Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-10-16

lowing communication. The subject is
of the highest importance to the farmers
of this state; and it is hoped that many
of them will give their attendance at the
time and place proposed by our cores
pondent.
TO THE FARMERS OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.
| address you on a subject of the first
importance to the prosperity of the state,
and in which you are particularly inter-
ested. The peculiar situation of this
country, differing SO essentially from all
the new countries situated to the east OF
it, whilst it affords the greatest facilities
to settlements, requires certain change
in the habits of the settler, which few for
some time understand, or can adapt
themselves to. Instead of the labor of
clearing of the forest, as in other new
countries, we here find farms prepared
for cultivation. There is no need for
the grubbing hoe, the ak, or the coulter,
to prepare the soil--the bar share plough
alone does the work.
Most of us having emigrated from
states Astounding in forests, where we
have from our infancy been accustomed
to wage a war of determination against
them, the force of habit i'll general is SO
strong that we cannot at once lay 1t aside
when we come here; and thus it is, that
we often see an excellent farm essentially
injured by the destruction of its timber,
before its owner is well aware of the
change of his situation. Many of us,
too, having removed SO far, we have
found it impossible to bring along with
us the most valuable breeds of domestic
animals, and the most approved farming
and garden seeds, and fruit trees.
We have, scattered through our popu-
lation, which is made up ofpersons from
all the states of the union, and from ma
ny of the nations of Europe, individuals
who have considerable information on
the subject of agriculture, which they
have acquired from long experience in
this country, or have brought 18th them
from countries in which it is better I'M
derstood than in this. To collect this
information, and to publish it, for the
good of all, would certainly be highly
beneficial. This can be best done by
forming an .Agricultural Society. The
objects Of such society would be hume
rous. Ii would collect all the informa-
ton the individual members possessed,
as we'll as that derived from cores
pondence with other agricultural socie-
ties; and at its stated meetings have it
published for general information. 1t
would bring together the farmers OF the
state make them personally acquainted
with each other; and excite laudable
spirit of emulation and inquiry. 1t would
collect and distribute the most valuable
farming and garden seeds, and fruit trees;
encourage and facilitate the introduction
OF the best breeds of domestic animals,
by premiums, and by importation from
abroad, as soon as the society obtained
the necessary funds. 1t would procure
models of the best and most approved
agricultural implements, and assist the
farmer to get them at the lowest price at
which they can be furnished-Point out
the simplest and best modes ofploughing
and bringing into cultivation the prairie
lands, as we'll as the most economical
enclosures, and the most comfortable
cheap houses, where both timber and
stone are difficult to be procured. To
encourage and assist the increase OF do
mestic manufactures, on the success OF
which the prosperity of the western
country SO essentially depends, would be
prominent object with such a society.
And in country so level as ours, and
where good mill-seats are SO scarce, and
where the damming up the streams is SO
injurious to the health of the inhabitants,
it would be fit subject for the society
to inquire whether it would not be advan-
tageous to substitute, to great degree,
steam, wind, or animal power, in place OF
water, to propel our mills. The society
would also become the depository for
every thing connected with the natu-
raj history of the state; collecting spe-
cimens of every thing curious or valua-
BILE, and would assist in discovering and
Analysing the mineral productions, with
which the country in many places
abounds.
Believing that society we'll conduct
ed, with these objects in view, would be
of great general and individual utility,
invite the farmers of Illinois to meet at
Kaskaskia, on Wednesday the 10th of
November next, to establish an Agricul-