The Sun.
London, England, 1817-08-13 00:00:00

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'COLONIAL JOURNALS.

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(Pro!» the Quebec Gazette, July, 1817 .)

QCI•.I;IEC

The very liaclovarcl state of Agricoltiire in this
-Province, pariicnlarly in die District o!- 'Qqebee,
inost•fortrbly-trrrike'the—eye `the strangcr who
visits Canada, and in no less a degree rails forth

the regret of thoie amongst our•ei•es tvlio have
Lad the opportunity attentively to compare our
System of farming tcith that of other .aountties
nay have come un.icr t'acir otJscrvatioo.

Shut out, as we hi i InAnnur are, by the nattire
of the climate, ft om a conimuoicatior with the
rest of the woild, dining a great part ot the year,
and sittet teal at a diStanee from the mother coun-
try, our farmer has not the advantage that the
highly improved state of her agriculture would
give to hint, were the example in view.
In this, as in all countries, we have a predis-
position to adopt the manners and costoms of our
forefathers; and here, as 'elsewhere, it may be
difficult to ,;overcotne that attachment for ancient
usages ; a feelina• which doubtless originates from
motives most praiseworthy, but every where ad-
nii•s of any proposed change by slow degrees.
'l' he great improvements made in agriculture,
by the perseverance of Many individuals in the
mother country, and the beuefita derived there-
from, became so obvious, that progressive im-
provement followed generally, and agriculture
throughout Great Britain appears to have attained
the .height of perfect ion.
In Canada we have many difficulties to contend
with ; yet, to counterbalance these, in some de-
grce, nature has molt bountifully granted to her
advantages beyond that of many other countries ;
within itself this District possesses a variety of
- natural manures, which it judiciously applied,
vrould produce the best effects, and the rapidity of
the vegetation would compensate for the shortness
of the season.
'1 he clearing of land of the noxious weeds that
overrun the country should be the farmer's first
consideration ; that neglected, little could be de-
rived from the utmost exertion of his labours
otherwise ; the ground can only produce a cer-
tain quantity of vegetable matter, and should that
be suffered to run up in weeds, his crop of wheat
or other grain would in the, same proportion prove
unproductive in quantity, and in quality of the
most inferior kind.
Considerations of this nature induced some
Gentlemen in this City, who strongly feel a de-
sire to promote the best interests of the Province,
amongst which agriculture most certainly ranks
high, to believe that a better knowledge of this
science might possibly be introduced through the
joint efforts of its friends ; a Meeting of the Citi-
zens %vas in consequence called, for the purpose
of taking into consideration the expediency of an
establishment for the furtherance of the object in
view, which was numerously attended, and the
proposal unanimously adopted ; a Committee wad
also then appointed to draw up appropriate Re-
solutions and Regulations, for the forimition and
future goveinment of the " Quebec Agricultural
Society :" these Resolutions were prepared and
adopted at a second General Meeting held on the
12th day of April last.
At that Meeting it was unanimously resolved,
" That his Excellency Sir JOHN COAPE SHER-
BROOKE be solicited to honour the Society with
his patronage ;" to which his Excellency has since
been pleased to signify his assent in the most con-
descending terms, expressing, at the same time,
his strong desire to promote, by every means in
his power,the improvement olagriculture through-
out the Province.
The Members of this Society do not pretend to
perfect knowledge of the science they have at
heart to promote, so as to render them competent
to instruct the farmer in all its branches ; some
few, and but'a few of their Members, understand
the practical and theoretical parts of agriculture;
the generality of the Members have yet both to
learn ; but a strenuous desire to gain information,
and the united researches and endeavours of the
Society, it is hoped may enable them troth time
to time to disseminate such useful information to
their fellow-countrymen as may lead by degrees
to a better management of lands that) is now prac-
tised in this District : the Society therefore soli-
cits the favour from all persons throughout the
Province, of any communication which may tend
to that end.
The principal objects that the Society has in
view, are to communicate by example, as far as in
their power, improved systems of farming, best
adapted to the different descriptions of soil, ex-
posure, and local situation.
To form, for the use of husbandmen, a Library
of suitable Books, and a collection of models of
the most approved. implements of husbandry.
To encourage, by premiums, as soon as a fund
for that purpose may be provided, the adoptio) of
such measures as may be recommended by the So-
ciety, for the general improvement in the science;
also for excellence in any branch that may tend
thereto ; and by every possible means in the
power of the Society to better the condition of
the industrious Canadian Farmer.
The Officers are to be elected annually by bal-
lot, upon the last Tuesday in March ; those for
the current year are—
President—The Hon. JAMES Invmr..
Vice Presidents—Joseph Plante and Thomas White, Esqrs.
COMMITTEE.
William Holmes, M.D. j 'Thomas White, Esq.
Witham Scott, Esq. f helix Tett'. Esq.
Jolin Macnider, Esq. David Anderson, Esq.
Joseph Plante, Esq. and
James Loclihnrn, Esq. Anthony Anderson, Esq.
Secretary—William Sheppard, Esq.
• Treasurer—Thomas Wilson, Esq•

Persons residing in the District of Quebec, de-
siring to become Members of the Society, are to
be recommended by two Members, and admitted
"upon ballot.- •
And heron; residing without the said District.
may be admitted as Honorary Menibeis under the
tine regulation.
The Society hopes to obtain much useful-in-
formation through the zeal and influence of those
of their fellow subjects throughout the Province
who are ambitious to promote its welfare, and

eAroe,tl: reCpest CVOly ti;
ictld his 'Aid iu ftfrtherity2, the oHirct iq view.

IVe happy to fail that the SC.IOII in this
province bteb ',available for a7,ticultiire.
Thronghour the coontiy, tlie 'usual iclantity of
seed, ;it least. has been poi inn') the t'l,,nnt'l, anti
in this neighbourhood, the young loOkb
extte:nely cell. Vegetatiots, generally, is about
tell days farther advanced than Ut the t;atile petiod
last year.::-
Abont five lonnin.4l sett lets have alre-nrly arrived
in this Pi oyinee since the opening of the inlyigation.
They consist, generally, of men in the plime or
life, trained up to some entployinviit in
whitli they haves:l,yd in6ney enough to pity their
%Nish them all a welcome:,
;t11:1 kve are stile that every one. who wighes well
to the pro-pvHty of the country, \VIII he ready to
give thein all the enemir.agement that eirtiini-
stances will permit. the formation of an asso-
ciation in this city, for atiOttling blformatiOn and

assistance to emigrants, woulA be a, benevolent
and extremely useful undertaking. It ought to
consist of members that cannot be suspected of
any views of private interest.