Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-09
FOR TIRE ENQUIRER.

pursuant 10 notice, for the purpose OF forming an
Agricultural Society. A. Hankns, E-q. was called
to the chair, and William +. Pesrce, appointed
Secretary.
A preamble and constitution were offered for
the consideration of The meeting, by James Semple,
jun. Esq. Several alterations OF unimportant
character were suggested by various persons, and
accepted by the mover. and the question being
taken the preamble and every clause OF the con-
sitution separately, they were unanimously adopt
ed, follows.
We, the Undersigned, agree to associate to
geher as an Agricultural Society. We believe that
many and important bench will be derived from |
such an association.
Our objects are-Firs,, the advancement Of the |
farming interests generally. Secondly, the i'm
provement OF Agriculture: an6 thirdly, the i'm
provement OF The health of the inhabitants of Vir
ginia below the head of tids-waier- While mei-
chants and manufacturers in the pursuit OF their |
various occupations, are frequently brought to- |
gether, and consult and act one BODY, making |
known to government all their wants. forcing their
claims the attention of The public, and enlistng
them In their favor, by demonstrates, pe,iions
and publications of their opnons; and in fine, |
derive all the advantages which necessarily flow
from concerted acton-tbe farmers and planters
spread over vast extent OF country, at distance
from each other, and rarely associating ioge her
| as one body, seldom heard by the public and
never enjoy The advantages OF concert and union.
Their Interests, consequently, are of disregard
ed, IN the promotion OF schemes designed for the
advancement OF the manufacturing and commefcia
Interests - ilhough II would seem 90 obvious TO
admit oil dispute, that The farming interests in our
new Republics, are really the interests of the whole
people We propose TO ourselves, then, in he
iiist place, the benefits Of association and concert
as Farmers.
In The second place, consider that agriculture
Ill be greatly promoted by the distribution Of pr-
zes annually, among those farmers who produce,
from given number of acres, the creates, crops of
| indian corn, cotton, grass and other products of
the lower country, the gro ing OF which it may be
deemed important 10 encourage Also, by giving
p'izes TO those who rear the best horses oxen and
mules Tor the plough, and to those who may stand,
| within the limits Of the society, the best Stallion
| and Jack al moderate seasons
No' only WI! agricultural products and know
ledge OF sSIcultu al pursuits be greatly increased
| by these IaeanS, but last named but per-
haps, most important object in entering into this
association, may also, 1t is hoped, be attained to
great degree. Below the head of tide water tide
canal, and wind mills, we may safely assert, NAV
be made TO effect all our purposes of SAVING
grinding and manufacturing, generally. Our nu-
mefons ponds OF slasnan, fresh water then, may be
dispensed with, without serious inconyenienfe to
The people and the beds of the old ponds NAV
he converted into cornfieids and meadows Weld
Ing, from their fertility and moisture, immense
| H.
merous swamps, and we have extensive marshes
| and sunken grounds all of which as well az the
mill ponds, are fruitful sources of i'll health to the
inhabitants OF he adjacent country, Corning by
! Tar The larger portion of lower Vrgini.,) al the
same time tina, they are entirely useless although
they would prove an immense source If wealth 10
the owners, if cleared and drained These lands
are by far the fertile in our country and The
| only grass lands we have. The awarding prizes
10 those, who should raise The greatest quantity of
nay, or OF Indian corn, frsm Civ EN- number of
acres OF unimproved ground, wculd drive all
| competitors to this description of lands The
draining OF them, even If confined a, frs, TO few
OF Inc most enlerprising agricultursts, would yet
IN the end be productive of wonderful effects. II
would act in geometrcal ratio on further recla-
NATIONS, anc, o! course, In the proportion OIL
TIER agricultural products and the healthiness of
the country. II would not only spread informa-
non, and furnish the light Of example TO neishbors
owning land OF the same character, but the greater
portion OF any body OF land is drained, the more
easily is the remaining quantity reclaimed The
operation would be observed, by those most in
'erested In observing closely and Of course most
! APT 10 derive Information from IT. and when they
should attempt 10 apply the knowledge thus gained
10 their own contiguous land- they would find the
task much easier than anticipated from the circum-
stance above alluded to. We conceive, therefore
that we may confidently expect, that the aw arding
oil such prizes will go far to effect our last and
most important object in view. Our country is
prevented, only by the unheal,h,ness Of the region
ana the want OF enterprise among the citizens,
rom being The gaiden spot of Virginia Any
hing, then, which will encourage spirit of enter
prize and render The country more healthy must be
consIdereda great and lasting benefit to US and our
posterity.
For the present we adopt the following Cons
tuition:
L. Our Society shall be called the Agricultural
| Society of lower Virginia.
y Williamsburg shall be the place at which
the meetings of the Society shall be held
g. Annual meetings shall be held on the 2nd
Monday in March, and at such other times as the
President may appoint under the authority herein
after given them.
a. The members may vote in person or By
proxy, and nine votes shall constitute quorum
| D. The Officers shall be President, Vice Presi-
dent, Clerk, Treasurer and Steward, Who shall
hold their Offices twelve months and in case of
absence or inability ITO be judged Of by the Socie-
w OF any officer, his absence shall be supplied by
election, until be attends, or his disability is re-
moved.
| g. There shall he standing Committee Of Cor
respondence 10 consist of five members, any three
OF whom may act, TO be appointed in such manner
as the Society may determine.
| z. The elections shall be held at the regular
meetings in March, at which, also, the subjects for
prizes shall be fixed, and the necessary arrange
ments made for awarding them.
| 3. The President, or in case Of his absence or
| inability, the Vice President, may call q meeting
by advertisement Ia some paper OF extensive circu-
| lalion.
The members shall each pay every year two
l l,nllr a.,1a III II