Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-22

The progressive farmers want more
sympathy and encouragement from their
brother farmers in their effort to advance
the cause of agriculture. in forming farm
ers' clubs, or holding farmers meetings
like the present. In all these there is Il
lack of interest by the majority of farm
ers They are like the friends of Robert
Fulton when they were invited on board
the vessel in which he had placed the
steam engine as n propelling power, and
when, by some accident to the machinery,
the vessel stopped, they exclaimed g wish
| was off; l don't believe in this new idea
1t is all folly So it is with many farm
ers. If one of their neighbors try some
new experiment in agriculture, and if it
fails of success, they are ready to exclaim,
." l do not believe in it; it is all folly"
But above and beyond all these wants
and trials, there are real and substantial
encouragements. In the first place, it is Il
noble business if nobly done, 1t has to
deal directly with the Giver of every good
and perfect gi t. 1t leads men, Cor ought
to- to look from the creature to the Crea-
tor. 1t is also the foundation of our ma
tional prosperity. Take away agriculture,
and as Il nation we are bankrupt. Hence,
whether we as individuals make much or
little out of it, the nation is growing richer
year by year. No other industry creates
absolutely so much useful material and
wealth as farming. Let US examine this
point for a moment, and see what the Zig
ures FAY 10 regard to the national wealth
and income rs Il nation.
In 1870 goods were imported into this
country to the amount Of 1851 ,5O6,Oll,
xt-bi 1a tbo in, tho
ed to 1929, lS4,672; this left Il balance
AGAINST us of S59,32l ,339. But let us an
alyze the exports which paid 1929, 1916
of our debt, and see who contributed it and
by whose labor it was produced. The
custom house returns for the same period,
show that our mining and fishing, our man
ufacturers of cotton. WOO en-, boots and
shoes, iron and steel of every description,
clothing, of silver, gold and silver coin,
manufactures of every kind and grade in
the country, all combined. furnish, for eX-
portation with which to pay the foreign
debt product, to the value of Sl34, 625,087,
and the farmers furnish corn, wheat, flour,
cotton, beef, pork, lard, live stock, butter,
cheese and other products to the aggregate
value of 1898, $50 ,5S5. Thus it appears
that so far as trade, exchange and indebt-
/
ability to pay; so far as our solvency and
credit are concerned, the farmers contrib
ute more to discharge the one and up
hold the other than all other classes and
industries combined.
1t also appears from the census returns
for 1870, that over one half of our popula
ton were directly or indirectly engaged in
agriculture and from the same returns We
/ find that on the first of June, 1870, 9,4S6,
/ BOZ persons in the United States, were nc
lively engaged in ganful pursuits, O
these ,. 407 ,42l were engaged in manufac
lures, mechanical and mining pursuits; 8,
90, SOS We're engaged in agriculture, ant
Sjo.n1S in transportation, the different pro
LESSONS and other minor industries.
These figures show that so far as on
population and Industries are cOncerne
we are really Il nation Of farmers. Farm
inc is the paramount and controlling in
terest. and simple justice as well rs publ
welfare demand that it shall receive tn
constant care of jhe state and nation. ID
not these figures show noble record f.
agriculture? Not only have we furnishe
food, and | might say clothing, (havin
furnished the raw materially for near 40
900 900 people besides exporting to othe
nations over $500. 900, 900 worth of the pre-
ducts of our soil. These figures and fact
could be extended farther showing tn
great advantage of agriculture to the natlo
and also to the farmers themselves. Bu
there are other encourage ments. The fac
that it is Il safe business makes 1t desirable
From the statistics it is shown conclusiyel
that of every one hundred persons engage
in trade more than ninety fail. BU
Of those engaged in farming who do DC
NEEDLE with outside business, not one IN
hundred ever become bankrupt. lax
one hundred Young farmers, and in the no
Grcgate they VIII accumulate more Wcalt
than the same number of young men Ell
gagged in any other pursuit. In the case {
the farmer it will be more equally divided
each will have Il competence. while in tn
latter case a few will accumulate, Will
many win obtain Il bare livelihood. Thes
are facts that statistics fnlly prove.
Does it not seem strange that with a
these facts before us that 50 many want
leave the farm for some other occupation
when it is almost morally certain that Nc
over one in ten will succeed? Another CT
enlargement to the farmer is that so man
, men of science and learning are lntercSte
in and devotiag their time and talents t
its investigation and from which we ca
, learn so much The Board of Agricutur
| which has so recently been established
: and will continue to be of immense valu
to us if we will but heed their instruction
and reports The press of the country
also by its mighty power lending its lntlr
: ence in our behalf and in fact all seem t
be wishing us God speed. Farmers c
Washington County, let our motto he, Fol-
ward, March.