Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-20

nual thousands squandered in local and trivial
legislation, while the great basis on which stands
the public prosperity, is wholly neglected
There is but one thing needul 10 make agr-
culture in Kentucky the surest road, both to
wealth and fame; and that is, TO raise the stan.
dard Of education among the farmers. When
this is done, our educated young men will not
all croud the learned professions, but will soon
find that the occupation of a farmer is more sure
than any other, to lead to competency and hon.
orable distinction. Whenever the opinion shall
prevail, that the cultivation Of the earth gives
greater scope for the exercise OF highly cult.
waited mind than any occupation in the world,
the landed interest will learn its true power. 1t
will have its statesmen and orators every where
in primary assemblies, and in legislative halls 10
defend end protect its interests. The vast ele.
mental power Of agriculture will then be brought
out Of that chaos, in which it has been SO long
buried, and shaped into system.
Behold the millions of minute sreamets,
issuing from the sponges Of the Alegany and
Rocky mountains, without any apparent con-
nexion! Yet, by and by, they form themselves
into thousand noble streams; and these thous
and unite their mighty volumes OF water in the
Father Of Rivers who pourS his resistIess floods
into the Ocean! So shall the scattered, and at
present, apparently disconnected interests OF the
farmers, from the Atlantic to the far west, and
iom the great Lakes to the great Gulf be formed
into union that will right(ully and safely con.
troll the destinies Of America and perhaps Of the
world.
This enlightened interest will not seek in the
least, TO depress the favor which manufactures
and commerce have in the government, but to
place their mother, agriculture, one step above
them. Then agricultural colleges, experimental
farms, geological surveys, reports on productive
industry, and premiums for new and improved
implements, will occupy the time of Congress,
and the State Legislatures.
We have seen, that all the eminent States OF
antiquity made agriculture the chief care Of their
governments. We have seen all the modern
nations Of Europe, lie in poverty and ignorance.
and despotsm, uatl they discovered that God
had connected the virtue, and intelligence. and
property Of mankind, with the cultivation Of the
earth; until they discovered that the power and
resources of the government must act directly
on the subject.
The question may be asked, in the promotion
Of agriculture, what should be left to individual
industry? and what should be performed by the
government! | answer, whatever individuals
can do, they will do, better than the government.
requires, should be done, and which is beyond
the means of individuals. should be performed
by the whole people, through their government.
The industry and finances Of France were in
wretched condition; the nation in poverty and
ignorance, until that country happened to have
great King and great minister; they saw what
was the matter. Henry the 4th and Sully ap.
piled the remedy; they applied the funds Of the
government to raise agriculture and by stimula.
ting a single branch Of industry, they raised
France to opulence. They gave bounties for
raw silk, and for rearing mulberry trees. The
result is, that besides the supply Of her own vast
consumption, she annually exports S25, 100000
worth Of silk. Thus, by the application Of
small premium, which no one felt, the prospects
Of France We're changed. The silk culture gave
an easy and pleasant employment to millions oil
INDECENT people, and created a vast home market
for all the products Of agriculture, and changed
the habits Of thep cople from Incidence to activity.
1t is now agreed that America is better adopted
to the cultuTo Of silk than Europe or Asia; and il:
perfectly certain, that judicous legislation would
introduce ii into these States to the saving Of the
drain Of $4,000, 900 Of specie, which we anu.
ally send to the East for that article. In our own
time, and within our own observation, the indus
try, finances and powers of the world have been
revolutionzed by the culture Of single plant,
lcotton) Russia was unknown among the civ
ilzed nations, until the government OF that coun.
try, by bounties, induced agrcultuvists from other
nations, to settle in their dominions. In 1888
Catherine I'd. established schools, and as early
as 1893, Russia became an exporter Of grain to
the amount Of millions of bushels. There are
now Americans in Russia conducting farming
operations on a large scale. Before the power
OF the Russian Government: was brought in aid
Of individual industry, in the promotion OF az.
riculture, there were but few fshermen's huts
on the Neva, where now stands the most splendid
capital in the world
Sweden was a semi-harbarous and halrsiarvci
nation until Charles the 18th, made agriculture
an affair Of State policy, and established Agri.
cultural Colleges.
Agriculture was in very low condition in
Austria until the sovereign Of that country dis.
covered the true basis Of legislation; and to make
the proper impression upon her subjects, Of the
Importance Of agriculture, she caused medals to
be struck and distributed among them, contain.
Ing this inscription, "Ihe art aDhicb aouriSies all
oLhcr arts"
The government Of England has incorporated
Agricultural Societies, and endowed them with
ample funds-geologcal and agricultural ser
voys are made-an analysis Of all the soils, with
the best modes Of improving lhen aud reports
descriptive Of all the modes Of industry and i'm.
PIGMENTS used, are made at the expense of the
government, aud England derives an income of
annual millions, by supplying the world with
her surplus live stock.
The distinction which | take Of wha. should
he left to individuals, and what should be perform
cd no the ooveruu,a,t il r,nio Tho va %, mani,