Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-27

thorough an education as lawyers, doctors,
and clergymen do in their respective pro-
fessions
Let us for moment look at the past and
present state Of agriculture in the state.
There is no question Of as much Importance,
and none that demands the investigation Of
this legislature more than the causes aud
possible remedies Of the exhausted lands in
our state. Lands Of great natural fertility,
which have been under culture but little ov-
er half century, have been lessening in
their products every season from the effects
Of the old and ruinous system Of farming
Not more than City or sixty years since the
clay lands iu Addison County by simply
blowing aud sowing, yielded an abundant
crop of wheat Twenty-Five and thirty BUSH
els TO the acre were but average crops
crops equal to any since raised in the Wes-
tern States but the land was cropped to
wheat aud rye until it was exhausted. The
spoliation system of farming was pursued
the system Of taking as many crops from the
land with as little return in manure as posi-.
BILE In less than twenty-five years those
rich wheat.growiug fields we're exhausted Of
those ingredients necessary to produce re-.
munerative.crop The average yield lessen
ed from year to year until they ceased to
yield a crop that paid the farmer for his la
Dor.
What may be said OF Addison County is
true OF other counties In consequence Of
the lands Of our state becoming exhausted,
thousands of farmers sold out and sought
homes on the rich unexhausted praires in
the West. Thousands of the most enterpris.
ing sons refusedIto remain longer in the worn
out homesteads, and started for the West,
where they could get land rich in quality.
nothing wanting but the OK aud the plow, to
go on with the same exhsusting principle
taught them by their fathers, or would seek
other pursuits in the city.
Facts here stare us in the face While
thousands Of acres of the unlmprovod land in
our state are, every year, brought under cul.
tivation the amount raised Of some of our
leading crops and number Of animals kept,
are lcssenng every year.
In ten years, ending with 1860, there was
10000 acres of these unimproved lands
brought under cultivation, 1880 acres
yearly added to our cultivated fields Yet,
in 1860, we raised 104,00 less bushels Of
wheat than in 1850 $4,000 less bushels Of
rye; $4,000 less bushels Of corn about
the same number of bushels of oats, and bu,
$4,000 more tons of hay, and 100000 less
pounds Of wool.
There has been an increase Of but 5000
horses in twenty years, ending in 1860, and
n decrease Of 10000 head of cattle in the
same time, and OF 967 900 sheep.
In consequence of this the agricultural
population. in the state, is lessening every
year. The increase of population in the
state during the ten years ending 1860, was
but 97S, while the increase in Rutland dur,
ing the same term was 1862; nearly four
times the increase OF the whole state but
this increase is not the increase Of the farm.
lug population in Rutland, but an increase
in the workmen and their families at their
marble quarcs, and the increase that cen
trail railroad town always receives.
Is it possible that the agricultural popula,
ton of our state has reached and passed The
period OF its increase, and is now in the de.
crease These figures indicate it.
Has the state reached the measure Of til
capacity for production
Can the once rich soil Of our state be re,
claimed and brought back to its original fer.
tility7
The lands of Europe, that have been un.
der cultivation for centuries, have been con.
stantly improved under skillful cultiva-
ton.
In England, the average yield of wheat
has been increased during the past fifty years
| - -, &c LII.
on lands not naturally more fertile than our
own.
| am willing to admit, though the figures
of the last census do not indicate 1t, that
there has been some improvement in agricul
ture in the past few years. Though the
number Of animals kept may be less, they
are of better quality and of more valuer The
agricultural press and agricultural societies
have been means for its improvement, yet il
has taken but the first step forward These
helps alone are not sufficient to give it that
impetus necessary for its rapid growth aud
improvement The success and productive
ness of agriculture must depend upon the
education of those who pursue it. The farm
err can no longer depend merely upon hii
muscular strength. 1t is experience and &C.
quired knowledge that imparts productive
value to his labor. The farmer often lose:
one half of his labor by misapplication Of
the ingredient necessary to produce his bread
and meat.
The laws that govern the changes in the
properties of matter, that change earth, all
and water into plants and animals, are al
unerring and uniform as the rising and tn,
setting of the sun; aud the farmer who cul
tivates his land without knowledge Of thes,
laws, finds his crops are lessing and his lane
is becoming exhausted while the farmer
who unites science and labor raises increased
crops and his land is being enriched year
ly.
Does any one doubt that with a thorough
scientific and practical education the farmer
may pursue such a system Of tilling that
though his crops are large, his lands will no
be exhausted but continually improving, and
improving from the resources Of the farm ?
There are few isolated cases OF sucl
farming in our state and in other states.
will mention oue that Of John johnson, VIII
came from Scotland about forty years sine
and purchased worn out stiff clay farm il
Geneva, New York, farm that had beef
so badly managed and worn out that be wa
laughed at by his neighbors for purchasing
it; but by skill in his profession he ha
brought that worn out farm into the highes
state of fertility, and that without ioreig
capital, the products of the farm haviu
not only paid for all improvements, but ena
bled him to lay aside handsome yearly pc
centage on the money and labor invested,
Deep ploughing, thorough drainage, tn
feeding of stock enough TO provide the neces
sary manure, aud skillful application of Il
have brought about this high state of fer
tility. One field that has grown wheat ev
cry alternate year for nearly forty years, Of
ten yields forty bushels to the acre. Doe