Year: 1874

forest aud all natural supplies Of food fail.
ing, they we're driven by their necessities to
devise means to increase the vegetable sup
ply Of food to meet the increasing demand.
Had we the means, how interesting it would
be to trace, step by step, the progress thus
made; TO sec one plant after another brought
from it's wild state to its perfection in fur
nshing food All of our cereals have thus
been redeemed, and we can easily believe
that the vegetable kingdom has advanced
with man from the wild and savage eondi-
tion to the present state Of civilization and
refinement on the one hand, aud Of utility on
the other.


In the 6rst historic age wheat vas typical
of civilization, and fruits of refinement, and
they we're considered ct offerings to the gods
What patience, what perseverance,, what toll
and study was brought to aear upon the sub
ject, the demand for food, the prospect Of
success, and the hope Of being ranked among
the beuefactors Of mankind, cheering them
on until success crowned their efforts, and
to-day the fruits of these early tillers Of the
soil remain with u.s. impershsble monuments
of labor and thought, while the originators
have passed away, leaving no name upon the
page Of time.


In the early historic age the tillers of the
soil were held in the highest respect, not only
as benetactors of the race, but as men hold.
ing intercourse with, and peculiarly favored
by, the gods. From their ranks came the
seers and prophets of old The first stu
dents Of the Magi, and the wise men of the
East, sprang from the husbandmen who were
engaged in the various pursuits Of the farm.
The business OF the farm was then, and
still is, peculiarly adapted to call out those
traits Of mind developed in the class of per-
sons referred to. And should they not have
been honored ? They were the foundation
Of society, the corner stone on which the So
cial structure rested. They not only fed
aud clothed their own families, but furnished
food and clothing for those ancient cities that
lived by commerce, the arts, or war.


But leaving the early historic ages, we
will take view of society in America.
Where do we find the tillers of the soil, and
what is their social condition? 1t is and
ever has been admitted by all classes that
they are the foundation of the social struc.
ture that without them we could not be fed
or clothed. Neither could the polutions of
our cities be kept within control but for the
finds its way into their midst in the form of
sons and daughters Of the farm. The com.
inerce Of the world depends upon them. Let
the South fail to raise cotton and financial
ruin would prevail. Let the West stop
raising wheat and corn, and our cities would
wall with horror as starvation stared them
in the face


Many object to the farmers life, thinking
that as he lives remote from the centers of
business, ofttimes so surrounded by hills and
woodlands as to hide view even of his
nearest neighbors, remote from public trav-
ell, he sees but little Of the active world
around him, and they ask, How can he be
otherwise than lonely in his hermitage2 l
would ask Wherein is the farmers life
more isolated from society than the merchant
Id his counting room or the mechanic in his
shop? The life of the tillers of the soil is
an active life The farm is their empire !;
every part must be seen and cared for they
must have eyes that see, brains that think,
aud hands ready to make practical applica-
cation Of what the eyes and brain have
taught. They attend to their growing crops
They see to their hocks and herds they
meet their neighbors upon The borders Of
their farms, aud discuss the condition of
crops, the markets, and the general topics Of
the day, while the social gatherings Of the
neighborhood prove bonds OF fellowship and
schools of mutual instruction. Breathing
the pure air of the fields, active in habits,
there is proper balance between muscle
and brain. Vigorous health and sound
judgment is the result, and from this class
are chosen the Legislators OF town and state.
away from the corrupting influences Of city
life, the farmers children grow up around
him pure in heart and sound in mind. His
nome is an intelligent home. His library
contains the best Of books; the choicest Of
periodical literature is found on his table.
The best of schools are sought for his chill
dren, while home is a perpetual school of
order, religion, and refinement. 1t is this
home influence that has given aud still gives
to Vermont farmers their high character for
morality and intelligence. The greatest Of
public men, either modern or ancient, were
born aud nurtured upon the farm, and, hav-
ing served their country till covered with
honors, they invariably return to the quiet
farm to enjoy their well-earned laurels
among the scenes of the old rooAree.


The granite soil of New Hampshire pro.
duced Webster, and the green hills Of
Vermont her, Douglas, while the brightest
lights of bar, pulpit or educational halls
have received their primary education while
aiding and performing their share of the la
bors of the farm. l could particularize, but
will not, for from such a crowd of illustri
ous names should scarcely know where tC
begin or where to leave off. With such q
record before them, and such influences
around them, the farmer can feel that biz
children will enter upon a career Of prosper


ity, aud attain to high social positions