Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-27

I,
perpatuiy ot III other. IL will readily he perceived
that your Committee aiudc here 10 the error,
that an Agric" drst may not only proper wilton,
information, but that knowledge necessarily unh'- him
for his pursuit. PERHAPS county (ness Sister
States to The South aud South Wet, bs similaoly siu
ated) has been ,iur.d this mistaken upres-
for, opinion II should not BE- ,ermed-sDd this
furious and cegradng reheciion-for il saps the four
ds'ioo OF pursuit. most suitable to fresneD aud q
calls the int ectual character of The better part of the
human timiiy--'h'n Virginia. Bn 'is an error more
egrrgous than general. lnorma lon ani kno viedge
eminenty contribute to success. in every walk OF lite
AMI scarcely ss useful AID TO the Agrl-
cutura'ts than to others. To 'cooiuc his operations
advan,sgrously, N. farmer sboulj be iamlirly C
quaiued with the principles OF HE pursuit., and with
the practices Of the most eminent Tor thetr skill and
success In Agriculture. Simple these suppo et
by many TO he. compe,en, knowledge Of them, IL at
tanned only by mind, stored With great variety of i'm
crmalion aud after years OF study. observation. aud
experience. He shonid be acquainted with the pro-
peres OF the coil aud sub-scil; wits the character OF
the ciinate and ,s Influence the ohjsc's of hi
and labour with the chemical properties OF various
manures the elevation and sspecto Of his farm the
rneliorsting and exhaustng influence OF various
ducts; the proper routine OF crop-; aud with end.
less variety OF subjects connected with his noble Sci
.nce. Aui, although strong head may, un,augbt, At
cbievs much, yet how infinitely advantageous snc
an one would 1t be; to cunmence his practical career,
with full knowledge Of i,sprncples; aud The praci-
COS OF his predecessors ari contemporaries, at houe aud
abroad.
her con.idsrat support tia claims Of the lead
ing object OF the resolution tavor able considera-
ton. The Fund tor tb- encouragement aud difu-ior
OF Literature, formed, TO considerable extent,
from the cootribu'ions OF Agriculture but the small
disbursement requisite for the endowment of this Pro
fessorship would be ies' than ihe of The of
the ,hai produc ID il. Reason and Justice uOitr t.
demand Tor this important branch Of knowledge equal
aid to that dispensed TO othCr+for s roriy
other in cre'ts sso piranou1 that they derive clain
10 consideration as they foster aod advance THE and
is 80 comprehensive, hat every other interest
uilly depends this, an reflect la h.ir con-
dion that OF Agriculture.
Your Committee have not, however, the means OF
ascerainng the expense attending the es'ab'ishment
OF p ot.ssa ship: whether il my be thal,
portion OF the Salary OF The Professor though il il
informed, from respectable source, that that vii!
p'obab bly, constitute the amount OF the expense. Be.
sides, IL may be advisable to unite this with come
branch taught there,-that Of Naurdl Philosophy
or Chemistry. for example III nee your Committee
would nd the subj the confederation OF
the Recor aud Visitor, aud request them 10 pres
pan m'st jrdcous for economy aud if;lency, and
an estimate OF the expense.
Willis, your COMMITTEES would not, for the reasons
last assigned, recommend the Immediate endowment,
OF Pfo'es,orshp OF Agriculture, al the University,
but would place the ulum't fate of that proposition or
the advantage compsred with the costs, When the
latter can be satisfactorily ascerained; It may not
be unprGti' able to advert lone WIN h
speak patience aud we'll perseverance,
our eNerons to promote the interests of Agriculture
in this Commonwealth: The efforts the part of pub
lie Func'ionaries TO improve and advance the Agricn
ture OF this State, appear to have been coniosd ptn
cpax TO two periods in the early settlement
the colony, when reward for products OF Ag-
rcuure, were offered by Governors aud Commanders,
with the twolold view OF deiachng the emgranls
from the alurug attractions OF hunting, fishing, and
searching for the precious metals and OF attaching
them the interests of the soil and Of gnar order
lfe-Seeondy, shortly preceding, and Immediately
subsequent, to the Revolution, when similar means
were employed for the purpose Of preparing the coun-
try to sustain the arduous struggle in which il
about TO engage, and to secure real independence after
that of the nation hai been successfully asserted But
for the ast forty year very little have been
done or ATTEMPTED by Pn5lc Authorities OF the State.
TO improve this interest However curious and in
strucve ths inquiry Which would trace and develops
the causes which dvertng the attention of the peo.
nla anthn nj
tages 10 be derived by udicous egislative measures
and atoms in behalf OF Agriculture, left it and
its Interests to the uaassisted efforts OF individual inc
r nation and means, yet such inquiry, valuable in its
place. is foreign 10 the duty at present occupying the
iabours of your Committee Blu, the c6nse quences of
neglected agriculture TO be in all parts of the
Safe, and in strkiogly than ia the Oldest.
Nofertility of soil other natural advantages have
been able to withstand the continued OF ujudcious
and mprovident cultivation. Land, fertile aud
prod ucye is now exhausted, and though susceptible
81 of reconciliation, the requisite agrcultsra knowledge
D. and skill are rarely to be found 40 impoverished
lie soil yields scanty and mpoverishiDg product The
he consequence need not be euumerated-lhey
m and elt-Many OF our Citizens abandoning the
place OF their nativity, and seeking homes in the far
ie distant West Under such circumstances the enuni-
ries emphacaly address Themselves t, every reflect
a. ing and Patriotic mind why does icuure LAM u-h!
I'd aud what il the remsdy IL has arisen from CO.
!" verDmendl interference-for the authorities OF our
10 State have for forty year, neglected this great iote
rest; aud we see in The condition of the wandering
tribes around us, the result of spending the uuasS
sisted efforts OF indvidu IL. Aud the prosperous
Ia Agriculture Of some of sister Safes posse
inferior natural capacities, skingiy Illustrate the
Il, nefts accrung tom vie, povdeu and psternaI ls
n gatiOn this subject. These considerations unite
IL in recommending perseverance TO our eSerons &c
he revive and stimulate Agriculture, but adnouish us "a
m the exercise of liberal slliw for differences Of
opinion; and to creumspecon 10 the choice OF means.
m Tue generation OF this Sale has had
benefits Of the provident agency OF GoverHncn. in
l. guiding fostering, and stimulating, Agricultural en-.
Il terpze have they had opportunity o. person.
10 ally witnessing the salutaTy Influence Of Government
lin lnts in fla HAT
in nded and csnduete measures in bebaof this
paramount may without great prudence and
forecast by being misapprehsnded rotdrd instead Of
/. advancing its real and paramount good.
ID Haviug mentioned the eecoOd branch OF the enGui|
~ which has for ts object Pattern Form, your Com
ujtee contents Itself with Tenakng iha il peFcsives
At this time, advantages likely t. result from IT,
! ha' would Justify the expense.
Resolved, therefore, the opinion Of this Committee;
hat tie Rector aud Visitors OF the University OF thie
State, be requested 20 present. in their next annual
report Plan for Proiessorshp Of Agtcnlture, With
a statement Of the nscessary and probable eXPenco
thereof
Resoipcd as~ Tina, It is inexpsdisu At pres'nt, 20
provide funds for the pUrehase of email r9ct % Lend
10 he used az Pattern Farm.
, Mr. Barbour requested tie attention Of the Hotsa
for iew moments while hs submitted his views Of
ts srbiest in the hops OF lar raising IL III The es
nation e the membefs, "a to iaduce them 10 give II
some .hare of their reflection. II nigh, be that be
coOsidete the subject important than others dds
~ agriculture was his pursuii sud one ia which he
took great delight He might therefore DO under an
Illusion Bu', " IL were 20. stII he would say, hat
there was no subject Of greater importance 10 ne state
ttan that OF agriculture. IL was The boast OF virginia
that she was an agricultural STATE IN cOnradisu0ctou