Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-09-18

his business.
DR.. Loring said he was more inclined to
do this because he recognized thetact that
agriculture lies ut the foundation of State
and society in every country, and eSpCC-
iallv in our own, where for many years il
was almost our only industry. supplying
us with our revenue and feeding and
clothing the strong men who gave us our
nationality. 1t was Il cluster of agricul-
tural colonies which secured our indie
pendence. The citizen prOprietOrs of the
soil of America learned to defend their
rights and they struck for their freedom
long before the associate industries had
gained foothold on these shores 1t was
1.-THE embattled farmers" who, rs the
poet tells us, "fired the shot heard round
the world" And having laid the founda-
ton of our republic, they pursued their
calling with diligence and success, and
gave us strong and honorable commit
nifty, renowned for courage, honor, lnteg-
rity and fidelity. 1t was this almost uni
versal industry, connected with small
commerce, which enabled an economical
and prudent people to set an example of
financial honor, which has not yet been
forgotten. When Mr.. jefferson closed
his career as President of the United
states, he was congratulated by the Leg
islature of Virginia, through the mouth
of the illustrious William Writ that he
had succeeded in paying 100000, 900 OF the
largely from the land. Manufactures had
then no existence. The rivers washed
down their falls and rapids unhindered to
the sea. Cotton manufactures were III
known. WOODEN cloth was woven by the
industrious mothers and sisters on looms.
for which Il room was always provided in
the well organized household. Flax was
grown and linen made. But neither man
ufactures nor the mechanic arts gave en-
plOyment to our people, nor revenue to the
State. The power of the nation consisted
in the stout hearts of the farmers, and
the wealth of the nation consisted in the
successful application of their skill TO the
soil. They farmed under great advan-
tages it is true. The soil was fertile and
the harvests were great. In my own State,
in fact my county of Essex, 50 famed for
early and late activity and industry, one
of the most reliable, and powerful, and
faithful statesmen and soldiers of tie rev
olution, Timothy Pickering, tells us that
in his day the soil of that county yielded
to the acre twenty-eight bushels of wheat,
III bushels of corn, tifty-two bushels of
barley, 5lS bushels of common potatoes,
800 bushels of carrots, 1904 bushels of
mangelwurzel, 6SS bushels Swedish tur.
nips, 1S3 bushels of beets, G54 bushels of
onions, thirty tons of hay grown ON six
acres, and the yearly average of forty
acres for many years was more than l2O
tons.
In our own day the soil may have lost
It's fertility, industries may have multi
Piled the paths to wealth and comfort
may have become more and more varied
but agriculture holds its former place
still andSaXes our ingenuity ahd secures
prosperity, In the great trials that have
Defallen our generation, trials III which
not only the wisdom of the wise. but the
fruits of the industrious are needed to
sustain and develop the country, which
Il /, f,,1
the wealth which has been drawn from
the soil has enabled us to maintain our
financial honor, and solved many IA veXed
financial problem. The position held by
us in the commerce of the world was
watched with interest and anxiety during
all those years in which the power of the
people to bear the great war debt was a
matter of painful doubt At the close of
the war the financial facts of our country
were against us. Gold was at a premium.
Our exports were comparatively small.
The balance of trade was against us,
and our supply of gold was constantly
drawn on to pay our foreign bills. Then
it was that the thoughtful and patriotic
American citizen turned to the growing
industries of his country for the solution
of the financial question, which was so
universally discussed and SO seriously
considered. Not only to our vast rev
enues alone did we turn, but to that pro
ducing power of our people which might
find a foreign market and fix exchange in
our favor. The men who had fought
bravely now toiled diligently, and ere
long exports increased rapidly, gold was
removed as a commodity from the market
the balance of trade was in our favor
and the American people ranked among
the large exporting nations of the earth.
The solution of our financial policy had
begun, and it has been continued until
we are Of one heart, and one mind on
this all-important question. Once more
has agriculture contributed a vast share
of that which has been sent into the mar
kets of the world. AS in the early days
of the republic, so in our day, has the soil
enriched and supported our people Be
sides feeding lavishly fifty millions of
people, the agriculture of the country has
continued to supply IA large amount of our
exports of domestic merchandise. In
1850 the exports from this country rose in
one year from Stj31, 042, O1S to $SS3 9l5, 94l ,
and of this vast sum agriculture furnish
ed SiA ,4S9 4l3. or IS. U6 per cent of the
whole amount. The imports amounted
to S66, ,954, 7W leaving, a balance of S2l5,-
9Gl ,l95, The effect of this contribution to
our export trade is incalculable and it
has done so much toward restoring us to
that financial stability, and prosperity
ana honor, oil which rs nation We ought
to be proud, and for which every prosper
Gus man ought to be so grateful that |
turn with pride and satisfaction to the
record which American agriculture has
made for itself. But not only are the
years of agricultural prosperity instruct
i've, but the bad seasons also teach us Il
lesson which we should not forget.
The great crops of 1879 were largely re-
duced, and the change in our commercial
affairs was striking and significant. In
1851 the cotton crop fell off 100000 bales,
wheat llS,2G9,1iS bushels, corn l22, BIS
543 bushels rye 3s35,OOO bushels, oats / =
40i,3SO bushels, barley 4,OO4Ol5 bushels.
As one result of this, the excess of exports
over imports, fell from $259, 1l:,1lS in ISIS!
to SD, III ,S5G in 1854, the fiscal year end
ing June 30, the effect OF which is mani
fest
The Growth of Farming.
Mark now the growth of this industry
in II decade during which it has made a