Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-01-25

our young men at nome ana preserve
them to as and to the benefit of agricul- |
tural industry. We cannot successfully |
compete in any of the productions of the
farm or dairy without intelligence,
knowledge, study, thought, experiments,
etc., and that is the great benefit con-
ferred on us by agricultural colleges and
such associations as this, with learned
essays from such men as Gold, Flint,
Curtis, Harris, Hyde and others. These
are what are going to help us.
The speaker then illustrated the neces-
sity of keeping better herds fand cows,
by the extra profit in producing a large
and better quantity of butter, at the
same cost of feed with poorer COWS.
In cities all classes of business have
their associations, where they discuss
the affairs of business and instruct each
other, and for the same purpose this and
similar associations are formed among
farmers. It was but few years since
the State Agricultural Society was
formed and all can see the benefit con-
ferred by it.
How will a young man find out
whether it pays to be farmer without
inquiring of farmers. He looks at his
father who has struggled along barely
obtaining a subsistence, and depriying
himself and family of every luxury and
of some comforts, and finds he is worth
no more than when he began. TO be
sure he finds some farmers like the pres
ident (Mason), Hammond, COlburn, and
others, who have made money, but tax
ing the average, by far Ethc larger part
are no better off than when they began,
and he makes up his mind that farming
in New England don't pay and goes west.
But if the young men would study the
embarrassmcnts their fathers met with
for the want Of knowledge, then they
might say we will stay, take heart and
study, St1tdy.
1t is easier to make a dollar out Of a
farm in Vermont than in the west The
exceptionally wealthy men among the
farmers of the west are made so not by
the profits of the farm, but from the
purchase of large quantities Ofreal estate
at low prices, and its rise in value from
the building of railroads, etc. The
farmers of the west follow III the foot
steps of their fathers, and make less
profits, all things considered, than the
farmers of New England Give us old
Vermont and New England to produce
a dollar out of the earth over any other
land. All that is wanted is to put intel
ligence, knowledge, study and skill, put
manhood, culture and brains in your
work, and you must and will succeed
EVENING.
In the evening an address was delivered
by Rev, Matthew II. Buckham, Presi-
dent of the University Of Vermont and
State Agricultural College, on the
OPPORTUNITIES OF THE FARMER.
He said when he thought that God
made His first revelation and covenant
in pastoral life, that He calls Himself
the Shephccd, and that Jesus calls Him
self the Good Shepherd he did not see
how. on such occasions, that they could
help thinking of God, He did not pro-
pose, however, 70 preach a sermon.
They looked upon life with different
eyes from him, and they expected crit
icisms from a different standpoint from
their own.
He understood farmers life, his boy
hood having been passed in 4 rural Yer
mont community, had taught school and
boarded around and preached in such
communities, and he knew their virtues
and their failings. Their opportunities
are splendid but not half realized, some
are common to all but others are peCul-
lar TO Vermont
First as to their character, It is good
stock, good to graft on to. Their intel
lect is not brilliant but is slow and Saga
ciOus. Their emotional nature is pTacti-
cal, but capable Of excitement and of
high enthusiasm. Who could have pre-
dicted the yalOr and enthusiasm of our
brave Vermont farmer boys on the hun
bred battle fields Of the rebellion? Their
moral nature is steady, tenacious, reliable
and true to his convictions and preiu-
dices. Il is good to start from being
staunchcr, more solid and better balanced
than that Of the South, West or Eastern
sea coast. 1t is narrow. rough, Jealous,
proud of its ignorance and bristling with
preiudices. 1t needs contact with and
to be educated by reading, etc. The
Vermont hoy is at first regular Tartar.
He wants education but his preiudicCs
against it amounts almost to anmnOSitv.
He hates all the higher branches, but it
is a delight to see him gradually get over
these preiudiccs and outstrip those who
formerly deridcd him. This character,
improved, makes mon and women, the
perfect ideal of farmers. intelligent. and
with the simplest and grandest Of vir-
tues, honesty.
Their second opportunity is liberty of
Opini0n-nOt independent Of the grocer,
miller. professional man, etc, but indie
pendent in opinion. It does not affect
his business as it does that of the clergy
men or LAWYER. Their Oninionq in mol
ties, etc. do affect their bushes. Ills
business produces butter, cheese. Grain.
etc. These Are imporsional. and If thew
are rood thPy will find a market The
farmers are 10 be relied unoD to stand Nv
unDonular opinions until they become
popular. This is an mreaIizcd oppor-
tunity. and sometimes becomes danger
Gus making us headstrong and opinion
ated To be RIGHT we must do one of
two tbings-mllst do As we see wise men
do. or We must form our own conclu-
sions from the study of principles.