444 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



The Address was delivered by Charles Theo- 

 dore Russell, of Boston, and a Reporter says, 

 like all his productions, bore the stamp of em- 

 inent ability in conception and expression. Its 

 subject was " The Enfranchisement of Labor.'''' 



Capital charcoal sketches of the Black Hawk 

 and Morgan horses were framed and elevated, 

 one on each end of the spectator's gallery. They 

 were by Mr. Larkin G. Mead, of Brattleboro', 

 and a young artist of great promise. 



The grand feature of a Vermont State Fair is 

 its Horses. We cannot speak of these in detail— v 

 lovers of the noble animal must go themselves and 

 see. They were trotted in imposing parade round 

 the moist and level course, and thousands of 

 bright eyes gazed on them as they passed the im- 

 mense gallery. The procession was headed by a 

 true son of the old Woodbury Morgan, and fol- 

 lowed in order by the Woodburys, Bulrushes and 

 .->!iermans — the latter being by far the most 

 r.umerous. 



But the crowning glory of the Show was in its 

 i.-xcellent arrangements — nothing that could add 

 convenience or comfort was omitted. The place 

 i')r the Address was chosen and prepared with 

 4ood taste. The officers were attentive and polite 

 • > every body, and every body had their best bow 

 f >r the oflScers. Ladies, in great numbers, joined 

 ! 1 the festivities of the occasion, and gave a new 

 ^iace and charm to the whole. Mr. Holbrook, 

 lie President, mingled everywhere with the 

 '. irong, and had a kind word for all. We could 

 « .i[)eak of the hospitalities of his mansion, and of 

 tlie distinguished guests we met there ; but, as 

 i,hat would not be strictly agricultural, and mio^ht 

 '»e considered an invasion of the sanctities of pri- 

 vate life, we forbear. All were eloquent in praise 

 of the mode in which the exhibition was man- 

 iged, and the facilities which had been furnished 

 I'or its enjoyment. 



It was estimated tliat 25,000 persons visited 

 the Show, and out of that vast number not an 

 ill-behaved or intoxicated person did we see. 



Vor the New England Farmer. 



LIGHTNING RODS. 



Friend Brown : — I have noticed, in several of 

 tlio last Farmers, discussions relative to light- 

 ning-rods. My ideas differ somewhat from any 

 who liave writisn for your journal on this sub- 

 ject ; and they were imbibed" from the teachings 

 of one of the b.st, if not I he best Professors in this 

 country. In his lectures on electricity, P. was 

 very particular to call the student's attention to 

 this subject ; his theory was, that a rod would 

 only attract its area. A rod ten feet high would 

 protect that number of feet each way. A rod on 

 a ridge would reckon its attractive powers from 

 the distance from the base of the roof to the top 

 of the r.)d. When more than one rod is required 

 tliey should be near enough together to meet 

 Tvhcn laid down ; and any number less than this. 



might attract some, but not enough to bring it to 

 the rod, and consequently the building would be 

 more exposed than if there were no rods at all. 

 I think isolators are not essential. Iron is a far 

 better conductor of electricity than wood, and 

 will not leave it if there is a good chance for it to 

 escape when it reaches the bottom. It is better 

 that the ends or splices should be ri feted than 

 linked or screwed together, and above all things 

 have the bottom end pointed and in a moist place. 

 Isolators are good for nothing if the bottom is 

 not arranged properly ; we often see telegraph 

 posts all split to pieces notwithstanding their iso- 

 lation, from the tact that the wire is not large 

 enough to conduct it off. 



Let me advise all who wish to put up rods to 

 put up enough ; have them of good size, square 

 or sharp edges, and look well to your termina- 

 tions, liaving them terminate in water, tan or 

 moist earth. S. W. Curtis 



Globe Village Sept. 7, 1854. 



AGRICULTURE AND THE PROFES- 

 SIONS. 



When young men are about completing their 

 education, they very wisely ask themselves what 

 they shall do. A few, scanning the various pur- 

 suits, luckily hit on something in harmony with 

 their tastes, while the greater part look only to 

 the professions as the legitimate sphere of educa- 

 ted men. Now this conclusion is all wrong. A 

 college education aims at a professional life no 

 more than any other ; but only at a general dis- 

 cipline and culture of mind which may be ap- 

 plied to all pursuits. There are, no doubt, some 

 in each class, who are adapted to and will honor 

 any of the professions ; but the greater part are 

 not, and they enter them rather because they are 

 honorable, than in hopes of honoring them. But 

 we have little sympatiiy with tho!3e luminaries 

 which seek to shine by a reQected light. We 

 have been taught to believe that the man should 

 honor his office, not the office the man : and that 

 it is better to move at the head of even a humble 

 calling, than follow in the rear of a dignified pro- 

 fession. We would rather raise potatoes which 

 somebody will eat, than make speeches whicli no 

 one will hear, or write books which no one will 

 read. 



But if these young gentlemen will carefully 

 look around, they will perhaps find other avenues 

 to wealth and distinction besides the professions. 

 Take, for instance, agriculture — not simply the 

 art of plowing the ground, but agriculture viewed 

 in all its practical and scientific bearings, and 

 they will possibly find scope for the disj^lay of at 

 least moderate capacities. Indeed, if we mistake 

 not, some enter the professions, who would not 

 find a waste of talent in agricultural pursuits, 

 and who are certainly quite as well suited to 

 them. But so many young men are captivated 

 with the idea of professional or political titles 

 and life, that they overlook what they call the 

 humbler avocations. So away they go, talking of 

 Robert Halls and Daniel Websters, between whom 

 and themselves there is no more comparison than 

 between the Alps and an ant-hill. We would 

 not be thought to underrate the professions by 

 any means ; but we believe strongly in an adap- 

 tation, a fitness for things. If a man has not a 



