, 1841-12-04
AGRICULTURAL.
From the n. Y. Sun.
Agricultural Fairs.

ASAAS0AtuAdA dATss
The right spirit reuiutng.sThe autumn o.
l84l has been peculiarly distinguished by
the attention that has been given to the
cause Of agriculture. The great Fair of the
State Agricultural Society at Syracuse, tie
Fair Of the American Institute in this city, nu-
merous fairs Of county societies in our own
State, and of other agricultural societies in
the States Of Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, and several other States, have
exhibited products Of the soil, and improve
ments IN the mode of cultiva.ing it, never
before equalled in this country. These as
semblages have also been encouraged, at
tended and conducted by the very abIest
and best men in the country, and, we can.
not doubt, have sent abroad a spirit that will
exercise a most wholesome influence upon
the pursits, the habits, and character of the
people of this country.
"The natural business OF the American
people is agriculture. Its the basis of our
wealth and independence. This is evident
from the extent, fertility, and productiveness
Of our soil. The %nationrl and individual
welfare of our people requires that %agricul-
ture should keep the position which Nature
has assigned it, in advance of all other CAL
Ilngs. We would not depress manufactures
and commerce, but would let them depend
upon the products of the soil, and be sustai-
ned thereby. 1t is impossible that they
SHOULD not he successful to a proper extent,
if regulated by that standard. II is equally
impossible TINT they should be successful, If
regulated by any other standard.
at is gratifying. therefore, to see the live
" interest every where awakening in the
cultivation Of the earth. 1t is m honest, an
independent, and a healthy business. 1t was
grossly neglected Il few years since; farms
were sold in city lots on speculation. instead
OF being planted, as they should have been.
with corn, potatoes and %turnips; our people
were so deluded as to buy grain from the
shores Of the Black Sea. rather than raise it
on their w land. Depravi,y Of morals.
commercial ruin and general distress Flowed
rs the inevitable consequences of this great
error. We are glad to see the people re-
turning home from their wanderings, filling
their houses AMI barns with the products Of
honest industry. and rejoicing in the sturdy
independence of thrifty farmers. Long may
it be before our fertile potato patches. and
cabbage yards" are again laid waste by be-
ing surveyed and Autographed into uninhabi-
ted cities.
sit is the duty of the press and Of our
public men TO encourage the movement in
what may be considered our great national
business, agriculture. There is 70 danger
of OVERRIDING it. Who ever heard Of over.
trading IN this brach of business' No mat
ter how extensive our surplus products may
be, there VIII be a market for them in some
part OF the world. The business Of expor-
ting and exchanging them will support a
vast commercial interest, and a large manu-
featuring interest will also grow up as a naiu-
raj and necessary incident. But agriculture
must take the lead; in it is the origin of all
our prosperity; before We begin to trade,
We must produce something to trade with;
and we must produce the raw material, be-
fore we set up factories to improve it.
"No matter, therefore, how much we stimu-
late by proper means, the cultivation of our
soil; there is no danger but that commerce
and manufactures will follow fast enough Of
their own accord. They are more liable
than agriculture to excess and over action
Their results are more splendid, and ambi-
tious adventures are more easily captivated
by them. There is a constant tendency, es-
pecially in commercial affairs, to go too fast.
No apprehension need, therefore, be felt lest
the business of agriculture should get too
far ahead; the difficulty is in keeping it sui:
6ciently advanced. Let commerce be regu-
lated by it. dealing only IN the surplus valus