Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-06-18
AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.
By our Agricultural Editor.
Get the Best.


This aphorism has become so common as to
have lost much Of its force, yet with the posi-
BILE exception Of % Book ii John there is none
that farmers as a class so much need, 10 have
sounded IN their ears with ding-dong that
cannot fail to secure attention and presented to
their view in letters of dazzling brilliancv. In
the selection Of seeds, implements, animals, and
in short everything tina; they have to do with.
the best l. none too good, and as rule. the
cheapest in the end. We every day see new
evidences Of this fact and we also see the most
astounding evidence Of indifference on the sub
jest. These thoughts were suggested by seeing
man buy second hand moving machine,
aud one, too, that the manufacturer had himself
condemned SIS is evidenced by the circumstance OF
his having abandoned its manufacture in favor
Of another machine. We DO not mean to be IN
derstood that there are. no circumstances in
which a man nay he placed that Will warrant
such a purchase; but we DO say that in ma
jority Of instances the only justification that
can be adduced in favor Of such a proceeding Is
penny wise and pound foolish economy
We do not place a proper estimate on the econo-
my Of the better class of implements or ma
chimes, 30 long as We have sufficient force to ac-
complish one work with such as we happen to
have or can buy more cheaply. It would sur
prise most farmers to learn that they habitually
waste ten to twenty-five and not unfrequeutly
fifty per cent. Of the power employed on imper-
feet implements. But the question arise,
" How are we to know which machine are most
economical in the expenditure Of power, since by
mere inspection we are liable to be mislei al
every point ,'' We answer,-by encouraging,
ami giving heed to the teachings Of trials Of i'm
plements not those trials held under the lirec-
ton Of interested manufacturers and dealers,
but trials conducted by and among yourselves,
in your associated capacity, as an Agricultural
Sociry or IN some similar capacity. The SIM
pie matter Of driving the machines a few times
across a field with d. means Of determining re-
suits except by mere guess is not such trial as
viii afford instruction to anybody and yet 1t is
the kind Of trial, the teaching Of which We
usually accept in this section Of the country
The trial Of moving and reaping machines.
&c, at Auburn, by the New York State Agri-
cultural Society, in 1866, that Of pioughs at
Amherst, Mas, by the New England Agricul-
tural S.ciety last year, and that Of haying im-
PIGMENTS proposed 10 be held at the same Place
this month, are such as are entitled to the con-
fieuce and consideration Of the people. The
rules f.r conducting the trials, the methods of
computing the result, and the make up of the
board Of judges are such as to disabuse the
most jealous mind Of any possibility Of COLLISION
It should, moreover, be borne in mind that these
trials are not got up in the interest Of the manu-
flcturers Of implements but in the interest Of the
turner's, and for the very purpose Of protect
ing them from fraud and imposition.