The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-03
AGRICULTURE is without doubt the moit

AGRICULTURE is without doubt the mon
important occupation III Virginia. As there is
much more land in proportion to the number
OF our inhabitants, than there is in any of the
civilized countries of Europe, the number OF
our agrlculturits i'll proportion to the whole
number of our people mutt alto be much greater.
Mott of our labour and capital will be employed
IN cultlvating the productions of the earth :
while mott of our manufactured work will be
obtained from other countries. So long, there
fore, as this relative combination OF cautes ihall
exit 70 long as there is more labour and cap-
tai in other countries in proportion to the eX-
tent OF their foil, than what exits in our own !;
70 long ihali we have fewer manufacturers, fewer
agents of flow and diltant commerce, and
greater number of agriculturiits, than what
theie nations will contain. Even in fome parts
OF our own countrywide numerical ratio between
theie different claiies of capitalists and la5orerS
has coriiderably varied. The number of inha-
bitants IN MaiIachuetts and Connecticut have
been eliminated at about So to every fquSre mile,
in the year '95. The number OF the people of
Virginia does not probably exceed or 10 to
every fquare mile.--Hence we may difcover the
reafon why greater numbered the manufactures
have been eftablithed in the northern ttates, and
why more ofthe branches of commerce have at
traced their attention, however flow in their re-
turns, or however ditant the ports 20 which
they have been carried.
We may then pronounce the agricultural inte-
ret to be the leading interelt Of Virginia. We
may alfo perceive what a coniiderable period
muit elapfe, before it ccafcs TO preerve this dig
riiied character. We ihall fee mott OF our great
foreiS levelled to the earth, many Of our marines
drained, mott OF our cultivated foil fill more
c oulouily fettledby the intluarious cultivatorS,
before the annual produce Of our mercantile &
manufacturing labour ihall bear any con6dera-
bic proportion TO the produce of our land.
All the improvements of farming mutt conie-
quently be regarded rs new benefits conferred
upon our Gate. Hence whatever tends to intro
duce thote improvements, inutt peculiarly con-
tribute TO our national wealth.
But cur ownimprovcments inthiS fundamental
art have not as yet been eXteniive and brilliant.
We have not as yet adopted, or zeaouily pro-
iecuted any expedents by which new refearch-
es may be made, or old diicoverie5 may DC in
corporated with the general mind. In England
tor intance, they have tocetics inittuted for the
dituhon or diicoyery of agricultural knowledge.
The mot enlightened minds combine together ::
they write memoirs particular fubjeGtS, or
receive them from others: and at regular peri
DDS, theie experiments and reIearcbes are given
to the public. When the fociety has once ac-
CURED iuch diftinsuihe honor, as TO confer
which appears in their works, many will fire.
-quent)y be tempted 10 infilute experiments, for
the purpoie of acquiring this homer. At other
times, tRey direct the refearches of the cutivator
to particular iubiects, by comforting medal or d
pecuni2ry compensation upon the author of the
beh treatife on thefe auctions. But filch atIoc-
atoms have feldom been inititutcd in our own
itat>. Here no fuch combination ofintciiigenCe
has ever received a proper degree of maturity.
Alt the improvements which are made by midi
Viduals in the practice of farming, are received
from the toiitary iabours OF fome other expert
Inentahtt, or from the annals, memoirs and trea.
tics OF tone more active or intelligent countries.
Two methods therefore occur, by which the
agricultural knowledge OF our own fate may be
extended circulating the discoveries made il
other parts OF the world, anti afiting the folita
ny labours Of the Virginia farmer. II is in the
power of the Editor of newspaper TO contri-
butte his humble labours to the attainment Of
each of thoie objects. 1t is in lis power to
make extracts from foreign works, and preient
thcm to the confederation of his readcrs.-The
iecond object may be obtained by the ex-
ecution OF the following plan: \ farmer
has made fome new 'difcovery, or he WITH
cs certain faGl to he Investigated, which
may improve fome branch of agriculture. 1t is
in his power to communicate the iirit through
the medum OF uewipapcr, and thus make it
common to many other farmers. 4 public pa
per ALTO prefents him with an eafy method of
publihng the fecond in the form of problem,
with an appropriate Placement of his doubts, and
thus exciting the curiolity and attention of other
enquiIers iuto nature.
The Editor fthe EnqNirer, while he refpe6t-
fully preents this plan to the confederation his
countrymen, is deiirous approving to them that
heis not inattentvr to his own lhare ofthe duty.
Though he is completely unacquainted with the
practical branches of farming, and therefore in
competent to make very appropriate Elections,
he intends to make vocational extracts from the
NOT celebrated works on this iubiect. Ii is al
mott 1uPerfuous for him to add, that he Ihall
deem few communications more valuable than
thole which are addre1cd to him by intelligent
farmers, explaining any new difcoyery which
they may have made, or propofng any new
problem, which they with to be Investigated.
TIE following exfraH is tron' tbe P3ytoi2gia Of
DR.. DaryoiH AJsqO dst6itioa5 are I45joiHed
BY the Editor.
APPLICATION OF MANURES.
A. what era or Rage of this decomposition
of ve-c4 a,le and animal fubnaucrs can tbev