Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-23
RICHMOND. JUNE)o3.
TRANSACTIONS OF The AGRiCULIU.
RAJ SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA.
lcoNrINpED.l


hseu . xl,ibited an ATTEMPT will now he made
10 take a general view OF the difficulties to be
encountered by those WHO ann al general re-
formation.
Agriculture differs from most other arts in
this, that there are few definite aud general
principles 10 regulate its practice i'm every
situation. and under all circumstances in which
land holders may be placed. Thus, system
and practices growing out OF II, WHICH may he
perfectly well adapted 10 one country, will
often upon trial, he found almost totally map
plicable to another; SO many exceptions being
necessary TO be calculated for variations in
soil climate, state of society, and even gov.
eminent. Hence ii becomes sub -ct of great
difficulty, requiring considerable sagacity, aud
a very discriminating judgment to select, at
ter all is known in regard 10 foreign agrienl
ture that can be learned. such methods as will
hest suit our own situations and circumstan-
ces. The numerous failures in i'll directed
efforts to apply these modes, have gone far
Their, il is believed than any Thing else. 10 dis
courage the study aud practice of agriculture
AS connected with science: the witnesses of
these failures strangely contonndng book
farming Gas il is caed) with the errors of
blanderRg practitioners, which errcrs are
always, but most urJustiy pamed upon the
books from whence they are said 10 Toe defiv-
ed. Hence those who consult bnoks in aid of
their agricultural Efforts and those who rely
altogether on their own practice, get divided
into two distinct CASTS, as almost any to be
found in HindoStan itself; and the contumely
and contempt most cordially reciprecated be-
tween them, form an iusurmountabIe barrier
10 mutual benefits. Fashion too, that most
iespotic of all legislators, has. until very lately
interposed her authority against all scientific
men, and of course all pretenders to science
devOting any part of their time TO The study of
agriculture. as constituting a most essential
part of useful learning. And yet the slightest
reflection must convince us. that in this way
alone. can the permanent Improvement and
skiltul culture of the soil, ever Become gene
raj. Startling, absurd as the declaration
may appear to some, no man can become first
rate agrcnturast without some knowledge
at least of chemistry, if not of botany also
Bntin preachng the necessity of either, man
subjects himself, with many, TO the imputation
of something little short of lunacv Bookish
men however, should not think hard of this
prejudice against " hook farming" which is
nothing more than installing the effect for the
cause: AN error very often committed by them.
selves, For If they UiU neglect, or despise
agriculture or pursue it with carelessness and
indifference, they must necessarily fail in an
hundred Instances. where one of your practi
cal men las they are called will fail once
Every such failure of the book-farmer who
generally holds his unread brother i'm much
nnmerited contempt, is noted and published
by him with infinite eXultatiou, and always as
cribed to the precept, rather than to the prac-
tice, TO the bookrule itself instead ofits mis-.
application. And yet there is nothing more
demonstrable. than that, Gall other circumstan-
ces being alike) the man who has knowledge
ofheory, with equal attent ton 70 practice must
at tue expiration of given time, become
verySuperior agrcuturalistto the other. The
the subject, which has been accommodating for
ages, in addition to his own personal observa.
fion and experience, which constitute the sole
reliance of the other.
how this lamentable state of things is 10 be
Temedied, is more than The wisest of ms, l be.
iIe'e, can certainly tell, so much requires to be
unIe, That the first efforts al reformation will
prove very dIsheartening. In addition too, 10
all the inseParabie difficulties connected with
nrst attempts, or endeavoTS to revive a falling
cause, there are obstacles in this case among
us Vifg'uians, L apprehend, of no ordinary
magnitude in certain traits Of national Cllarac-
ter. For example, we are, fear. deplorably
eehcIeht IN that kind of much enduring perse-
VerAnce which reared the dykes of Holland,
ana tertiiiSed the barren rocks of some of our
SisIer STATES 10 the east And what is full as
Dad, me opposite diseases OF too CHI and too
httie creuulity have nearly divided our whole
community OF cultivators into two classes al.
most equally inefficient. One portion, which
no borrow term from accelerated moralist)
may ne caliedS the Goodenoughs" exhibit the
most resoiute and unconquerable fOndness for
on customs, cherished by them with a venera.
tioh iuly proportioned to their antiuHty ::
whist the other, who may be designated the
hooDS hoTSIcals, keep more hobby horses than
any people under The sun, and ride them with
smore vigorous; merciiess pertinacty whilst the
~ idstsi 10 change the opinions of the first
either by demonstration or persuasion. is
qnitc as hopeless, as have been the uuadra
tn'e or The circle, or the discovery of The Inn
E"uue ana constant mutation seems the in
only 10 be driven from their Businesses by the
gradual encroaohments of unnotiCad improve.
hents, creeping on half century at a time
az" s'euiIng lmperceptlbly into the places of
thoSe venerable customs, the number OF whose
oeNotees all devourinG time is constantly di-
min'Shing; whilst the quick-sver-like mobility
ana ana testIess vivaclty of the latter, are mcapa
nIe oi oeing retained long enough in any one
position to effect the slightest ne rn,anent Sond
ihese last, take every thing by spirits and
h,, one ienih part of the expence and
tronOie whlch they frequently dissipate i'm
~ hiohihs among half dozen different OBJ
Jects, ~ bestowed for few years on the single
one ol agriculture, would bring that one ~
considerable degree of perfection and more
IMAM all would tend to form steady habits of
ul,Sent application to the certain, although
gradual Improvement of our husbandry. But
all their general movements in pursuit. Of new
projects; or ia fitul efforts to improve, or per
iect Ola ones, resemble epdemcs, more than
tnei 10 any uniformly increasing amendments
,n their condition and habits: and those move.
ments cease, or intermit in the same sudden
ano unaccountabie manner with the diseases
MhICh ihey so strongly resemble. The unex.
ampied rapidty with which enormous fortunes
nave oeen accumulated i'm our country, Great
lng a widespread, devouring spirit of specula.
non, may be one cause perhaps of this pern-
C!uUs versatility, and of the apparent ilcapa-
10y TOT profession which promises al least.
Dul gradual although sure Improvement in
sion of wealth
~ {" not, believe six years ago, when oue
~ tnese epidemics, cbristened by some hu.
u'lHt' me merlno-mania," peTvaded almost
very nook, and corner Of our country and
VIM such alarming viruIeuce did ii rage that
Ho' Oily mans polilicks, but even his under.
.%muIuE anu ms patriotism we're, in great
n',ssWe tested by the degree of infection
winch ne appeared to have taken NV Lord
tlef bread -crusis, which he ATTEMPTED TO
IOIce npou his brothers. Jack aud Martin az
meat and drink OF all kinds woud not haye
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