The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-01


merce has drawn from the agricultural
fields and vocations, and this great over
crowding OF the trades and professions
is working great reaction, aud there
is now great disaster, dstrust and
panic in all branches OF trade. The great
act of Lincoln in emancipating and eevat.
ing millions Of a down trodden race is
working great influence on all industrial
pursuits. Too much land is going out
of cultivation, and is operating too much
to thin out the populations Of whole neigh.
borhoods. The universal shrewdness of
the Yankee has over reached itself Let
US take new departure by educating the
young to see the great difference between
the calling ofthe farmer and other callngs,
let us point out to them the degradation,
the exhausting labors and the great num-
Der Of failures to be met in other calings,
in the mercantile and other fields of labor.
An ideal of farm life vas given where
intelligent refinement dispensed Il gencr.
GUS hospitality, and a disgusting example
Of village life was given in contrast, that
exhibited in vivid colors the refining and
elevating Influence Of the former. and the
debasing influences Of the latter.
Mr.. Edward Conant, of Randolph,
state superintendent of schools then made
an address upon THE Education needed
by the Farmer and whore to get it."
The old statute law that the teacher
should be able to teach reading, writing,
and arithmetic was not a long but very
comprehensive ono. In England former
y tho few were educated and tho many
were not the latter had only the right to
live and labor, but light has broken in
upon that nation, and out Of this has
risen mighty influence that mas come
across the mighty ocean aud Influenced
our fathers when they enacted the laws
that demand that every man shall
have the privilege of learning how to read
his own language, as well as write and
how to figure up his own affairs and keep
his own accounts. The farmer needs the
education as man and as a citizen as he
is both. The education the farmer needs
is first, reading that he may read not only
Of general but Of special subjects relating
to his calling lie should have such an
education as will enable him to keep rec.
ords Of his acts, and such a. 20 onatle
him to write down aud tell his experience
and If called upon TO state them, and at.
ter having 50 stated them to oavo a con.
seriousness that be has stated them decent
/ y and in order. That he should DC so
! 81. l.. y l.,
out and reckon ont bis processes, and if
be chooses to h. should be SO educated
as TO enable him to pursue the higher
branches Of mathematics. He should also
be educated in geography, history and the
laws OF government, to this point the edu.
cation Of the farmer is not 50 different
from that Of the mechanic, but the farmer
should from this point receive a somewhat
special education, to fit him to successful.
/ ly follow his calling. Geology, chemistry,
botany, aaotomy and physiology were
named as branches of study that were SO
necessary.
Where should such an education be
sought? We have very large part Of
the population to educate, large part of
this education must be received at home
and no single school or college can cdu.
cate all this great population. As this
education, or the larger part Of it is
wanted for all the body polite, and it
should be sought in the common school,
and these schools should be made ade-
quatc to give such q complete education
They are not now adequate to furnish
such a training as the farmer needs to
properly fit him to best follow his calling
IN an ineligible and profitable manner
These lessons should be taught at On
early age Cbildrens minds should be at
an early age directed in such directions
as will mako them interested in the sever.
al subjects that interest the farmer, and a
knowledge ofwhich is indispensable to the
farmer to follow his calling 10 attain the
highest success We, tho people, should
see that our common schools are made
competent to give such an education.
But higher schools, less in number arc
needed to fit the farmer as well as Others
to best adorn :heir professions trades, or
calling. First the common school should
be developed fully. then each town should
have the higher English school in every
town that the opportunity TO get tho
rough English education should be open
to every one that seeks it, aud in the large
, towns such higher English schools should
be coupled with the classical high school
T These schools will develop the young meu
and Young women and educate them to
their calling, and also to ft them for those
higher course that are taught in the agrl'
cultural, scientific and classical courses II
tho colleges Of the state. When these
schools are properly developed our col
legcs will be filed, and no endowmeut'
or increase of professorships or any other
, attractions they can present to the youth
of Vermont will Gil them like this devel'
opment of our common and high schools
Mr. G. G. Pringle, Esq, Of Charlotte
member of the board read paper upon
, " Ergot."
Ergot ia fungus that attaches itsel
to vegetable and animal life. It produe
es serious illness in many sections II
. often produces serious illness of variou:
kinds among farm animals, that are the
cause of CONSIDERATION and Of great won
der to the farmer or breeder In grains
and grasses it has been carried to coun-
tries where it has produced great loss t.
stock In the medical practice it is won
derful in its effect, producing contraction
$ of the muscles Of the uterus, and is usoC
e to strengthen action in difficult and pro
! longed parturition. Ergot infects grain
: of different kinds in different forms somt
r varieties attack not only the grains bu
o the different parts of the plant above th'
ground, dwar6ug its growth and forming
T. small punches that burst and give out {
fine powder that emits pungent, often
4 sive odor. similar to decayed fish Dur
II