Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-03
What May BE Learned Of Agricullur
from History,

1t is probable that may digress frou
the topic which has beeu announced rs nv
subject for this occasion, yc. | hope tC
include nothing in my papc: which may
not properly be considered in a meeting
of this character.
In tho many historical works, general
and local, which Eermontcrs have pro.
duced, we find but little hearing upon tho
history of agriculture; yet most intelligen,
citizens of the state have very good
general knowledge OF its history.
Thompson, in his history of Vermont,
says: With scarcely any tools but IN
| AK the first settlers entered tho forests,
cleared off the timber from small piece
Of ground, cut down trees 10 q suitable
| length, and by the help OF 4 few neigh
bors reared their log houses aud covered
Lhem with bark. These afforded shelters
for their families. and by pcrsevernS
industry thay were soon enabled TO raise a
little flax and wool, which were spun and
woven and co,Ored and made into clothing
by tho females for home and Sunday
wear"
The first settlers found tho lands covered
with n forest there were no cleared
lands in Vermont until cleared by the
pioneers in the settlement.
1t would be impossible for nc to 20
much into detail in the history Of agricul-
ture in this state, and | apprehend it is
not important to do SO; certainly mob with
tho line Of thought l had for myself mark
cd out for this occasion.
From my Poultney history. written in
1874 and published in 1875, copy the
following: During the first half century
after tho settlement of the town there
wero few changes worthy OF note in tho
mode Of farming. Tho same farm imple-
ments first in use were kept in uso with
very little change or improvement until
after 1920 the clumsy wooden plow
which was manufactured anywhere "a
third rate blacksmith could bo found
(almost anv man could do tho wood work.
About 1925 plow with m iron ould
board was offered for sale in Poultney
for tho FIRST time. II hat been introduced
in the state Of New York and the middle
states some years prior TO this time and
was there gradually working its way into
use; but the farmers of Poultney and
vicinity for somo timo would not buy 1t.
They said it would break-it might work
on western aud southern lands where
there were no stones, but il would never
do among tho rocks aud stones OF Vor-
mont-they wcro sure Of that. But after
"a time few farmers, after much urging,
were induced to try IL. One Rfor another
saw iL1 superiority, aud before 1910 the
Old wood plow was among the things Of
the past.
More recently many now farm implo.
meuts have come into use, and tho old
ones kept in use much improved.
Moving machines. which now cutnesrly
all of the farmers grass, arc Of suite re-
cent origin. 1t may be twenty years
since the first moving machine was seen
in Poultncy. hut not more than ten or
twelve since it came into general use
here bear in mind this was written in
1871. In 1925, if VIC had visited the
moaaow OF some prosperous farmor on o
pleasant July day wo might have seen six
or eight stalwart men enter at Z o'clock In
the morning with scythcs ground ready
for days work. One of the number
would "set in" the others would follow,
and ." 90 round piece" OF five, six or
eight acres. Each would go forward in
his turn. and thus they would chase each
other around until noon, or until the grass
on the piece was cut down, not forgetting
Mt each round to stop and take n drink.
Rum was then in every hay field.
If VIC had visited tho same meadow i'll
1879, instead Of six OF eight men coming
In at o'clock, VIC might have seen one
man, with span Of horses drawing a
moving machine. very coolly ontcr the
meadow about o'clock in the forenoon.
He, too, would 80 round piece and cut
it b. noon, only once OF twice, perhaps,
leaving his seat ON the mower TO get a
drink OF watcr-no rum. The other holp
might have been found in the forenoon in
the dairy room. in the garden, sailing the
cattle. doing some necessary work about
the premises or perhaps about town on
crrands."
will next call YOUR attention to the
condition of farms and farming fifty years
ago. and do this on the strength Of my
own recollection The forest mould which
had been accommodating for ages was not
then worn out. ! was born and reared on
u farm in Midlletown, a town adjoining
Poultney on the east, aud well remem
Der the condition of that farm and tho
farms around it at that date, aud 1t is fair
to infer that farms aud farming in Ner-
mont were then like unto those with which
was familiar in my boyhood in thoir
productivencss and general management.
think n little more than fifty years ago
there was in the vicinity where | lived
quite demand for rye for the manuiac
turc of whisky. Nv father, encouraged
by this demand, plowed up twenty-five or
thirty acres Of his pasture and sowcd it
to rye, and had tho heaviest crop ever
saw. think, and it may be proper to
relate an incident here in that connection,
q man by the name Of Thomas Morgan
was our nearest ncishbor. Mr.. Morgan
had been soldier Of tue revolution, at
least long enough 10 be In the battle Of
Bennington, uud was the very first settler
of the town of Middletown. lie also had
n piece Of rye Of ten acres adjoining my
fathers rye Iield, and himself, my father
and several others were together in con-
temptation OF commencing the rcaping--
grain was then, IN the main, cut with the
sicklo--eyen the grain cradle had not
come much into use. While looking at
the rye and admiring Its largo growth,
some ono offered 10 make bet that IL Mr.
Morgan would 20 ten rods Into that rye
hc could not DC scon from outside. Nor.
gan was very tall man-about six feet
four inches. This got up little amuse.
mont, and Mr.. Morgan event In" BeinS
there myself to bring drink and perform
such other service rs boy could do, /
watched Mr.. Morgan intcntly. as any
other boy would under the circumstances.
He was seen lost to view, and we could
only know his whereabouts by the motion
of the rye heads as he proceeded.
My supposition is that tho lands had at
thai day deterioratod to some extent, but
not very much, as woll remember that
the lands of my fathers farm would all.
except where rocks came to the surface
produce good crops, and that without the
application Of fertilizers; and this know
was true Of other farms in the same town.
But after that year they gradually lost
their fertility, and that same farm on
which WAS raised iifteon years ago would
not produce half-I think not over one
third--what it would fifty years ago. Two
or three years ago visited that farm.
walked over every part Of il that I might
revive tho memories Of my carly days.
That pasture which grew such tall rye
fifty years before was covered with shrub
known 81 hardhaek. Any one acquainted