Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-09-27
WHAT THE FARMER" HAS BEEN,
AND WHAT 1T WILL BE.

HND vital ~ WILL DE-
As our paper is now received by many who
have not been familiar with its character
and aims, we think it well to say few
words about the object and design Of its es-
adjustment, and the principles upon which
it will be conducted
The VERMONT FARMER, then, was estab-
lshed to supply what was believed to be a
strong and increasing call for paper devot-
cd specially to the interests of Vermont Ag-
riculture. A State with a population Of
over 100000, mostly farmers State re-
markable not only for the productiveness gifts
soil, but for the high average intelligence and
education of its people State long recog.
nized az one Of the best fields in which to
canvass for subscribers to agricultural jour-
nails that such a State should long be
without a local organ of its greatest interest,
was an anomaly for which no sufficient ex-
PLANTATION was apparent. That its reading
farmers should be compelled to resort to
journals printed in other states for current
information upon topics relating to the vari-
GUS branches of their avocation, and to de-
pend upon the scanty space that could be
accorded to them in such publications where
IN to make known their ideas and wants was a
notifying reflection. Many felt this, and
some were enterprising enough to be willing
to risk the money necessary to found paper
that should be such an organ of our local
agricultural interests as seemed to be re-
quired.
Arrangements were nearly completed in
1869 for the issuing Of an agricultural paper
in Vermont, in all respects similar to that
which is now before our readers, when the
sudden death of two of the three most active
movers of the plan, within few weeks Of
each other, left the third in no position to 90
on with reasonable hope Of success to carry
out the design as originally conceived.
1t was resolved, however, to make an ex.
pertinent on a smaller scale, for the purpose
of developing more certainly the extent of
the actual demand for an agricultural paper
among the farming community of the state
With this object the first plumber Of the
VERMONT FARMER was issued, Dec. 10,
1870 When it is considered how confessed
ly inadequate the paper was, as it thea APP
peared, TO compete on equal terms with the
well established agricultural journals from
abroad that already held possession of the
field, as well as how limited we're the re-
sources at command for bringing it to the
notice of those among whom its patrons we're
to be found, this experiment was highly en-
couraging. A fair circulation was soon OBJ
tanned, and what was particularly significant
this circulation was not mere local one,
but extended into every county and nearly
every town in the state within the first year.
Such very briefly. is the history Of our
undertaking. From so small beginning,
thus encouraged, we have been enabled be.
fore the completion Of the second year to re.
alze our original conception, so far as to
present to the public paper which we feel
can be, and trust will be, made worthy of
general acceptance. 1t has already drawn
about it not only generous list of subscrib-
ers, but body Of contributors whose pens
have added greatly to its usefulness. 1t has
been the means Of presenting, much more
widely than would otherwise have been prac-
ticable, the valuable contributions TO practi.
cal and scientific knowledge that have been
brought out under the auspices of the State
Board Of Agriculture 1t has afforded a
much more extensive circulation to the DO
ceedngs and discussions of Farmers Clubs
and other local agricultural bodies than they
have ever before had. 1t has, as it is now
doing, given full reports Of all of the Fairs
in the state, as well as the New England
Fair, and sketches Of the State Fairs of the
other New England States 1t is awake
t. every political movement, local or general,
that has bearing upon the interests of the
farming class, and will strive, as it has striv-
en-, to present the political interests of agri-
culture to the public, and to the legislative
bodies of the country so far as it may be
able to reach them.
Besides this it has done much, and will do
more, to disseminate clear and correct ideas,
in plain language, upon science in its rela-
tions to practical agriculture. In this re-
spect it may be boldly said that it has
been second to no journal in the country.
And with firm conviction of the absolute
importance of scientific knowledge, it has
shown an equal devotion to sound practice
and the teachings of experience as developed
IN the daily observations of shrewd, intelli-
gent observers. 10 carry these two along,
hand in hand, neither debating authorita-
lively to the other, but each helping the
other, has been our serious aim.
We have strenuously sought to awaken in