Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-12-22

The farmers are entitled first Of all to
a liberal but considerate bestowal OF the
bounties of the state. Its aid should not,
however, be frittered away by capric-
ious' or unsystematic expenditure. A
dollar spent on a certain plan this year is
virtually lost if the plan is radically
changed next year; but dollar spent
under an old system is worth two under
a new and untried system. So, gentleman
of the soil, adopt some plan for utilizing
the bounty the state pays to your interests
and stick to it long enough to give 1t a fair
trial. Choose efficient men for carrying
out the intentions of the state and hold
them to a rigid and faithful discharge OF
their duty In this way only can agri-
culture be effectively promoted"
The above from the Watchnlan and
Journal states as an unquestioned fact
what we believe should be such, but is not.
There are In and about the Legislature
those who do not believe the farmers are
entitled to any state aid or encouragement
or protection, whichever you may put it.
AS one prominent editor in the state has
it, " Why should there be a superintendent
of agriculture more than a superintendent
of lawyers or printersP"
The duty and policy of the state is to
work for the interest and prosperity of the
state. and the prosperity of agriculture in
the state means the corresponding pros
perity of every other branch of business.
And where, and to what class of farmers
should this encouragement and instruc-
ton be directedP Of course to all; but
nouin equal proportion.
In conversation with the editor of one
of our state dailies he advocated the plan
of few meetings and the printing of a
large number of the. report which should
should be sold to the farmers at, say from
seventy five cents to one dollar per copy
These reports should deal with the more
advanced scientific facts and theories OF
agriculture. This is not the idea we have
formed from the experience of six ears in
agricultural meetings. The work must be
n ore documentary in character and timer
ant of application. The whole need not
physician, but they that are sick; so they
who have already an interest in farming
who would BUY reports and 60 half way
across the state to attend an annual winter
meeting may be pretty safely risked te
find out the last or best theory or practice
in agriculture. But there is Il class, and a
sufficiently large one to demand recogni
ton, who not only would not buy report
but would not go out of town to attent
the best agricultural meeting ever held
for they don't believe in the " new-fangleC
notions " of the speakers. At one meeting
held by the superintendent man wa'
asked if he was going in, and replied
- Mo- he guessed he knew as much abou
farming rs they did, and another to The
same question replied, 4" He guessed HI
would but he did not expect to learn any
thing"
Now, as before said, there is a larg,
class of Just such farmers, who need frs
of all an interest awakened in them il
their BUSINESSMAN interest sufficient tt
lead them to learn what others are doins
in farming, what results they are getting
and how they secure them.
Thorough work is begun at the bottom
the foundation is secured, and in the en-
ightenment and elevation of the mass lie
the safety and prosperity of the state anC
Nation. IF these farmers will hardly at
tend meeting in their own town, how
much less would they attend one held a
a distance, Or buy Il report of a meetin!
they cid not care enough for to attend
This, we contend, is the class we shout,
labor to re lch. and is where the creates
good for the least cost could be done
carry the meetings to their very doors
r Some will attend and an interest will b.
awakened, an interest to prove they ar
right in their ways, if nothing else, ant
that will lead to investigation, to expert
, ment, and when that road is entered OF
the battle is half won.
! We may he wrong, but this is the wa
the matter seems to us, and we think tn
act of rs was Il wise one in so much as
called for more and more generally dis
tributed meetings.