Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-21

you will confer great favor the Society,
And oblge yours Nc,
MARCUS BULL, JR,
assistant. Recording Secy.
ADDRESS
Gentlemen Tie embarrassing position, IN which
find myself placed this occasion, has neither been
sought desired by IL has been your pleasure,
more from the agency have had III establishing oaT
Society than from any merit q. nj own or fitness Tor
the office, TO devol"e the responsible duties oil
its President. Whe have not felt at liberty 10 de.
cline the honor thus conferred, would greatly have
preferred the selection OF enc, from whose Fper
years and enlarged experience, yon might with
have expected lessons of instruction. aud whose
weight of character aud moral influence would have
sustained our infant association IN ITS struggle Tor eX-
siecce. That II needs such exTaneous Influence 10
establish upon ir and lasting basis, clearly eve
dent from the apathy ard cold indifference the part
of many, whom aud interest shotd prompt 10
Tie Jealous efforts, and whom patriotism should
distinguish foremost IN whatever tends TO modify ana
Improve the aspect and condition o. our country. 10
doubt the efficacy Of such ASSOCIATION, have st
length, after years OF Gess attempts, succeeded IN
establ shiny, would be IL Gsbceve The clea!es. eTi
dences Of the And YET, So. pticsm viii prevail.
As IN Religion, Politics and Philosophy, we find these
whose ssfesteem has obtained dominion reason
and judgment, and whose appropriate element IS the
pride o. opposition the s2:ence and practice oi
Agriculture errors arising from long established habit,
local prcjutices and overweenng confidence, assume
the dignity aud Importance Of fixed principles; and 10
be successfully cumbated, must be met with UNION Cl
purpose and the test OF experiment.
The agricultural periodicals Of the day can do, and
doing, much but II only by associations, where
the individual members are known 10 each other
where mutual confidence prevails, and sympathy OF
feeling profession exists, that the doubts oil the
sceptic be removed emulation excited, anu the love
Of husbandry profession engendered. To be as
sured, that such OF the happy consequences
resulting from associated efforts 10 elevate and promote
the grea, OF agriculture, have only TO advert
to those sections OF our country where vigorous and
fourshnG eliss maintained WIN sou, NY
nature equal If superior, TO that of friends and
neighbors of an adjoining county, and an equality IN
other respects, TO what must he attributed their al
vancemen mt of us in successful husbandry, IN improve
meat, in zeal and emuatIon but 10 the spirit OF en-
terprse and enthusiasm kindled by contact OF mind
with mind, by the conflicts OF opinon, and The encou-
rngement given 10 noble e%srtioa IN the inducements
held out by their Society. The improvements and
discoveries o isolated individuals are often ma iro"
public VIEW SLOW III thc progress 10 general adop
ton or partial IN their operation when 6nowa, from
ignorance of details, ot the peculiar circumstances
under which they may have been effected bu', II
associated wealth. a. has been apily SAID, be Tie dy
nasty OF modern States assacaled means and united
efforts constitute the lever OF modern tunes, by which
antiquated alone be overturned, and correct
principles established IN heir stead II IS 10 the JUDI
cious application Of this modern power that the woru
is indebted for the astonishing improvements tat cS'
nguish present age, and which have forwarded our
country more than century in advance oil the ordinary
growth OF nations
The immense trade of the English also, their present
power wealth and general prosperity, are To be
traced than to any other cauae to HE dihusoh g"
scientific and practical snowl ledge by means OF private
and public associations. Enerpr'sng and patriotic c.
zcns stimulated by !audahe ambition, and loresee-
ing the necessity OF improved systems oi hsoantfy !"
meet the increasing demands oi growing popuaI'on
and Of an improved social condition, united themselves
IN societies. which, EXTENDING in proportion as their IN
Auence was felt, have effected the most incredible re-
suits The entire commerce 81 Great Britain with The
United States including imports and exports though
wlce rs treat as her commerca transactions with any
other country is vet equal value only 10 her annual
crop OF oats and beans Her whole foreign commerce,
for which the ocean overshadowed by her Heels ana
her colonies planted in the most distant corners OF the
gobc actually surpassed III value by the annual grass
crop of England and Scotland alone These seemingly
incredible facts illustrate the incaicuabe Importance
of agricultural pursuits they show, when we CONSIDER
that unpropit'ouS season. which, century ago
would have occasioned IN England q most calamIons
famine would effect but scarcity how great have
hee the improvements how sanitary the changes effect
ed by modern skill and enterprise. The necessity OF cor
responding pr0vements cur mode 81 husoandry and
of n complete rouon III pubic sentiment, as To the
means of eTecling them must be obvious TO The most
careless observer The interest et ~ The SUBJECT Of
agriculture III other States o. our Unlonthe pefectoh
has attained as science IN Europe, the immense ex-
tent of new and fertile lands in cur Western country,
bu, recently brought into successful cultivation by i
hardy and enterprlsing yeomsnry the facilities trans
porlaion by steam eGuallzing The relative position oil
different sections In the command OF Allan,c mar
kps, all point to the lmperious necessity OF thorough
and vital change in the economy and husbandy OF our
country.
It IL gratifying, however IN observe that IN amend.
ment in respects has taken pace-that spirit ot
inquiry abroad and the profession oil the farmer held
in higher estimation than It was wont to be- Bat, To
ensure more rapid aud progressive improvement
one commensurate with the necessity that exists and
the wide field that is opened, some mere active and Po'
tent stimulus needed than the slow and gradual ope
rations OF natural causes. To reform public opinion,
and TO arouse the dormant energ nj ie hnsbandman,
no expedent has hitherto been devised, 50 saluary IN
lis operation the spirited and determined mamie
nance of we'll conducted societies. The advantages,
likewise 10 be derived from ueghboihaod CLUBS, are
such rs should recommend them To universal adoption.
They encourage friendly feelings and social intercourse
invite free dsc usson and liberal Criticisms, ahd con:
s,uie Of the aggregate knowledge ana experience oil
the members, q common fund. upon which each may
draw at pleasure Or the estao!shsd III inns coun-
ty and which has hecn IN successful operation during
the las: year there 10 not member who WI! not bear
willing testimony TO the many dement's derived from II
TO The interest and emulation eXcitec-o MS encon-
roramenl of neatnsss and good order, ct industry and
economy The multi piication of these Clubs IN tins
and the adjacent Countless and their union and con
centration IN general society, "onio, AT no uis-
,ant day, strip hills Of the habllmen's OF mourn
ing and cothe them in the garb oil verdure-the nus.
bandman would no longer curse hs tate as tier oil
the soil, but eoicc IN the crraln prospect Vi ieu"e
the rewards Of his labor
The obstacles that interfere with the introduction OF
correct views in The science and practice oil agriculture
are Of formidable character, aud, 10 he surmounted
require no uncomfortable degree Of energy and steady
perseverance We abandon with reluctance the theo-
res and systems Of fathers however erroneous IN
principle, or unsuted Ia present tunes ahd chcuih
stances We mbibe opinions and embrace docrineS
without giving them the mature deieeFh''on hrces
sarv 10 establish their souuness, prove their iaacy
or we disregard and jet acbemeso i highest PRACTICAL
merit with the Ike saut If consideration, If they en-
ha some tains ne.q ~! ye-,nce with established
nsage 4 fact. clearly csempluying the correctness
Of these views has occurred under NY Own observation,
and has led to the convcon a, the enerprlsng far
NOR .yho dares 10 deviae from tlme-honored errors,
shod never be discouraged By the gbes and rdcule Of
his more experienced ns'ehbo' An individual but
little versed in practical husbandry, ye, ambitious o;
retaining n unaighy and exhausted farm, conce'"'4
the idea Of encouraging the growth of grass Of which hrs
fields were utterly destitute, by OF permanent
pasture; 10 which purpose he proposed app'opra'"s
some waste land unfit in great degree, Tor
J,nn consultation with old and xpcrienced TRENDS as