Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-26
The American Farmers FIXTURE.

The following sensible article from the
Germantown. pa Telegraph, one Of our
most valued exchanges, is well worthy a
careful reading
" The nation is looking with wondering
gaze at the growth of railroads, mining
and manufactures as the types of prodl.
gious advance in material development. The
farmer has learned to feel that he has a
direct interest in all this, because it gives
home markets bartender it unnecessary for
him to depend upon the foreign demand .-
But the farmer has not yet learned (be.
cause the agricultural interest is not organ.
ized on the same scale as the industrial)
that in all this opening Of higher and bet.
ter civilization he has new aims to look to,
new interests ~ develop, new importance
to understand aud care for He has not
yet understood, because it is difficult for the
scattered and isolated cultivators to learn
these things, that with the increased varic-
~ Of manufactures there come openings
tor new crops that be can raise.
The capitalist can employ chemists aud
scientists to prepare processes and adapt
raw materials TO the arts But the farmer
has not yet learned because the agricutu-
raj interest is not organized on tne same
scale as the industrar that in all this
opening Of a higher and better civilization
he has new aims to look to, new interests
to develop, new importance to understand
and care for. lie has not yet understood,
because it is difficult for the scattered and
isoluted cultiyators to learn these things
that with the increased variety Of manu-
lactures there come openings for new crops
that he can raise.
The capitalist can employ chemists aud
scientists to prepare processes and adapt
raw material to the arts. But the farmer
has no chemist at command and no scientist
to advise him Of the method Of utilizing
what he wastes for lack Of knowledge.
The Agricultural Department tells him at
times Of new crops he can raise for which
there is q demand in the home markets,
and il distributes seeds far and wide, some
of which are always sure to fall on congo.
NAL soil. What is needed is that our
American farmers should exhibit the same
intelligent spirit of enterprise displayed by
the inventors and manufacturers-that they
could appreciate the new spirit of Ameri-
an civilization, and rush forward to make
agriculture not the mere follower and SER
want Of manufactures, but the great lead
ing and advancing interest. As the cotton
crop was vast before we had any cotton
so we would have the farm.
ers drive ahead boldly with other crops,
not Whiting merely upon the home market,
out pushing forward to supply the markets
Of the world.
What seems to be wanted is that the
farmer should not be content to follow in
the beaten track--to do as bis father did-to
raise the same crops, and to depend upon
the same markets The times require that
he should consult his own interest accord
ing to his own best judgment; that he
should read carefully and regularly all the
best agricultural periodicals and publica-
tions, and especially be wide awake for
new methods, new machinery, etc. If this
shall be neglected, We shall see the old err.
rors repeated, one market being overloaded
with peaches, another with grain, third
with cotton; mcn casting away crop Of
tomatoes as useless, etc.
This seems to be the principal error of
American agriculture. 1t lacks variety.
Go into new State like Iowa or Minneso-
ia, and everybody will be found raising
grain. Go into another region and every
thing is corn, So it goes all over the area
of our vast empire. Our farmers move as
by one multitudinous impulse. Scarcely
one farmer in hundred thinks out indie.
pendently course for himself. But we
believe better day is dawning. The best
classes Of agricultural publications find
readers and exercise growing influence.
New crops obtain gradually, and if the gen
eral press will only render its share Of the
work and call out loudly and increasingly
for greater diyersifcation of agriculture
and for more enterprising and systematic
movement forward, We are sanguino Of
great results. Tho common farmer stand,
IN great need Of being made to understand
how vast is the future opening before him
and how largely the real greatness of thu
Republic depends upon the class to which b,
belongs. lie can really do more to render
the Nation truly independent and sef-re
liant than any other the class or interest il
the whole community. The question to b,
laid before every farmer is will he rise tC
! tho pmergency9