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

his father was before him for few years, he
could have met bis payments, been his own
master, aud in his declining years been pos
sessed Of a good home for himself and his
family. Other young men have not the
courage TO attempt the purchase Of farm,
but as soon as they are twenty-one or before,
they leave the paternal roof, taking, as did
the prodigal son Of old, the portion Of goods
belonging to them, and going into far
country with very similar experiencesand re-.
suits, while few of those who 20 out TO
seek their fortunes fall upon favorable posi-.
tions and make their mark, aud are thereby
the cause Of alluring thousands Of other
young men from their homes 10 endure
greater privations and die less independent
than II they had remained 10 Vermont. This
is no fancy picture, but what is proved by
facts every day. The question naturally
arises, how can we counterfeit this growing
tendency to seek other empoyments than
farming. For many years, as far back as
my memory runs, IL has been the decision Of
fathers and mothers that If any special adj
vantage we're 30 be given one of the sons, it
must be him who is designed for some pro-
fession, while he who is or was to remain at
home on the farm is made to feel that in
many respects he must take subordinate
position, where he cannot fail to see and feel
that his occupation has much 10 do with his
social position, and thereby create a dislike
for agricultural pursuits. II is natural
and commendable ambition for young men to
desire the respect ard good opinion Of 9th.
ers, and we may talk as much and as loudly
as we please about the farmers being the
bone and siuew Of the country, while we be-
stow the advantages of education and social
position all upon the professional and me.
chanca part of community, our words will
carry very little weight with them.
ask fer no more or greater advantage
for the young farmer than for young men
entering other pursuits, but while we with.
hold these, we do injustice and defeat the
object for which we declaIm. | claim that
we need educated men for larmers AS much
as 10 other occupations, but the facilities
for an agricultural education in this state
are very limited We have been cheated
out OF our rights in this respect. The APP
preparation Of land grant from the United
States to Vermont, amounting to about 81 30.
900 for an agricultural college, has been &c
disposed of as 10 be wholly lost to the object
for which it was donated, although the in,
stitution that has received it processes to
have department in which the science Of
agriculture is taught, but | have yet "a
learn that any one has awaited himself of the
instruction there proffered. What we need is
a school in which science and practice are COM
bined. Where young men can be taught to
put in practice what they learn, where ex-
periments can be tried aud the results
published, SO that all farmers can have the
benefit of those experiments, where good cat
tie, horses and sheep can be raised for the i'm.
provement of the breeds Of the state, where
the different varieties Of grain and potatoes
can be tested, where our farming utensils may
have a fair trial, their merits shown without
prejudice from personal interest, where
young men can be educated with view Of
becoming farmers. aud be scattered through
the agricultural districts to put in practice
what they have learned. For who does moi
know that the surest way Of effectng any
reform, agricultural, moral or religious, il
to have it lived in our midst. We some
times see an industrious, neat, thriving
farmer, one who has good barns, good breeds
of cattle, keeps good fences, good tools anC
takes good care of them, who saves and ap
plies his fertilizers judiciously, cultivates his
land we'll, puts in aud secures his crops at the
right time, moving into a neighborhood and
in few years, by his example, effecting a
very perceptible change in that locality, for
| nal hu har atn cd do
lapidatsd fences, or no fences at all, which
is becoming quite fashionable, old, worn out
and bungling tools left scattered all over the
farm aud door yard, do not compare very
favorably with the neat barns and fences
and the nice, sleek cattle and horses of th'
good farmer; therefore, the good effects Q
having an education and live farmer for &
neighbor. Another need Of an agriculture
school in the state is that we may have
more educated farmers for legislators
Many of our farmers find their way into the
State Legislature, but from want of educa
ton and mental training, fail of exertinl
that influence on the side of agriculture t
which their numbers arc entitled. Hence
this want would be supplied by an agricul
tural school. But l fear the opportunity
for securing one has passed, for this gener
alton, if not for all tlme
have in my way tried to give my view
Of some of the present clogs and discourage
ments in the way of agriculture in Orang
County, and suggest some remedies for thei
removal as they present themselves to me
and if my experience and ideas shall si'
any young farmer in his work of beaomin,
a successful cultivator Of the soil, shall fee
well rewarded for this trial