Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-26

BY P. E. GROW.
A half century ago to be able to read
write and cipher, was considered liberal
education for a farmer. No operation con
nected with farm labor could possibly re-
Quire anything further IN the line of book
learning, while these accomplishments were
considered by no means necessary to make IA
model and successful farmer. There were
at that time very few, if any, agricultural
books or newspapers /; no Farmers Clubs
or meetings Of any kind; Boards of Agricul-
ture, or Agricultural Colleges. Agriculture
and Literature were strangers, and seldom
met The mind, with no other food than
that furnished by the every day routine
farm life, was not cultivated and expPnde
except to a limited extent. The lad who
was supposed to be a little brighter than hls
brothers. or whose ambition prompted him
to higher attachments, was sent to school,
and from thence entered one of the three
professions, and was ever Afterwards looked
upon as the particular light and ornament OF
the family, while his less ambitious brothers
toiled on in the footsteps Of their fathers.
Thus was the gulf between literature and
agriculture perpetuated. But we of the best
half of the nineteenth century, are witpess-
no State or national newspaper to-day com
plete without its agricultural department.
conducted by intelligent, cultivated, and
practical farmers. No catalogue of books Is
complete without a share Of its space giycH
to works On agriculture. To-day every
farmer deserving the name is richer IL
mind, body and estate, by reason Ct agri
cultural literature. The farmer no longer
stands isolated on his own farm. lie lende
helping hand to progress and improvement
by improving his own mind first of all. and
then all thing, with which he has to do H.
no longer depends upon himself for know
edge of the best methods OF performing any
particular operation the kinds OF stock
best suited to bis particular circumstance,
and the many other things upon the prope'
and intelligent decision OF which depends
in great measure, his success as a farmer
For 1t is no longer necessary for eCery mar
TO buy his knowledge at the dear price o.
experiment he can at once note the expert
ments of others in like circumstances, and
avail himself of the result, and, in turn, adj
his experience to the general fund. farmeis
throughout the country are meeting as VT
are met to-day, to give and get the result OF
each others experience, VentIlate theories.
commend criticlse or condemn each other =
methods, all going away little wiser, a lit
tie better satisfied on some hitherto doubtful
point-a little better prepared to lay plans
for future action, and has ing hig her respect
for their business. No farmer can now ex-
pect to keep up with the times without
spending portion of his time in the reading
or discussion of matters pertaining to biz
employment. 1t is useless for man to hold
himself aloot from such agencies of improve
ment a the agricultural paper and the farm
ers' club, and call book-iarming a humbug.
for he is driven to adopt new measures and
improved methods, or soon finds himself far
in the rear; and thus he is indirectly bene-
flied by the discussions in which he refuses
to take a part.
1t is Just as necessary to the success OF
the farmer that he keeps himself posted upon
the discoveries and improvements in regard
to his calling, as that the physician read bis
medical journal, and watch for discoveries in
bis profession, or the lawyer his revised stat
utes for the better transaction of his bust
ness. 1t is quite as important that the
farmer should listen to the teachings OF a
Geddes Willard, or Boynton, as that So
called professional men should be guided by
their respective lights. And yet the day o.
enlightened husbandry is but just dawning.
Agriculture, as a science, is scarcely out OF
the cradle of it's infancy. Ignorance anc
superstition yet envelop it in mist. The
terms, Book Farmer and " Book Farm.
ing" are yet used sneeringly by many of tn.
Rip-Van-W Wrinkle school, indicating the est.
nation formerly put upon science as applied
to husbandry. Permanent progress cannot
be noted in a day. Nj n are slow to quit the
deep-worn ruts of the past. OF all the fields
r -, 81 D-I.,,,
est to yield to science and intelligence anC
of all the 6elds of research and investigation
none is more fertile in hidden truths which
await only the light of science to bring tt
view. general education will do as mucl
for the farmer as for the professional man
and even more ; for in rural life one is con
stantIy brought in contact with the varIoa,
aspects of nature. to understand and EMO,
which he needs all the light obtainable. 4
farmer thus qualified, sees in tree some
thing more than mute, inanimate object
1t assumes a stately and graceful form; h.
sees delicate, yet powerful machine, draw
ing from the earth Just those elements neces
sary to its growth, and those only; expand
ing its buds, blossoms and leaves, and sur
passing the power of the most skillful hand
to initiate. 1t furnishes food, fuel, fragrance
and shade, and is protection against sum
mer's heat and winters wind. 1t is a thin.
Of b auty and JOY forever. In the rugget
Io:k he reads lesson of creation, and j.
able to judge of the nature of the surroundin.
soil. He knows that the brook, which RIPPLE
through his field, and which he presses int,
his service. is obeying that law of natur,
which draws all matter toward the earth
centre; the same law which Causes the ripen
ed fruit to fall, and the rain to descend t,
the earth. In the wind he recognizes al
indispensable friend, purifying the air. anC
warding off disease and death The sipgin,
of birds and humming of bees is not a mer
unmeaning noise, but the Soft suhdued note
of natures orchestra. The stars above hi
head are not simply bright SD, Is in tn
sky, but worlds and suns obedient to certa,
unalterable laws. Standing IN the midst q
his waving fields. he recognizes that powe
which prepares the food for the tiny roots
and pushes forward the green blade an
ripens the harvest. He plows deep and bar
rows fine. not simply because the soil vii
work easier, but because in a fine soil Their
are nany more mouths to draw food than il
coarse one, and because a fine soil NOR
readily absorbs fertility from the passin
breeze, the dew and rain. He knows that
certain amount of sand is necessary in hi
soil to give his wheat straw the reooisit
Stiffness, 30 that it may present its head t,
the influence of sun and air. In fact, ever,
operation in nature presents lesson whici
we'll RIP W the learning
a a. Ill