Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-27
Tbs Dermont 4benit.
BRATTLEBORO:
FRIDAY EVENING, FEB. p, 1874.



Among the many material standards
which have been adopted in fixing the rel
alive advance, the high-water mark OF civ
iliZation, there is nothing bcuer than the
utilization OF waste produces. At the Wen
ma Exposition were to be seen exten-
slve groups classed together under the
head of "waste Materials and their Pro-
ducts" which perhaps more clearly than
any other department Of the exposition
showed the intimate relation of science TO
the arts. OF course England, France and
Germany were prominent, and 1t seemed
that for one purpose or another everything
had been turned TO some use.
In New England alone there Is an an
nual consumption of SIS 100000 worth of
waste material which only few years ago
was worse than useless. This industry at
tanned its development during our recent
war.
A glance at the past five years will show
how extensive and how valuable has been
the advance in this direction. For exam
pie, the discovery of benzole and the man
ufacture Of the famous aniine colors more
recent still, the discovery of anthracine and
the manufacture ofthe coloring matter OF
madden, olizarine this latter discovery re-
storing TO other agricultural products many
of the best farming lands Of Europe, hith-
erto devoted to the guilty alton Of the mad
der plant. Then, too, ammonia, carbolic
acid, paraffln, and many other valuable
products, all obtained through the research
es of the chemist from the refuse products
of the gas retorts. But, as farmers, do we
not allow many things TO go to waste which
a wise economy would utilize9 Do we APP
preciate the high mission committed to us
at the dawn ofthe earliest history, 10 have
dominion over all the powers of nature, TO
subdue the earth?
l. The atmosphere not only is the reser-
voir whence we obtain with more or less
directness most of the material Of our crops
aud of our bodies. May we not utilize this
supply. The denudation Of our mountain
ranges has changed our climate in many
respects. In the distribution of the resour-
ces of the air the hand of man is olen ap-
parent, often benefcially, generally disas-
trously. But is there not a force here p res
emit which we may utilize by means of
windmills for raising water or for grinding
produce.
2. The countless streams of new Eng
land ought also TO be utilized in supplying
streams for the house, the dairy, and stock
yard, or for purposes of irrigation. So too
may they supply once more, by appropri-
ate legislation, an abundant supply of fish
for the table, and larger streams aud rivers
ought 10 turn the wheels of manufacturing
industries.
3. Our woodlands show another waste.
The axe of the pioneer, the demands for
tan-bark and ashes, the numerous railroads,
the demands for lumber, have united to
strip us so completely of our forests that
from every portion OF Christendom comes
the voice of protest, Woodman spare that
tree, and no question to-day receives more
earnest attention than the preservation of
our forests. The fallen timber in most of
our forests, the mature timber rapidly pass
ing into decay, also demand our attention.
4. Upon nearly every farm in the State
may be found some few acres of waste
land, which a little extra care and extra
thought might restore 10 productiveness.
Then, too, the countless wastes of the house,
the table and the kitchen often make the
entire difference between profitable and
improbable busbandry. Every dead horse,
COW, dog and cat are worth to the most
limited farmer a certain amount OF money
which ought not 10 be wasted. Then the
immense waste in stable manure by allow
ing 1t to drain and leach as is so almost en-
tirely the practice throughout Christendom.
The constituents which give value to a
ton OF good stable manure are only about
20 pounds in quantity, but even this small
quantity, if carefully kept from waste, rem
ders it generally the cheapest, as it is al
ways the most convenient fertilizer for the
farmer.
Then the attention of the audience was
called to the convention Of eminent natural
lists and agriculturists in Vienna to discuss
the question of the protection OF birds.
Then, too, the waste of excess or deficiency
by which we content ourselves with tenn
porary structures, while the huge fire-pla
ces consuming cords of fuel, were errors
OF our ancestors upon the other side. Last
ly, the loss of time, the most important
waste Of all, must be prevented. Indeed,
as we see upon every side, we find waste,
and 1t is for our interest to attend TO this
matter, for it is generally true that in the
gifts OF nature we throw away the larger
portion. The more we examine into the
matter the moro certainly shall we con-
elnde that there is nothing which, with
safety, we may call waste.