Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-12-13
ADDRESS OF PROFESSOR COLLIER,
Secretary or the Board OF agriculture, &C.,
before the Legislature of Vermont.
Continued from last ,oeek.) J

NN''''NNN ! 'N"s teS' SSefsJ
But it may be urged that in those couD.
tries like China and Japan, where for thou.
sands of years successive crops have been
taken from the fields and teeming popula.
tion fed, no science of agriculture has existed,
and the point is well taken; but this illus
trates what to great extent is true of most
of our farmers at the present day.
Very few of our farmers can render an
intelligent or scientific reason for those prac-
ces most common. From generation to gen.
GRAFTON certain methods of agriculture have
obtained, a certain routine has been followed
and success more or less marked has resulted.
Why then, some may ask, seek for change ?
Why not let well enough alone and | reply
that change is most desirable for three
principal reasons. |. We are not Chinese,
but an intelligent, thinking people, satisfied
only in knowing the cause Of things so far
as we may With us agriculture is not
alone followed as a means of gaining sub.
sstence merely, but should be if it is not
entered upon as field for human develop
ment rather; and to one who thus approaches
1t will it ever appear an honorable, dlgni6ed
and ennoblng pursuit. =. Are we SO sure
that our present success is we'll enough, and
therefore to be left alone2 1t is quite posi-.
/
BILE that results better even than ever our
fathers dreamed of NAV be attained, if only
we learn the reasons which gave them their
partial success. g. 1t often happens that
here and there failure results the method.
hitherto pursued have become inappicable
The earth resolutely refuses to yield hel
fruits. Those fertile fields have become sud
denly barren and uuproductive. Or it may
be the development Of other industries, the
opening up Of new means of communication
the entire change of circumstances by ere,
ating demands for new farm products, by
bringing in new and successful competitions
for farm productions, has rendered change
of programme desirable How then shall W,
renovate our worn out pastures How ther
shall we restore fertility to our exhausted
fields How then shall it be possible to effec
change Of base from one branch of agricul
ture to another, but by knowing the princ
pies which underie the practice in eithel
case Or to specify a case how can W.
restore our fields to their original productive
ness unless we know the causes which hav,
produced their exhaustion That now thes,
things have been done, are being done by
hundreds of our farmers, | need hardly as
sure you. But few instances may be il
order by way of illustration
A professional gentleman of my acquain
tance desirous Of saving from the axe nobl'
grove of young pines, was at last so enlisted il
its behalf, as to purchase the entire farm up
on portion Of which it stood, at nomina
price per acre, judging of the production
Of a farm by its acres simply, he at Onc'
set about tho construction Of an additiona
barn 55 70 feet, oheered on by the jeers o
all his neghbors, whose ridicule he assureC
me did laugh away Is feet from his plan
But new demands for storing increasing crop
caused an extra go feet, and when | saw