein. He reasoned that
the Standard being patronized and read
mainly by farmers, should contain de-
partment devoted especially to their inter
ests, which should be so conducted as to be
of iocal interest and benefit to the farming
community, and should be the vehicle of
intercourse between the farmers of the
county, through which they might relate
their practices, and exchange ideas upon
the various branches of their business to
their mutual benefit. His own time and
attention being too much occupied by 9TH
er departments, to allow of his giving to
this, that attention which its Importance
demanded, was the reason for his desiring
OF an assistant are not so obvious. After
due consideration, but with many misgiv-
ings, | consented to accept the position,
not however with the idea of acting as an
instructor Of the intelligent farmers Of
northern Vermont, but as a co-labOrer with
them in the dissemination of agricultural
knowledge and practices, and in advancing
| the general interests of the farming COM
munity. | am well aware that editing an
agricultural paper, or an agricultural de-
| partment in paper of the present day, is
a different thing, and requires much high
er qualification than the same thing did
! fifty years ago, and | should not have the
temerity to enter the field, had | not the
confident expectation that should receive
the hearty support and assistance of the
farmers Of the county, by their contribu-
tons to the agricultural columns of the
Standard There is doubtless score in
every town, whose lives are rich in agricul-
tural experience; active, thinking farmers,
who il they 5Duld, might add materially to
the general stock of agricultural knowl-
edge, or at least to its more general ditfu-
SION by simply writing down facts which
they have learned in their experience, or
ideas which they may entertain, or the re-
suits of experiments which they have made
in the variou, branches Of their business.
and sending them to the paper for publica-
ton. And this Is just what | desire Of the
agricultural readers Of the Standard. This
department viii be just what YOU see fit to
make it; a live, interesting. local agricul-
tural department, or without your help it
must mainly tc a rehash from other papers.
May | not relr upon your assistance in at
tempting to dl.tu,c agricultural knowledge
and advance agricultural improvement?
For myself [ make no promises further
than that viii cndeayor to make the de-
partment a. interesting Il, possible with the
material tina. comes to hand. Ny busines,
has always been that of farmer. and Law
no claim to scientific attainments, and
while assuming the prerogatiye of kings
and editors, by using the personal pronoun
in the first pcl,on plural to designate my
own humble self, and pre,uming to tread
with feeble steps in the rcarmo,t ranks Of
the men Of the quill and scissors, - I Dc
not propose to lay aside the garb of the
farmer or the implements Of his occupa-
ton. Hoping that whether my connection
with the Standard and intercourse with
you through its columns may be long OF
short, it may be mutually pleasant and
profitable, ! make you my most profound
bow and remain very respectfully yours
/. ID. r. COLLINS.
Crait>bury, Sept. 10.