Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-06-01
Sarm Copies.
VERMONT AGRICULTURE.
HON. r. D. DOUGLAS SECOND ARTICLE IN
THE RUTLAND HERALD.

ously low prices received for farm lands
in Western Vermont, when thrown upon
the market, and that the field for improve
ment in this direction is broad enough, if
occupied, to offset all other adverse influ-
ences. | am aware that this claim is not
particularly complimentary to those who
till the soil. But if the position is ten
able one, there Is no occasion for compli-
ments and flattery. The financial cond-
ton of those industries upon which a peo-
pie rely for support and development is a
matter of vital importance, and not fit
subject for thoughtless tri1ing. We
should know and accept the truth in such
matters, whether pleasing to our vanity
or not.
Success or failure in the prosecution of
a calling is not necessarily measure of
intellectual power, or of general intelli-
gence. A profound philosopher may be
failure as a farmer To succeed in agri-
cultural pursuits under present condi-
tons, a man must have special education
for and adoption to his work. This will
be secured only through realization of
its necessity, and diligent application
in its requirement. Few of our farmers
seem to appreciate the necessity for edu-
Gated skill in their calling, but follow the
example of their fathers, apparently I'M
conscious of the changed conditions
which have been forced upon us since the
time of their fathers. The less the spe-
cial training for their work, the less the
realization of its necessity.
Had we never had any medical schools
and trained physicians, the world would
not now realize the necessity for them.
The wonders performed in medical and
surgical practice would not have been
wrought or supposed possible. The med
ical quack would still impose his vile
nostrums and the priest his incantations
for the cure of disease upon credulous
public. The possibilities and importance
of scientific accomplishment in any field
of labor can never be appreciated until
practically applied to the business to
WHICH, IL PERTAINS.
The possibilities of Vermont agricul-
ture are yet unknown. Could the skill
acquired and applied in the calling and
practice of the agriculturally educated
farmers of England and Germany be
adapted and applied to Vermont farming,
it would result in a complete revolution
in ha rtp of
among us. The annual rents paid for
lands in England are higher than lands
of the same natural characteristics and
quality sell for with us. Macaulay, in
his History of England, tells us that large
portions of the most valuable farm lands
of that country were once exhausted and
barren heaths. Some 100000 acres of
these WORKOUT lands have been reclaimed
by the educated skill of English farmers,
and now rival in productiveness the best
farm lands in the world.
But we need not look to foreign lands
for examples of practical skill, which if
possessed and applied by the mass of
Western Vermont farmers, would accom-
plish like results for this locality. We
have in New England, if indeed we have
not in Vermont, self-educated, practical
farmers, who, if placed upon so-called
WORKOUT farm in Champlain Valley, of
average natural productiveness, would
productive capacity, while the increased
pecuniary returns would pay the cost of
the improvements from the outset.
| have visited farms the natural capa-
bilties of whose soils were at least not
superior to those of the lands of which |
am speaking, where the yearly gross re-
ceipts for farm products were from fifty
to one hundred dollars per acre, exclusive
of money paid for animal food and fertil-
izers; where the sole reliance for income
was from ordinary crop production and
the sale of products resulting from the
iudicious feeding of the crops.
What would be the result IN Western
Vermont of the general application of
such farming as this? If one-half of the
IdTllls Ill lllls stCllou COulu
to one-half of the average capacity
named, and this by improved skill, we
should hear no more complaints OF the
low price of farm lands and the scarcity
of buyers. Our young men would better
appreciate the advantages of old Yer
mont; the capital now flowing West to
aid in the development of competitive
agriculture there would find employment
here; every social, educational and in
dustral interest would be promoted, and
a bright prospect would take he place of
the present gloomy outlook.
This can never be accomplished by fol-
lowing on in the time-worn nuts of our
fathers. Success in farming today is just
as surely question of educated capacity
as is success in the practice of law or
medicine. Medical quacks have succeed
ed in accommodating money; 50 have UNI
educated farmers. The opportunities for
this in either case are constantly growing