Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-02-04

shall notice some of the changes that
have transpired in the soil and population
oi New England. If VIC 90 back in the
history of this section Of New England for
fifty or sixty years, we find that large
portion OF the country WAS covered bv
forests that have faded away by the ak Of
our sircs. Their habitations were built
without the aid of in architect, vet those
old fire places must have been glorious for
II winters night. The agricultural i'm.
pements of those by-gonc DAYS were few
in number and rude in construction. but
the virgin soil brought forth remunerative
crops to repay their toll. Their household
adornments were spinning wheels of va
rious dimensions, for wool and tow. Then
boys went barefoot and girls wore plain
dresses-'twas a saving to their daddies.
The transportation of merchandise and
produce was n toilsome affair compared
with our present facilities. The power of
steam was then but partially developed :;
yet under all these disadvantages they
labored, with industry and perseverance,
and planted our institutions and nurtured
the social and moral sense and those
principles of Christianity that give to all
the right to worship God according to the
dictates of their own consciences.
But as time has rolled on, many and
great have been the changes. The fathers
and mothers of those days have nearly all
passed away and rest from their labors
Their children and children s children and
strangers occupy their places.
That our soil has decreased in its natural
productiveness is a fact to be seen in yari
GUS ways. and is beyond controversy, but
perhaps in no one product more than in
orchards. When our lands were first cul.
tivated apple trees thrived on nearly nil
soils and brought forth abundantly; but
with our orchards at the present time
can safely say that in this section of coun-
try they do not produce one.fourth the
amount of fruit they did twenty or thirty
years ago, and it is of inferior quality at
that. Nurserynten tell us we need only to
purchase their varieties and we shall have
an abundance of fruit.
My humble opinion is that the soil is
exhausted of those properties which are
necessary for natural fruit growing, and
if we would succeed we must restore to
the soil by fertilizers those elements which
have been exhausted by cultivation. Were
| to set an orchard, l would clear land in
the wood lot, leaving it encirced on all
sides by woods to break the winds.
| need not speak of the loss of the
natural pasture grasses, and those worth
less weeds and brakes that have taken
their places, to the annoyance of nearly all
farmers in this section.
Yet while the soil has decreased in its
natural productivencss we have made I'D
in part by the improvements in farm i'm
plements and the manufacture of dairy
products and maple sugar. Truly, the
last forty years has been an age of progress
and an exhibition of the inventive genius
of Americans. And through all these
years the sons and daughters of New
England have left their native hills and
found homes in every state of the Union,
filling all the avocations of life with
profit and honor.
We seldom take up an agricultural peri
odical but we see real estate advertised for
sale, or something about the deserted
farms of New England and the young
men leaving the old homestead 20 engage
in mercantile life or enter upon some pro-
fession, rather than till our rugged soil
yet believe at the present time more are
turning their attention to agricultural pur-
suits.
We sometimes hear it remarked that we
had better give up our rugged hills and
emigrate to the prairies of the west, but to
me they have their disadvantages as well
rs New England.
From the reports of the commissioner
of agriculture | find that Vermont ex.
ceeds per acre in corn, wheat, oats and
potatoes either the western or southern
states; and it appeass TO me that with the
few advantages we possess, such as good
water, convenient and comfortable build
ngs for man and beast, we had better not
De in hurry to exchange.
But there are few matters that farmers
ire beginning 10 think need their serious
consideration in this agricultural state of
Vermont, and the first is Il liberal Sduca-
ion to enable them 10 understand the
wants of the soil. the application of fertli-
ers suited to the different crops on the
arm-farmers able and capable of filling
ny office within the gift of the people,
nd looking we'll to the interests of those {
ho pay nearly all the taxes. which, with d
le assessments of insurance companys. (.
re becoming rather burdensome to real /,
state owners. Let us for moment take