The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-13
THE COMING FARMER.
By ]. O, Follett. Of Townshend.


"A paper read at the late meeting of the state
Board OF Agriculture, at Fayettevile.1
1t is well understood what the average
farmer of the past has been. 1t may well
be questioned whether lie has mastered the
different branches taught IN our common
schools. The high estimate placed upon
his labor has kept him from availing him
self of all the advantages of these schools,
poor in many respects as they have been.
Merging from these schools with the think
ing powers but poorly disciplined, the
Young farmer enters upon his occupation
with the idea that he is sort of machine,
existing for its own support. He is prone
to look upon his chosen occupation as q
kind of necessary evil, instead of source
of happiness and delight. TO say the least
there has been little inclination to look
about himself to STE where or how lie can
better hs condition. Thus unaccustomed
TO think, the intellect becomes more or less
stuffed, and the soil he tills, from want
of proper cultivation. gradually loses its
productive powers. His boy, reared under
such circumstances, early imbibes a dis
relish for his fathers farm, and tries some
other business, or seeks home on the So
called inexhaustable soil of the west.
You may say that this picture is little
overdrawn, but it will be remembered that
| am speaking of the average farmer, and
not of the more enterprisng and progress
sive class and glance at the recent past,
or even at the present, will suffice TO show
that it is but too true.
What, then, shall the coming farmer be ]?
| answer that he will be, to great extent,
what we make him. This is an age OF
progress, and in spite ul the assertions of
some grumblers to the contrary, there is
progress in agriculture. There is always
progress IN the mind of the thoughtful.
We should make the coming farmer, then,
40 far as lies in our power, u thinking man.
Preparatory to this, our public schools
should receive careful attention, to make
them all that existing circumstances will
allow. And what is more parents should
see that their children attend with great
constancy and punctuality, availmg them
selves OF all the advantages aCcruing there
FROM But, says some one, the more we
have educated our children, the less incln
alton they haye had to become farmers.
This may have been the case in the past,
but it need not be in the future, | appre-
bend. When our forefathers left the mother
country, with its priestly rule and educated
aristocracy, it was with feeling that the
masses should be educated and freed from
the oppression of the educated few. That
feeling has predomnated in the American
heart down through these two hundred and
fifty years and more, and our experience
with the workings of this principle, as well
rs its failure to work at any time in any
locality-like that Of the southern states or
New York city-prove to us clearly the
wisdom of that principle. As a result, we
have had from among the masses able men
in our legislative halls, able judges at the
bench of our civil courts, able practitioners
at the bar in short, able men in all the
professions, able business men, men who
have risen to great wealth in our manufac-
turing establishments, trades, and CONNER
cial stations.
In view of these facts, the educated young
man has very naturally turned his back
upon the farm, with its monotonous rou-
tine and small profits, to crafty his amb-
ton for wealth or honor in some other d.
recton. But the time has come for think
ing men TO make their mark in agriculture.
No opportunity afford greater opportunity
for the cultivation Of mans nober facul-
ties. Hitherto the farmer has failed to
grasp or comprehend the mighty elements
with which he ia brought in contact almost
daily. In fact he has been totally incapac-
tated from want of practical knowledge of
the composition of soils and of the princi-
pies and laws underlying plant and animal
growth.
And now while dwelling upon this point,
allow me to suggest to the farmers Of the
state of Vermont, that something be done
70 atn lt,,r al n haiti
footing. Practically it is now almost dead
letter, and is likely to remain so, unless the
farmers Of the state take the matter in
hand. 1t is hardly expected that the
coming farmer can be elevated much
above tho present., without some know
edge of scientific principles applied to agri-
culture. lie. our agricultural college, then
be placed upon a sound basis, where 1t will
become power for acquiring and dispens-
ing sound knowledge and practical infor-
nation respecting the combination of Gle
ments underlying both animal and vegeta-
BILE development But you say that, at
best, IL will be long time before the agri-
cultural college can be placed in position
10 give us the information we want, and
would you discourage any efforts on the
part of the present or coming farmer out
side OF the college TO elevate himself No;
by no means. On the contrary, | shall urge
that no stone should be left unturned
which may tend to make the coming farmer
more intelligent, and in consequence more
successful. If agricultural stations could
be established for the purpose OF trying ex-
periments, like those in some parts Of Eu-
srope, great advantages, 1t would seem,
might accrue to the farmer, providing they
were properly and carefully managed But
II this 10 too remote, or the obstacles so