Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-02

er area for thought and research than is
possible in any other branch Of business.
The lawyers study is civil law.
The minister's, the divine laws.
The physicians, diseases and their cure.
The merchants study is cost and profit.
The mechanics, is the skillful and ingeu.
ious shaping and uniting of materials, round.
ing and polishing, until their work reaches
the required perfcctness.
But the agriculturist may consider the
elements of the soil, its variety of produc-
tious, connected with which is the science of
botany, treating Of the structures the differ
ent functions, and classification of all of those
plants and vegetables that he has produced.
Much of natural philosophy, relating to
the phenomena and laws Of matter, of natu-
raj theology, studying the evidence of the
existence OF a Supreme Being as manifested
IN nature, of chemistry (which is to be-
come a necessary aud essential study, connec-
ted with farming) treating Of the consttu-
tion Of substances, the laws Of combination,
and the analogy therein involved, also of the
proportion Of component parts and the pro-
cesses Of decomposition aud decay.
Although agricultural people are intelli-
gent listeners and readers, that is not enough
Farming must become skilled labor" and
farmers must make their own investigations
and experiments that shall develop into ripe
experience.
One year, certain methods are advocated
from scientific research and practice the
next, exactly the opposite is recommended
from anothers experience, with the same as
surance of success. Hence we see the mag
nitude Of the interest attached to thorough
knowledge of agriculture in all of its con.
stituent parts, to every farmer.
There has been great deal of time given
to the study Of the proper mode Of fertiiza-
ton there is still room for more study. If
certain procedures will produce desired re-
suits in this department, then the laws by
which these results are wrought out must be
understood in order to bring about the same
every time. And in the dairy, if some spe-
cial methods will tend to producing pure,
sweet butter, and some other methods pro-
duce the opposite results, then the why and
WueEeLOTe, lue Cause uuu eneCt snOulu DC
known.
In all of his work the farmer should be
able to render reason for what he does.
He should work for well understood spe-
cifc result, and should not be laboring at
random, then looking forward to whatever
chance returns there happens to be.
In the United States there are upwards of
ten millions of milch COWS. If it is optional
with the dairyman whether the income from
these cows is one hundred and forty millions
Of dollars, or eight hundred millions, and
even fifteen hundred millions Of dollars, is 1t
not worth while to search out the ways and
means for bringing about the best results ?
As gentlemen OF leisure" farmers can
and should be gentlemen then more than
all others they will be gentlemen of leisure.
They have their pleasure days between the
seasons Of planting, haying, and harvesting,
besides the rainy days, many winter days,
and long winter evenings for rest, reading,
aud meditation. Is it surprising that among
agricultural people men are found with well
cultivated minds, and capable of using them
What about the wives2 We are too
careful aud troubled about many things"
Our leisure time never comes our reading
time seldom finds place. After the one
thousand and one bits of work are done about
the house, then possibly We have time to
hem another ruffie, or rip one off and hem it
some other way; or take off that plating,
and plait in on both sides instead of through
| the middle.
improvements are aiding women as well
as men, by machinery for washing, wiring
ing, mopping, sweeping, sewing, and the
large milk pans are great help in the dai-
ry house. Still the time for reading does
not come around the fact is we do not
make IL come around. We do not consider
it of Importance enough to put it down in
our stint among the things that must be
done to-day. We could almost say that We
do not want it at least not enough to iorego
some triaing things which do no good and
worse than that do US much harm in con-
suming our health and nerves, our days and
hours that should be given to something
more enduring.
Sometimes we meet with old ladies whose
eyesight has failed, and whose strength Of
body is only weakness, but possessing minds
we'll stored with knowledge, laid by when
they we're young and equal to gathering it
up. Such well-garnered minds are like food
and nourishment for themselves and all
around them. They are like polished rubies,
radiating light, and beaming brightness.
Can we not, must we not, so systematic
our work, so limit our lesser wants. as to
devote part of our time to the needs OF the
mind2 1t we can do no more we eau bring
our labors to close with the sunlight, and
accept of the soothing kindly rest that falls
with the shadows Of evening over all.
p. L. HOPKINS.
East Berkshire, W.