The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-04-13
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN,
Natural Laws, and their rela-
ton to the Farmer.
ny HON. y. D. DOUGLAS, OF WHITING.
CONCLUDED.

all this learning to the farmer? Our
fathers got along without 1t, and so
have we thus far. True, but our fathers
found here virgin soil, rich in all the
elements of plant life. This natural
deposit has been greatly reduced, and
comparative sterility taken the place of
superior fertility. This has been
brought about by the agricultural
vandalism of the past three generations
Farms, where once large crops of
wheat, corn, and other grains could be
raised on any of the arabic land, now,
If raised at all, only on comparatively
small areas, and by the application Of
patent fertilizers, or by placing the
entire farm under contribution to
supply the necessary manure.
If this process of depletion is con-
tinued, much of the land in our State
must be abandoned for agricultural
purposes, and indeed much that was
once fertile has already been left to the
growth of bushes and briers, and thou
fencing, by the scanty pasturage which
they afford.
We hear complaints, too, that the
farmers lot is hard and slavish one,
and that his business does not pay.
From what class of farmers do these
complaints come? From those whose
wheat fields yield thirty bushels per
acre, or those whose average yield is
but ten? Whose corn fields yield
sixty bushels per acre, or those who
get but half that yield? Whose sheep
produce eight pounds of wool per
head, while they sell their increase at
high prices because of their superiority
of blood, or from those who annually
receive three or four pounds, and sell
their surplus stock at pelting prices :?
Those whose horses are so bred that
they will command the highest market
prices, or those who breed scrub stock =?
Those who have increased the produc-
tive capacity of their cows to three
hundred pounds of butter per head
yearly, or its equivalent, or the average
farmer whose cows produce less than
half that amount? Who complains
that farming is a slavish and mental
calling? Only those who conduct the
business in stupid and thoughtless
manner.
But, says another, when have we
time to learn all this ? l reply, when
can the lawyer, the clergyman, and the
doctor find time to master their
professions? They begin in youth, and
make their business their study, and
those who are most successful, bend all
their energies to the requirements OF
the science which they profess to teach
or practice. The farmer cannot reason
ably hope to master his profession in
any other manner he must study,
think, and investigate for himself. If
he has not the means to enable him to
devote three or four years exclusively
to study, he can at least acquire habits
of observation, and mental application,
which will make his farm school for
his own education, and that of his sons,
also. Such habit, with convenient
access to good library, in the reading
of which he can spend his winter
evenings, is far better for practical
farmer, than the pursuit of college
course, even in our so-called Agricul-
tural College, without this habit.
The farm is the only place where the
farmer can obtain a practical agricul-
tural education. 1t is to him what the
laboratory is to the chemist--the place
to acquire, or at least to perfect, his
agricultural education. The time in
which to acquire it, is as long as that
which he spends upon the farm, even
if it be three score.and ten years. L ht
is good scholar, and ambitious, Ii,
will master his profession but stupit
or indolent, he will find little to learr
in connection with it.
Our fathers accepted a low position il
society, and taught their sons TO lool
upon the pursuit of the learned proies
sions as more elevated and honorable
than their own, because more in
tellectual. They regarded professional
men as their mental superiors, ant
accorded to them the right to do tn
thinking and speaking for the public
if not for themselves. The time ha
been when lawyer had more influenc
in shaping public opinion. upon al
important questions, than score O
average farmers; and that is not who'll,
past. Intellectual superiority shoul,
be recognized wherever we find it, an,
it will be, whether we would have it g
or not, and, | am sorry to say, even
unconnected with moral integrity. Tn
question is not one of dollars and cent
alone, but of positions of honor and G
worth. Shall we plod on in the oil
way and surrender these, or shall W
mt ourselves to rise to the possession c
them?
The time is not far distant, when
like our brethren in England an
Germany, we shall be obliged to besto,
more thought upon our business, @
sink into hopeless poverty, and oblig
our posterity to emigrate to some othe
naturally fertile field, to there repea
the vandalism of their fathers. Tn
rich prairies of the west are now bein
thus depleted by those who have EN-
grated from New England. Whe
these new fields are exhausted, and on
descendants compelled to make farm
Ing mental, as well as a physics
pursuit, then will agriculture, and tn
agriculturist, be elevated to their tru
positions.
The model farmer possesses thos
active habits, that practical turn {
mind, that intuitive forecast of tn
Ia.N. - Z A Il