Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-27
SATURDAY, jan. 22.-(Proceedipgs Deferred. 1
AGRICULTURAL PROFESSORSHIP SC

On motion of MIR. Rlves of Campbell, the folio wing
Report of the Committee Of Agriculture and Mauufac-
lures was taken up:
The COMMITTEES on Agriculture and NJ anufaciures,
have, in obedience resolution them referred en-.
qured into the expediency of pevidng funds for III
endowment OF Proessorship Of Agriculture at the
University OF Virginia according to the original plan
thereof, and for The purchase of small tract OF land,
to he used as Pattern Farm Aud have come to the
following Report and Resolutions thereon.
This enquiry naturally divides into two branch
es-hrs, az to the Pro'essorsbip Of Agrcultpre-and
secondly, to the Pattern Farm And your Commit
tee asks to be INDUCED, whilst il briefly assigns the
reasons on which its first Resolution is founded
A Professorship Of Agriculture. at the Common.
wealth. University, central to population and Ter
rory, would have an immediate tendency to elevate
the character of the Culivators of the Soil to place
the science OF Agriculture equal footing with
other arts and sciences to unfold aud exhibit the kim
dred connection subsstng between this and other eel
ences by which each derives aid and support from the
others and to explode the fatal error, emansng from
undue prejudice, and deroga,ng from the mobiles, pur-
suit of man. that the AgrcultNralist knows enon Oh
when he knows how to SOW, and when 10 reap" The
Professor would by corresponding with the most intel
ligeDt and successful agricuuists in thv State collect
noImation of all thrir experiments and be able 10
poin! ou, the cause of their failure success, with
their advantages, and the applicability OF the prn
cples TO other branches OF Agriculture. He wo. II,
in like ascertain with precision the properties
OF our soil and sub-'o and The character OF our Gil
mateand thence be enabled TO indcate superior and
preferable mods of culture to those in use, AMI
articles OF agricultural product, 70 the growth Of which
country Is adapted.
Virginia lie the o.est Of the coni~dsrated Safes and
yields TO in natural fertility Of soil geDalty OF
climate, or value and variety OF produci-io which,
may be superadded her noble rivers, bounding, inter
seeing, aud penetrating every portion Of her Terrific
ry-And che has besp and II. almost exclusively an
Agricultural Country. Yet these great physical adj
vantages have not produced spouing benefits
She il not prosperous agriculture Itself L0rguisheS :;
and all the interests dependent en- IL, There must be
causes, which have opstated to blight such natural adj
v4niases. And TO ascertain aud remove them, would
be an achievement in LsglaIion constituting an in
teresting epoch ia our history.
The htst point Of importance Of those causes, on
which your Committee would commen' az connected
with the present enquiry, L. the low estimate witch
bis pursuit is held. The attention Of this Community
Is disproporon ably attracted 10 what are gratUously
Termed the learned profestion-. The DOd, dszzied by
he brilliant success OF few, who, by uniting untriog
industry and unwavefing perseverance,, with superior
iatural endo~meuts, have obtained lofty einInence
their profession and in the consideration OF te ooun
ry, overlook the fate OF that Iree maofiyi who, ia
Dg their professional sxertons pass their days in
iapeess poverty and ob'cufiiy otiscts OF rOinmis
NJ ION rather fh4n Of emulation. II overlook, teo, d
h imucftspt fact, that those professions are flied Ia
,vatBoyiog Whilsi. the other hand, the field Of
tgfieultnte bundles, various and open invite their
,upiichiion and promise ample reward 90 tboss who
bling to thei, culture skill aud Industry.
The depressed eondltioo OF AemeUltufe may be ~
'fbotsd, in. no small degree, TO another consideration