Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-13
For the VERMONT FARMER.
NO; I HAVE GOT ENOUGH AG-
RICULTURE IN MY HEAD.

Such is the reply when urging the merits
of Vermont agricultural journal, and So
liciting certain well.to-do farmers name as
a subscriber to the same. Now this answer
to us seemed very suggestive. Mentally
we said, Egotism; ignorance. Audibly we
did our best, but solioquized something like
this: How unfortunate it is that we have
so many farmers of whom this one is a very
fair representative,-men who fail to notice
that we find in the persons of those who are
intelligent readers of agricultural literature
the most successful farmers There may be
exceptions to this statement but these ex-
ceptions are not safe as a guide to the young
farmer he must not forget that we live in
an age of progress, and that it is only by
reading and successful experiment that he
can keep sufficiently posted up with the
times, and be prepared to cope with the
progress of agricultural science.
We have arrived at a period in our histo-
ry when thought is in intrinsic value worth
much more than muscle time we think,
as affects agriculture, when the educated
farmer may be enabled to enjoy the ameni-
ties, pleasures. ccSforts, and necessities of
life, as we'll as other branches of business,
and that without condemning themselves and
dependents to life of unrewarded toll a
time when the farmers calling shall be
physically noble-a state of mental and So
cial plenty. When we make farming strict
ly business, and regard and follow it as
such, realizing that like all other kinds of
business its success is dependent upon Ger.
tain rules and principles, then will it take
its share Of attractions from those other pur-
suits which now call away so many Of our
sons to embark in speculations ten times
more hazardous and not half so noble. How
many an old farmers declining years would
have been much happier had he been able to
make the farm more attractive to his sons
This end can be attained by keeping steadily
in view the primary objects Of life,--our
phappiness, our comfort, our bodily health,
and our mutual improvement and growth.
We work too much we read and think too
little, We are content with hard hands and
uncultivated brains. If there ever was a
time when muscle ruled the world, that perl
cd was distinct from the present. Good mus
Gle we want, but let that be the machine, our
brains the motive power. All the old modes
of locomotion, of husbandry, of manufac-
ture, are types of muscle later inventions,
which economize our time, thus giving time
for Improvement symbolic brain power.
How vain the attempt of muscle against
mind in this great conflict There was a
time 10 the history of the Roman Empire
called the "Augustan age" distinguished
from other periods of her histOry by being a
season Of the highest literary attainments.
And we shall have an Augustan age in
America when the American agriculturist
learns to know and appreciate his as an hon
Orabe and profitable business, when the
farmers sons are educated for farmers and
taught that the farm win its appendages
presents the widest berth for improvement, ed
ucatiOn, and happiness, and when agricultu-
raj literature shall not be a subordinate but a
leading branch of American learning, M.
Waits RiUer, Feb. 10.