The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-03-20
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

Toknow that county has formed within it,
4 well sustained and properly conducted Agrl-.
cultural Society, is to know that the people Of
that county are well informed, enterprising, pa
ssios!e and prosperous. No other class ofinhab
..itants will sustain one. Ono of the greatest
ehndrances to- improvements in husbendry, has
ever been the existence Of strong preludicea in
the minds Of Formers against every innovation
of these practices and modes Of tilIage which
shabit has formed and custom endeared. 'Ehe o,
.psration Of Agricultural Societies is admirably
calculated to break in upon this formidable bar
rier, and to do away those preudcss Transmits
ted from sire to son. which,, to wide extent,
have induced farmers to believe that to follow
in tho footsteps of their 'psedecesso1' is to a,-
tam the ne plus ultra ofagricultura science. As
long az a man thiaks his system perfect hs is in
capable Of Improvement: and therefore, the first
lesson to be learned in this as we'll as every o.
thsr sgienceois, TO know that we know but little.
Sir isaac Newton, after having perfected his sys
teni Of astronomy, said that he had only been
gathering pebbles upon the shores Of the great
ocean Of philosophy, whose depths yet remains
cd 70 be explored. So it 10 with the learned ag-
'.ricuIturss whthss read and reflected and cx-
ysrimsntsd upon the nature, growth, properties
ent fKmiliss and varieties Of plants, while those
1wad'havs read, and reflected, and experimental
+ieastf and who never once think that there is a.
ny other mode TO pursue, as each succeeding
ysar returns, than those which they had pursu-
cd before, ever think themselves most wise, and
consider that they have learned enough when
they have learned 10 initiate. Where Agricul-
raj Societies are IN successful operation they in.
fuse spirit Of emulation over Tcommunity-and
by bringing the different members of societies
together by institutns comparison between
the differant modes Of procedure in growing
grain and rearing stock, and demonstrating the
supsriotity~Of soue ways over others, spirit
81 Of inquiry becomes Awakened which the most
self DOneeitedicannoi withstand, nor the strong.
EST prejudi:es encounter without being eventu-
ally oysilhrewn. ....
'Among the objects to be accomplished by
.uuch.sociotieS, is the influence they may e1er, to
procure the enactment Of laws which may ad.
vance, or tho repeal Of thoss which may be con
sdered preudicial TO the interest Of agriculture.
II il q subject Gf doep regret that 90 few coun-
ties in tllis'state have yet become sufficiently u
Weakened to the farming interest, and sufficient
" impressed with the important influences tha
such societies exert ovor il, to unite thus togeth,
per for the promOtion Of their common good
No class Of community need expect particula
legislative enactmenis in their favor unlesa the,
ask for them unless they manifest sufficien
zeal to warrant the belief in the Legislature tha
they will improve the privileges conferred upol
sthem.
By having such societies formed large nor
'tious of community are enabled to act IN con
.ssrt The mora successfully to petition or reno
4u,rate, and If necessary to exert an inhuenc
in the election Of men who are known TO be "a
,voratle eaiddisposed to promote those end
which thew ore dssirOus Of accomplishing.
PLOW BOY.