Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-04-05
Some OF our Farmers Wants.
IA paper read At the Cambridge meeting OF the Doar
Of Agriculture by H. sxILIE Of waieryille, VII

parts Of the state or country, OF tnat tney
are not a reading or thinking people. Any
one would be easily convinced to the con.
trary, think, should attempt so TO do;
for think you will find as many. and l
sometimes think more, good books, news
papers and reading matter. such as histo-
ries, magazines and periodicals, on the
farmers tables as any other class Of people
in the country. With all of these means
of education, | think there is still want
among the farmers of q better education
In their business. or more thorough
practical application of what knowledge
they now possess.
Is it not almost the universal complaint
among our farmers today that farming
does not pay at the present time and that
our farms are running outt that they do
not produce as they did twenty or thirty
years ago? (Which am sorry to say is too
irue) What are the causes of this state
of things? Is it the Creator or is il the
want of better education on the part Of
the farmer and proper appliance of what
has been created? am Of the opinion,
when we stop and reflect, that there are
none of US who cannot solve the question
as to the cause.
Who of US ever knew or could reason
ably expect that a pond or cistern of
water would hold out beyond certain
length Of time where the draughts from it
were two or three times greater than its
receipts? Where is the brother farmer
who has not had practical demonstration
of this principle with his own pocketbookP
If there are any such, l would advise them
to get their experience patented and 90 to
selling tho right, for think they could
make money much easier and faster than
by farming. Therefore where there is a
large draught upon our farms in the way
of produce, is there not want of cor
responding return of manure and fertilizers
to the soil to keep up its fertility
When we look about our town among
the farmers and see the large amount Of
produce in the way of butter, cheese, pork
and stock which they are yearly taking
from their farms and selling and compare
it with the meager amount which they put
back upon them in the way of manure and
fertilizers is it any wonder, to thinking
mind, that their farms are running out
and that farming does not pay at the pres
ent time? Most certainly there cannot be.
Then is there not something which the
| farmer wants, and how is he to obtain it
Does he not want more thorough and
practical knowledge Of the application Of
manure and fertilizersP does he not want
to take more pains in the manufacture, be
more saving in the use and use more arti-
ticiel means in the increasing of the ma
nure heap upon his farm? He wants to
be more economical than some-I might
say far too many are at the present time,
around barns and hog pens. The manure
heap is the capital stock of the farmers
bank. He cannot always expect to dis
count large amounts of produce and crops
unless he keeps his capital good by replen-
lshing in some way, 1t is not so much n
want of means. upon NEST of our farms,
that we do not have more or q larger ma
nure ,pital There are few farmers who
cannot make their manure heaps double or
even more in size what they now are il
they did but Use the means they have at
hand upon their farms for so doing in the
way OF muck, brakes, leaves, etc etc., by
composing it with the droppings from
the stock, fowls and swine kept upon their
farms.
| The want of means at the command of
most of our farmers is not so great as the
want of a more practical and economical
use of the means they have. The most if
not all farmers have become satisfied that
under our past and present system of farm
ing. there is not any branch OF farming
that will bring him his money so speedily
and readily as keeping cows and the man
ufaclure Of butter and cheese. But is there
not something else when needs mis- atten
| tinp9 Wbilf ha i, Iro Uni pf ba t,rnInpir ,,f
ms farm by the wagon load to market and
selling il ton after ton. is he returning to
his farm IN the way of nanures and fertil
ze II sulli lent amount to keep up the
richness of his land so that there is not a
constant depreciation of the soilp 1t seems
but reasonable TO me ii our farmers keep
their farms up TO their present state OF
productiveness even still they should, by
some means, make more liberal return
to the soil in the way of manures or fertil-
izers for that which they are yearl y taking
from it.
think there Is want among our small
turner's, as well as some oftne larger ones
Of better or more team for the cultivation
If their farms. Many farmers are INSULT
cientiy supplied in this respect, haying
reduced their team to one horse (almoS
equivalent to none), and consequently are
able to cultivate only the easier and more
feasible portions of their land and these bu
specifically.
Is there not want of more brain-worl
among the farmers? Would they not b.
quite as successful as farmers if they die
but use their brain more and do les
manual labor? remember once hearing
II very noted public speaker in discouIsins
upon the human brain say that for q maj
to have Il good brain it was necessary fo
HIM to have good stomach. am of thu
opinion that if there is a class of men WHIT
more than another want good stomach
and a good brain it is our farmers.
Another want of our farmers Is more
sociability among themselves. Since man
kind are created social beings should W,
not use our various gifts for the advance
ment and profit of our brother farmers
Should we not have more social gathering!
for the interchange of thought and the re
lation of each others experiences anC
practice upon the different ways of carry
ing on the various branches of farming
they want more such meetings as we ar,
having here now, where not only tn
, ltll Until vi lll'o NONi bub AllOoC llOul III
more remote parts of the county and stee
may have the pleasure and benefit of mate
ing the honorable board Of agriculture o
our state, who can give us much valuabl,
information, not only from their owl
practical experience but much that the,
acquire from holding their meetings anon
he farmers in tho different parts of th
state.
Another want of tho farmers is bette
and more thorough system of business
more cooperation with their brother farm
ers in buying and selling (and here I vii
say that think the best way for farmer
to obtain these advantages is through {
well organized, well conducted grange)
All other classes of men have their socie
ties and associations for their protection =
why not the farmers and labUring class
But as soon as the producing or laborinl
rlasses move in that direction the cry o
"evll, danger ahead, beware' goes abroad
There can no good come from anything
which the lahorlng class may do wher
they step outside of The business plowiLs
and hoeng sowing and mowing,as though
they were created for those particular pur