A Plica von Gija.-s Culturb. 293 



liundred acres is liardlj sufficient for an equal number of 

 sliccp, we ask the question, How could tlie fatliers possibly 

 from sucli soil manasre to feed themselves and their house- 

 ful of children ? and the oldest inhabitant iinmediatelj 

 steps forward and says he luis seen growing on tlie very spot 

 and all around, year after year, enormous crops of all kinds 

 of grain ; and we iind that tlie history of tiiousands of 

 years ago is repeating itself to-day, so far as it relates to 

 agriculture. 



The continual western movement of men and families 

 .comes in a great measure of something closely resembling 

 the instinct observable in the rats as they desert a sinking 

 vessel. It matters not from what sources or how fre- 

 quently come the exhortations, " Don't leave the old place," 

 *' Stick to the farm, young man." Starvation sure and 

 ultimate is never welcome though the years go by befor 

 its final and complete triumph. 



We affirm that the giving up of farms to pasture lands 

 witnessed all around us (and there is no pleasure in the 

 eight) comes chiefly of the nearly complete exhaustion of 

 all fertility of the soil l)y the ruinous practice of grain 

 growing. The continuance of homes among these hills, the 

 interests of the farmer and the welfare of the State demand 

 a ilifferent system of agriculture. Whatever else mnj be 

 given up, or whate.ver else may be purchased advantage- 

 ously in the markets of the world, Vermont, next to her 

 own men and women, must raise her own grass. 



Grass is the commonest of all vegetation, in itself a 

 thiug of beauty, growing in all soils, ranging througli 

 every conceivable degree of luxuriance and sparsoness. 



