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

ing stock IN our own state. The Honorable
President Of the Vermont Agricultural So
ciety, by his thorough knowledge Of the art
of breeelng, by his skill, caro-, judgment aud
perseverance,, has bred flock Of sheep that
has worldwide reputation, and the sheep
breeders, by comparison Of the merits Of
different animals and from his successful ex-
ample, have made such rapid improvement |
in the breeding Of sheep that il has made
Addison County the sheep nursery of our
country.
IL is often the case that man skilled in
the art of breeding animals, or in the art Of
successfully tiling the soil, will change the |
character Of whole neighborhood. A true |
successful example will often erase from the |
minds Of the ignorant, notions that have
been practiced for long time. You place
in every neighborhoOd in the state even but
one farmer thoroughly educated in his pro-
fsesion, and in u few years the farming in
terest in our state will be rapidly advanc.
ing.
Does not the agricultural interest in our
state demand that something should be done
by this Legislature that they should give
the state an institution that will tend to de-
velop its agricultural resources, increase
the produotiveness of farm labor, aud stay
the drain of its rural population You pass
an act Incorporating a manufacturing COM
pany that company may amass wealth by
purchasing the raw material at less price
than the cost OF producing it, they may pay
their employee less than fair compensation
for his labor. Their wealth has not increas-
ed the wealth Of tho state. What they have
gained has been taken from the producer
aud the lAborer. But you enact law that
will cause two spears of grass to grow where
but one grew before, and you add to the ma
terial wealth Of the state.
Agriculture Is a subject that public and
professional men are far more inclined to
praise than to aid by any legislative enact
ments. Public speakers never forget TO COM
pliment the farmer. They tell us that we
are the bone aud sinew of the state-that
ours is noble occupation. The professional
men tell us that all classes are depending up
on our honest industry. The politicians on
certain occasions will quote to us the words
Of Cicero, that Of all pursuits none is better,
none more productive, none more delightful,
none more worthy of freeman, than agri-
|
but are you willing to give US something
more than empty commentator, something
better than heartless lip.service2
would appeal to the farmers in this
house to insist that the fund given by the
general government shall be used to estab-
fish and sustain an Institution Of the charac-
ter intended by Congress. With no excep-
ton, large majority of the legislature of
our state have been farmers. yet they have
overlooked the wealth that lies in the soil, in
its grain and animal products. All other in.
terests have been cared for; our statute
books are filled with laws Incorporating aud
protecting railroad companies, manufactur-
ing companies, banking institutions.
While all other interests have been well
cared for, the greatest of all interests has
been overlooked. A few years since a law
was enacted to encourage the organizing of
county agricultural societies, aud small sum
of money! few hundred dollars-was APP
propriated for their support. Societies were
organized under that law, in nearly all the
counties in the state, aud agriculture re-
ceived fresh impetus from these societies
yet in few years legislature Of farmers
repealed that law, and do not wonder that
the gentleman from Cavendish (Mr. Deane)
should throw this in the face Of the farmers
in this house. The state is none the poorer
for any money she may have paid for the
support Of agricultural societies. know it
to be true, that Addison County long since
paid back principal and compound interest
by the increase in taxable property created
by the improvement made in agriculture
through her agricultural society. Nearly
three-fourths Of the members of this house
are farmers. Do our interests do we, need
an agricultural college in this statef Ii we
do, if this golden opportunity is lost. will
there ever be another as good2 Can we ex-
pect that Congress will ever make another
such land grant, Should not the farmers
act untedly, and establish an institution that
will be GROWING effort for the advance.
ment of agriculture in our state
Agriculture on our stony and hard soil is
laborious, but a laborious agriculture is a
conservative Of good morals, aud on this ac-
count our state is blessed; not because fruit
and grain are yielded without care and toll,
but because its products come as the reward
Of honest industry, Our state is second to
none in the Union in general intelligence and
good morals. There is natural beauty in
our state, the evergreen mountains, the clear
streams of water, the high hills green with
foliage and verdure, the rich valley, the
rocky hillside Of granite, marble and slate,
make up the beautiful landscape. But can
not our state be made even more attractive
to young men
You improve upon the natural beauty, you
place upon the green hills superior improved
stock bred by skilIful hands, you see waving
in our valleys crops of grain such as a skill
full application OF science to the art Of tilling
will produce, you make the house surround
ings pleasant and beautiful, the nice garden,
the fine orchard, the tasty dwelling, all the
home surroundings such as education aud
prosperity will create, and our contented
sons will no longer seek homes in the far
West or the crowded city but remain to inn
prove, enrich and beautty our state. Much
Of this may be accomplished by the estab-
ishmeut Of an independent agricultural col
lego.
An ics-yacht darted mile in 81 seconds
on Hudson near Staatsburg, lately, and its
speed is compared To the flash of a meteor.
Little girl-"Mnmma. dun'tthink the peo-
pie who make dolls are very piOus people"
Mamma-"Why not, my childP Little girl
because you can never make them kneel.