Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-30

1
nf rI HOW 10 THIS 2
We have been savagely criticised during
the last eight OF ten years for saying that
our coleges-even our agricultural colleges,
when conducted too much in the old scho-
lastic way-educate young men away from
The farm. And now comes q writer upon
theological education In the Bibliothecd
Sacra, who declares that "there is some
thing in the drift Of our college educa-
ton which is apt to educate away from
the common people. A true ministry should
DO comprehensive and flexible" We have
dared to say that we thought touch OF the
practical would not hurt our ministers, but |
this writer cuts under MS entirely in the way |
Of a courageous thoroughness Of expression |
on that point. .....
now THE PEOPLE ARE ROBBED.
When the Central and Hudson River rail- |
roads were united in 1869 the capital stock |
of the consolidated corporation was made
ga, 100000 larger than the sum Of the CAPT
tai stock of the two companies. This cap
italization, as stock-watering is politely
termed, was a gross outrage on the public.
In equity the rates Of common carriers must
be reasonable; earnings" are simply
charges for transportation, and there is no
fairness in charging such rates as to pay not
only the running expenses and return on
the capital, but to double the value of the
property and then pay dividends on the
duplicate capital II is doubling the prop
erty and income of the stockholders at the
expense of the public.
TO THIS COMPLEXION SHALL WE GOMEZ
The English Duke Of Bedford has just re-
mitted half-year's rent to his tenants,
amounting TO $35O,0OO. That is, his grace
receives in the form of rent from the farm
ers who occupy the farms Of his estate
100000 year. Agricultural distress is SO
severe in England that this wealthy peer
now makes a discount Of fifty per cent to
those men whose industry gives its entire
value to the land they cultivate The duke
is evidently sensible and liberal man !; but
what shall we say of system that allows
such monopoly of landP Yet If wealth
goes on accumulating in individual hands
in this country as it has during the last fif-
teen years, how long will 1t be before it
must seek investment in agricultural lands,
aud foundation be thus laid for similar
landed aristocracy in America ? as.ai
AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE IN ILLINOIS.
An Illinois correspondent, speaking of the
activity of agricultural enterprise and the
spirit Of improvement in that state, says
"Our legislature at its last session, appro-
pfiated twenty-one Thousand dollars to the
State Board of Agriculture to advance the
agricultural interests of the state. We are
all glad to know that we have board Of
agricultural managers who are doing so no
BILE work-giving their time and best tai
emit without cash compensation for their SER
vices" We seem to remember that Stephen
A. Douglas went from Vermont to Illinois,
and that he is credited with making the Oft
quoted remark about Vermont's being a good
state to emigrate from. With the bones Of
our Agricultural College bleaching on the
Burlington campus" and our Board of
Agriculture also defunct, the natural force
Of Stephens observation seems little abated
DOMESTIC ANIMALS AS MANURE MAKERS
Our readers will remember our remarks
upon Mr.. Spragues commentator Of Merino
sheep as manure makers. Our great agri.
cultural chemist, Professor johnson of the
Sheffield Scientific School, in reply to the
question:" Would you consider a well-bred
animal . good factory for the manufacture
OF fertilizers, aside from the profit or value
to be obtained directly from the food in but
ter or fat ?" says, in the Country Gentleman
Generally speaking, should say there il
no object in keeping live stock for the sake
of making manure. Broadly considered, the
only use Of manure is to produce food, Oh
fibre. But to obtain manure by destroying
serviceable food, or fibre, is of itself obyiou.
waste, the poorest food of man, or of do
nestle animals, and the least serviceablt
fibre, being worth more than the manure
that can be made from them under nearly
all conditions likely to occur" This, it viii
be observed, is substantially the idea WI
have expressed. The more milk, meat ant
wool (and consequently the less manure) w
} can get in return for the food given to do
nestle animals, the more profit is gained b,
the feeder.
GRASS AS A RENovATOR.
Under this head an Ohio correspondent o.
the Country Gentleman says "Many farmer
, labor for years ignorant Of the fact that |
close, well-set sod is the foundation of goot
, farming and the basis of good crops. Sol
i that will produce an immediate and firm Sc
Of grass, will bring good crop of any kind
. There Is no better way TO test the producing
. capacity of soil than by its grass production
: If field yields a scant grass crop. and !
uneven or full Of barren spots, it will not b
! safe to depend on such soil for any othe
crop without extra heavy manuring, an
even then the crop is not of so great Gel
tainty as II the ground was covered with
firm sod at blowing time. There is som,
' thing in a heavy sod that will perfect Gro
J. even in an unfavorsble season. never hay
failed of a good crop on snch land. So
n will soon be renovated after partial deteriorl
ton, if grass can be densely set ON the SUI
face; and this mode Of renovation, 1 CLAIM
!, is the quickest, surest and cheapest of an.
There never was a mistake made so full {
h loss to the farmer as TO allow naturally goo
Is soil to deteriorate at all, and when farmer
" understand and act on this principle OF
e production will never fall below an aversg
IS or even to this point" bu.. .at.a ID.
y TOWN DEBTS FOR, RAILROADS.
e The New York Chamber of Commert
10 has been collecting information about Il
~ railroad aid extended by local municipalities
N Of the state, and it is found that the tot
't county, town and village bonds issued II
70 this purpose amount TO $80,97S,000. tt
bonds outstanding for other purposes reacht
the sum Of 81, fs7, 900, SO that threefourtl
~ | of the bonded debt incurred by rural m