Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-06-05
agricultural.
Needs of the Farmers.

We hear tily agree that farmers need enthu
sissm, energy, and industry. vet more than
that they need good sense. The farmer
who, during ID accmber and January, tie
time Of our coolest weather, mas not the en-
ergy to ct out in the morning before day
light to feed his stock certainly Lacks go.u
sence. From the time of feeding in the
evening, until daylight the next morning, j.
then too often from twelve to fourteen hours
and no sensible man can expect his cattle to
thrive when they fast half or more, of the
time, and gorge themselves with three meals
the other half.
Every farmer should have the good sense
to feed his stock, especially young cattle,
early in the morning during severe cold
weather, when calOrIc Is 80 greatly demanded
Many farmers are living illustrations
Of want of good sense in fencing. Often
large fields are fenced which are never used
Improvements partly completed and never
made available; labor expended for which
no returns are received Good sense de
mands that there should be no investment
from which returns are not expected-no
capital applied unless it is ssed.
Good sense requires that farmers make
things convenient, especially about their
homes. What good sense Is there in going
four or five rods for water, when the well, or
at least the pump, could be near the house
or close at hand2 And more, why cannot
the pump be in the house, sheltered from
storms, as well as out Of doors Why not
have things handy when it costs no more
than to have them inconvenient.
Hundreds Of farmers keep bees, and scores
of them do not give the hives sufficient OF
effective ventilation during the winter and
they attribute the losses they sustain to
" ill-luck, when it Is clearly from q lack Of
good management.
Farmers must be awake to opportunities
A day lost at seed-time, a duty neglected III
the early part of the season. often causes
whole seasons operations to be Gay or two
behind-band. The farmer must act prompt
ly, for 81 opportunity has a lock Of hair in
front, behind she is bald, and when once she
has passed US, not J0ye himself can catch
her" The increase Of inventions, the intrs-
duction Of new methods and varieties, the
extending Of commerce, the diffusion Of gen
eral knowledge, demand more intelligence Of
farmers
While we need men To run railroads tele-
graphs and steamboats,; to legIslate 10 gov
ern; men to conduct commercial business
we also need a more intelligent class OF pro
dueers. Humbug multiplies on every hand
Sharpers are everywhere in the field seeking
ignorant victims, and 1t is imperative to
selEprotection that farmers be intelligent
With the growing needs. the means have in
creased for obtaining information, especially
in the numerous periodicals published all
over the land.
Every live farmer should number at least
one good agricultural periodical among the
newspapers he receives, and shame to the
narrow minds that by perusing them cannot
increase their store OF good sense, be melted
thereby to more industry, augment their
store of intelligence, or awaken their enthusi-
asm.
We assert that the great mass Of farmers
need more industry, more enthusiasm, and
above all, higher intelligence, purer and bet
ter dispositions, seeking the influence OF
nobler associations for the purpose Of eleva-
ting, refining, and identifying their homes
and increasing their capacities Of enjoyment
Arthur L. Hatch, IN Western Rural