Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-24
Our First Words.

We come to this work with an Unborn
love for it, love which runs through
the entire warp aud wool of our being.
Coupled with this is an appreciation Of
the dignity, the responsibility and the
Importance Of this work, believing as we
do that the press holds a position second
only to one other calling among men. Moth
ing stands above it, save the Christian pull
pit, in the variety and magnitude of the in.
terests involved; in the breadth of the field
Of its endeavors in the opulence Of the re-
sources at its command in the numberless
points of contact with human life, and in the
benefcent results which it may secure when
properly conducted, That the press-espe-
cially the socaled country press-has
largely failed to realize in their fullness these
grand possibilities OF journalism is quite too
true. The work has seemed too small for
men Of large gifts; too meagre in its results
for ambitious minds, and too puerle often
to call forth the warmest impulses and best
energies of those engaged therein. The
conductors of these sheets too frequently be-
come partisan in their sympathies, material
in their aspirations, and so losing sight Of
their rare opportunities, fall into habits
of partial idleness, destructive alike to an
inspiring purpose and a satisfying success.
The country press has its field and work no
less than the more ambitious metropolitan
journal. Its range Of topics may be more
limited, but the discussions need not be want
ing in freshness or vigor the spirit may be
as catholic and healthful; the purpose as
noble, and the results as satisfactory as those
which distinguish journals published at the
commercial and intellectual centers of the
land. The twin curses of the country press
have been Its intense and narrow partisanship,
local and national and its undisturbed self.
complaceucy in being the dispenser of
small cheap wares.
This Journal will be devoted especially to
the agricultural and manufacturing interests
of our own state recognizing the fact that
many experiments and methods Of impor-
lance in other sections, have but little prae-
tical interest for the farmers of Vermont.
The conditions of agricultural life in the
suburbs Of a large city, or on the grtin-pro.
ducing prairies of the west, or on the ex-
tensive pasture lands Of the sparsely settled
regions of the great interior Of our cont.
nent, have but little in common with the ru-
raj life of our Green Mountain state. Hence
the necessity for a journal whose special
work is to aid 10 developing the agricultural
resources Of our own state; one which shall
record experiments made by VermOnters
counsel methods adapted to our own peculiar
situation; advise plans suited to our cOndi.
tions, and urge the introduction Of such
grades of stock as will best endure the rigors
of our climate aud at the same time make
the best returns for the labor and money OK
pended. With this purpose in view, aided
by large corps Of special correspondents
and contributors in all parts of the state,
we shall endeavor to keep our readers in
formed of the latest and best results in every
department Of our states industries. We
shall also CLEAN from the broad and rich
fields Of agricultural life in other sections Of
the land whatever may be of interest or
value to the people of this state, OF
our personal fitness for this work it is not
for us to speak, beyond this, that our entire
life, save few years study and professional