Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-27
The Farmers Occupation.

"Hence l will begin to sing what can
make joyful cornfelds under what constel-
lation il may be proper to turn up the earth
Tor plow), o, DI@cenas, and to Join the vines
to the elms what is the care Of oxen, what
nursing shall be for preserving the flock, and
how great experience for the frugal bees"
Thus opens the "Georgics" of the great
Latin poet, as he sings of agriculture. These
verses have charmed every classic scholar
since the days of Virgil, and have done
honor to the noble occupation Of the farmer.
The farmers is a noble occupation, and this
is the very theme we propose here to dis.
cuss.
Farming is the basis Of every other occu-
patton and profession. From the soil the
human race must derive their living; but
this soil must be titled, to yield its needed
products. These products reward the la.
borcr for his toll aud furnish the material
for commerce and manufactures
Every family and individual in the nation
depends upon farming not only for their
bread, but directly or indirectly, for all
their material prosperity. Let the earth re.
fuse to respond to the industry Of the hus-
bandman, or let the maturing crops be with
cred by an untimely frost, or deluged by
food, or consumed by devourng insects, and
every department of industry is paralyzed,
and universal panic and suffering prevail.
Let this failure of the crops become general,
and the spindles aud looms of thousand
manufactures are silent, and the sails Of
commerce are iurled Indeed the cultiva-
ton Of the soil must be noble occupation,
since upon it depends the success Of every
other employment, trade, and profession.
Again, the nobility of farming is seen in
the fact that it fosters and cultivates the
public virtues which elevate AID ennoblc
society. Industry, sobriety, economy and
integrity have ever characterized the rural
population Of the country. Idleness, dissi-
patton, prodigality and crime are bred in
the city. There villaily and corruption
have their headquarters, and thieves and
blacklegs practice their vile arts. The
"Tammany rings" and the "Bos Tweeds" are
all located in the city. All the plots and
schemes for plundering the people are laid
and executed there. And when we seek
protection from thieving demagcgues and
corrupt politicians, we always turn to the
honest yeomanry who cultivate the soil, and
who exchange aud manufacture their pro-
ducts. Their ballots, in the time Of peace
and their bullets, in the time of war, we hope
will save the nation.
And the homes and public schools of ouI
rural population are emphatically the nurse
ries of public virtue. Upon the purity o.
these homes and the efficiency Of thcs,
schools, where are trained the citizens o
|, every generation, depends the perpetuity o
our institutions, and the salvation Of tn,
country.
And il farming is SO important, and $,
honorable, we may take some honest prid
in being farmer, and some genuine satisfLc
ton in writing and laboring to elevate thu
calling. The interests of agriculture arr
identified with every other interest in th'
state, and have an importance that canno
be over.estimated.
In favoring the workingmen, therefore
the producers and the manufacturers. we wa
against spectators, thieves and loafers, ant
aid in the noble work of clevating our race