Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1841-12-27
TIE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
10 The General assembly IF Thginid.

ed q
OF the month"; and is now sitting. The members Of the
Board welded prompt obe,cnee 10 the call Of the Ex
cculr appointing them 10 then present situations irun
ng entertained and strong conviction of the benefits
which such Institution would confer on our cOinmu-
nity if be- conducted ndicous!y, and with zcal
arng 10 the magnitude oi the Interests committed to
ITS care.
Every one whasc attention has been turned ~ the sub
ect must be familiar with the great advantages derived
from such establishments In the old world. Great Br
tain especially oNempfes these advantages: long the
pioneer whatr promotes the comfort OF mankind she
has within the last fifty years, which just the
existence If her Board Of Agriculture, increased the pro
auctions ot her soil hundred per cent-an incrcasc
owing by general concurrence there, mainly 10 the au
dable and well directed exeriions Of that Board in the
discharge Of It's high duties. 1t Is not assuming too
much 10 promise ourselves the like happy results from
the hbors Of "A similar institution, in field of more aus
pcluus incidents and circumstances We have abundant
material ON which 10 commence work, and the first
purpIsG OF the bard IS 10 draw together with the vast
mass OF information connected with husbandry, which
lies scattered through the country, and being confined
comparatively few, is thereby essentially lost to the
community The facts and principles collected, sub
lccted u the scrutiny and examination Of the Board;
which IN theory AT least and it Is TO be hoped prac-
ticc too, viii he composed OF the most intelligent hus-
bandmcn, may be dlgesed into agricultural code
suited to the moral and ply steal circumstances Of Nr
gna and enabling AVOID the evils which have come
from pursuing systems adopted SUCCESSFULLY clscw here
but often inappcable 10 region Of country Such
code, II fortunately prepared must be Of nestlmabe
uc especially 10 the young farmer Just entering on his
course for, he is thereby put in possession Of
whatever SCIENCE and experience have developed in con
DcXlun with his calling, and go confidently on in
stead Of laboring through life withou,a guide as with
ont and not nntreqneny with the entire failure
Of all his forts. The Board hopes that the digest may
be afforded to the public price low that every far
amongst ns be able TO possess himself Of it
They would illustrate the value of dilusing correct in
iornlllon bearing agricultural practices, By reference
toour great staple tobacco, which visit to the ware
houses will show, is selling 1t from two 10 twelve dol
lars; and although other causes may exert partial nnu
cncc IN producing this wide difference it may be safely
affirmed that II Is chiefly owing TO unequal skill and
knowledge in the cultiyaors Now the average crop of
Virginia 5O,O OO hogsheads: could these be- made Of
the best quality, by improved cultivation and treatment
gam OF upwards OF million year to the State might
be- effected The same considerations in less dcnree
perhaps, are applicable 10 all our great staples
II Is with unlegned regret that the Board feels itself
compelled 10 draw the attention of the Legislature to the
condition vi the Commonwealth and especially its Eas
tern portion Ours Is unparalleled in the progress
Oh human affairs country fertile in most oc
nal climate with advantages peculiar to ourselves in our
numerous and fine nayiaable streams and all these bless
ngs under the protection OF order and eqna laws bccom
mT dtpopulate spectacle without It's like " hateyer
other may have contributed this mournt result
all viii readily refer the prncpa agency therein to an in
ud clous hus andry To remove this blghtinocvi WILDE
the great object OF the Board 1t docs not disguise from
ITSELF however. HAT nnaided and alone its efforts will b.
unavalng. 1t must have the constant and cord a cuopera
tion OF all CLASSES and the fostering councnancc Of the
legislature Agriculture should be the first object of civ
zcl man Its condition is fair test of the state of s9c
ETY. when II IS detective all conditions sucr-w hen it
prspcrs all pariake of tsprospery Every atro, should
esteem II among his first duties do all in his power for
lis advancement the apathy too prevalent every where
should casa impulse should be impaired by the
Jealous friends of agriculture and the public mind d
Ncrtcd from engreasing devotion TO party politics
should &c made perceive that this great interest has
claims on It's attention for while the chickering's, the rise
and ial of Heated Tartzans, and their bancul influ
cncc on Shrcy shall be forgotten be remembered only
to be dcpored the achievements Of agriculture, by the
and OF science and experience, will endure forever and
their progress will dispense blessings in all coming tune To
human kind. The Board mdulges the hope that its Ia
borS viii not be altogether nnayallng in producing this
new direction of sympaes and feelings 50 propitous to
the success OF agriculture.
II VIII not have been expected by the Legislature be-
cause II mpracticabc, that the Board at present
convention, should report in detail the state of apr
culture. 1t has adopted, hoped measures that will
cabo to do al It's next Among other steps,
they have resolved to appoint each county committee
To DC composed Of the NEST successful farmers Gin the
selection of whom the Board asks the aid of the delegates
from the several countios,) 10 whom enquiries on all
branches Of hushandry will be addressed and further
that the members OF the Board WILL far practicable
traverse their respective strics, convokng the people
To particular points, from the most intelligent of whom
much valuable information may be gathered and calling
INTO action whatever oil zeal to be found in the land
(Scc the documents marked A. and b.
The imp Caant, but unavoidable duty devovcs on the
Board of slgnyng 10 the Legislature that OMISSION
unlcsss speedily corrected, may be fatal one occurs in
the act creating the Board Not dollar was appropria
ted to deiray even its contingent and inevitable Npen
sos Patriotism. to the extent Of great sacrifices NAV
be successfully appealed to, in perilous cxigcnccs Of
the State; but is sacred fund.- which should he left
untouched, to fit occasion, TO harrass it in times of
peace is believed 10 be njudcous as certainly is u
Just II is enough for the citizen give his time TO the
public service, without reward but to require of him.
that he should leave his home, travel great distances
and IN addition bear his own expenses, is much A
ny undertaking must fail which upon such basis
The sum requisite To cover the expenses Of the mem
bcrs OF the Beard compensation to the corresponding Sec
rotary with postage and stationary is small and utter
" insufficient compared with the benefits which the
Board Of Agriculture calculated to dispense And the
the furhcrnce of agriculture will repay its hundred
fold Respectfully submitted
JAMES BARBOUR President.
A)
Tho committee TO whom referred the consideration
Of general plan of early operations for the board of ap
rcuturc, have performed that duty and beg leave to
present the result Of their deliberations in the following
report:
In considering the different modes of procedure and of
operation which might be benefciay adopted by the
board OF agriculture your committee were bound to have
strict regard to the peculiar circumstances Of this BODY
and the entire deficiency of all pecunary aid from the
government Tor forwarding the great objects of the esab
hshment ofthlS state Institution. 1t therefore pro-