Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-15
agricultural.
Address at Dog River Valley Fair.
BY REV. JOHN GREGORY.

y.
not only your annual products, but your
Music and Address, can but thank you
for the honor you have conferred upon me,
in selecting me, your fellow townsman, to
address YOU | shall attempt to interest
you, rot with any new topic, but with
things familiar, which by reminding you OF
them, may serve to stir up your minds in
r,membrsnce OF duty in your agricultural
and mechanical pursuits.
It was but a few weeks ago, that few
citizens of Mortified, conceived the idea OF
holding a Town FAR, embracing portion OF
Dog River Valley, and considering the bre
period, to get ready, do not wonder tina,
many of our citizens doubted the utility Of
the endeavor, your speaker sharing IN the
same d"ubt-but the young Americas among
Us would try the experiment, and | congrat
ulate YOU AL, that this, the second FAIR b. Id
in Mortified, is not a failure, but grand
success, considering the limited time you
have had for preparation.
Twent y-th. ee years ago this fall, by the
urgent eff .rts Of Gov. Paine and few prom
inent citizens OF Mortified, the Washington
County Agriculturaists held FAIR on the
ground where now Central Street is covered
with buildings. and We made very credlta-
bic show | remem' er two things that &C.
CURED on that OCCASION One was, that.
speaking OF myself, which | acknowledge Is
not always proper, but | think You will ex-
cuse me this time, | delivered my first az
rcutura, address at that time, and remem-
Der closing It by saying availing my sell
OF CERTAIN lines oi Dean Swift, altered to
suit the occasion---
The Mortified FAIR,
Will ne'er be forgot
By those who were there,
Or those who were not"
The other incident was my drawing the
first premium on the best mich COW, she
making sixteen and half lbs. OF butter
- in a week-Gov Paine being chairman OF the
committee. So may this second Fair teid
in Mortified be as great success. and
never be forgotten by those who have taken
an interest in it.
Having made these preliminary remarks,
permit me now to call your attention to the
subject matter to be discussed. 1t IS custom
ary, fnd, for those who address the people
at Agricultural Fairs to select a text
for conrlderation-as ministers do in their
pulpit orations Mr. Murray, at our State
Far rec, ntiy, chose for bis theme," Agricul-
ture, and l0hy young men have deserted 1t 4;
and well did be handle that subject. would
urge you, fellow citizens, to re ID that admir-
able address, which you will fnd published
in many of our papers. My subject will
be Agriculture and Mechanic Arts; their
importance and noBslity."
commence, then, by saying, He who
causes the sun to shine and the rains to de-
scend upon the earth, causing it to bring
forth her periodical treasures, has graciously
permitted you to bring together your FRO
auctions for inspection. We have assembled
to spend a few hours in needtul recreation
in examining the works of Nature and Art,
to interchange kindly feelings, and take
measures for our future prosperity and use
fulness as an industrial people. L rejoice
that so goOdly a number have come up to
this annual gathering, and that so much in
terest is felt by the agrlculturallsts and
mechanics of this valley. There is a growing
interest manifested by our farmers generally
all over the State, and they are laboring
with commendable zeal to make these iairs
worthy of the Green Mountain Common
wealth. With every facility necessary Tor
US to compete with the same interests in
every part OF our union, with the green hills
and smiling valleys to generously bring forth
"seed tor the sower, and breal for the eater,
with our railroads and other modes of COG
veyance to carry our products to market, we
have everything to encourage US, and cause
the farmer to brighten up his farm, the me-
chanic to be more sklllf Il in his profession,
and labor 10 make Vermont wear it possible
the proud title of the " FIRST Agricultural
State o! the Nation"
The statement has often been made, and
never contradlcted, that our State takes the
lead ID agricul ural products, in many of the
most important articles OF consumption and
export. 1t we take into consideration her
size and population, she enumerates the
IN st and best sheep-producers, the most
pounds OF wool, tons OF hay, pounds of ma
pie sugar. bushels of potatoes, the greatest
value OF products of the diary and of the or
chard. In ratio OF proportion, Vermont leads
all her sister New England States in raising
wheat and oats, the greatest number OF good
horses, neat cattle and swine, and is next to
the head in producing corn, rye, buckwheat
and poultry.
Our lines, then, have fallen, not only in
pleasant, but profitable places, and having
so goodly heritage, we should labor to
make ourselves eperfect masters of every
branch OF honorable pursuits, whether we
toll with the brain or with the hands. Let
it be established firmly in the mind, that no
Other occupation is 50 fundamental IN its In
terest to the well icing OF our race, and we
see at once its importance and nobility.
All other interests are dependent upon Ag-
riculture. 1t furnishes means for subsls-
tence, materials Tor manu- acture, and articles
for commerce. W hatever adds to the produc-
ton oil the soil, adds so much to national
wealth and prosperity, and is felt in every
department Of labor and every pursuit of in
dustry.
Oar country is and always will be essen
TALLY an agricultural one. We have vast
extent of territory, embracing every variety
of soil, climate and productions; but in no
department OF knowledge is there SO much
left undiscovered and unexplored as in that
relating to the laws of nature, as connected
with agriculture, in regard to each and all OF
these. The science OF agriculture Is yet in
its infancy. Farmers have not the means OF
general and extended observations, or the
time Tor study and investigation necessary
to fix principles and arrive at useful results
Agriculture is not studied as a science but
conducted often in a confused and inconsist-
ent variety of modes, according to long
practice. Hence Agricultural Societies, in
many States, have been voluntarily estab-
lished to correct this in some degree, and al
though very imperfect as to the means OF
general Information, not having the benefit
of the labor- oil scientific men, devoting their
TINA to experiment and study, to collecting
facts and observations from many and differ
ent sources, by which alone general princi-
pies can with certainty be traced and ascer-
tanned, still their success has exceeded the
most sauguiue expectations, and proves how
much, under proper system, might be ac-
complished,
The establishment of some kind of an ag-
rieultural institution, that would benefit the
farmers, was warmly recommended by our
beloved Washington. He says clearly and
forcibly: IS II will not be doubted that with
reference either to individuals or national
UeJare. agriculture IS Of primary importance
In proportion as nations advance IN popula-
ton and other circumstances of maturity.
this truth becomes more apparent, and rem
ders the cultivation OF the soil more and more