The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-01-29


was borne to be propagated in the south
ern extremity of India, in Java, in Brazil.
and the West Indies. He will have learn
ed that, though now in such general use
over the hablable globe, like the Irish
(Amerlcan) potato, no mention Is made of
it either by 'encieh. writers, nor by any of
the moderns previous to the 10Th century.
The first public coflee-house was opened
in London as late as 1862, when Tur-
key merchant, having brought with him
some bags Of it, and a Greek servant &C
customed to making il, his house was
thronged with visitors, to see and taste
this new and curious liquor. TO graft
fly his friends, without inconvenience to
himself, he allowed his servant to sell
coffee publicly; and thus, we are told, was
the first collec-house established in Lon
don, where the Virginia cohee-house
now stands. From such beginning this
remarkable berry grew into general use;
SO that, in 1923, the quantity received for
home consumption in England WIS 49,
522,423 POUNDS. In 1890 plant was
sent 10 Euro pc, from the berries of which
were derived the first coffee planted in
the West Indies. But let me not wander
from my leading object, which'is to hold
up to agricultWiSts the examples of the
followers Of other pursuits, and in point
ing, among all Of them, to the orgaaiza-
ton of societies, md Of criensiUe libra les
for tie diffusion 81 kno'c sdg', incite A.
merican husbandmen to reflect seriously
fit does not behoove them TO go and do
Hkcuise. Not only is it to be feared that
there is lamentable absence Of all re-
gular association of mind and Of means
for prosecuting the inquiries and promul-
eating the discoveries and Improvements
Of which agriculture is susceptible, but
that even the codes aud journals dedica-
ted to their particular use and instruction
are not in the hands Of the rising genera
ton of husbandmen. How many have
read even the Farmers series of those ex-
cellent works published in England by
the Society fer the Diffusion of Useful
knowledge, telling, as they do, al about
horses, cattle, sheep, grain, grasses, i'm
elements, buildings, &c.2 Even Hullin's
great work on caIcareous manures, mean
ly pirated by English writers, is not to be
found, as it should be, in every farmers
library, with Sinclair's Code of Agricul-
ture, the American Farmer, the New Eng
land Farmer, the farmers Register, the
Cultivator, the Farmers Cabinet, the Silk
Journal, and many others, of which no
agrlculuralisls should be ignorant, any
more than an officer should plead igno-
rance of the Army regulation.
The venerable Chancellor KENT being
called upon by committee of "the Mer-
camille Library Association" for a list OF
such works in English literature as he
might deem best suited to their use and
improvement. made them a catalogue of
about fire hnndred rOlumcS. saying that
he had not placed upon the list one with
which he was not in some degree fanil-
lar Where, in all the land, shall we find
such thing as public farmers library?
Yet there is no Want Of books upon this
great interest Of mankind, and upon natur-
al history, intimately associated with it,
and one of the most pleasing studies to
which the mind OF man can be devoted.
1t would swell this address beyond all
reasonable limits, or we would append a
list OF the works in the Congressional
Library, under the several departments of
Agriculture and Natural History. The
number is, on Agriculture, 322; Natural
Disappointment Anatomy, 81; Zoology,
Az; Botany, 2l2; Mneralogy and Con
chology, SO. Total on Agriculture and
Natural History, l,l55 volumes. For
this collection thanks are due, in great
measure, to the Hon. ID. II. LEWIS, Of
Alabama. one Of the Vice Presidents of the
United States Agricultural Society.
There may be some whose lip will
curl with contemptuous smile at the
very suggestion of any value or pleasure
in book-learning, for a farmer or planter,
whose business is field! How much
to be pilied is the insensibli,y of such
men to the most copious and lasting
springs of enjoyment-the pleasure which
every man experiences in the very pro-
cess of intellectual accretion Imagine
yourself sealed quietly in your domicil
or office, at that still hour when all around
have retired, and become i'lo dumb for
gelfulness prey" and not sound is
heard save the chirping Of the social
cricket, or the congenial music of the
whislling winds; to be poring over the
pages of some fascinating and instructive
author, finding in every sentence some
new idea, some mystery explained. some
hitherto unlhought-of principle in agrl-
culture developed, or striking character
graphically portrayed; to be thus edllied'
and enchanted, taking no note of time I'M
til the morning breaks upon your enjoy
ment, and your author is reluctantly laid
upon the shelf, with heart felt thanks that
he has seduced you to forget the world
and its cares, aid made you a somewhat.