Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-09-05
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT.

SLubS, JOURN Ais &c.
IL only by ussocatiou-by tho contact Of mind with
d-ei,her directly indirecty-ha any considerable
advances made in impro,, and civilization. A
who lives within himself and depends upon his
experience his guide, accumulatcs knowledge with
RENE sowness, and contributes little nothing the adj.
Of the great interests Of society. The masses
heh 1--we in cities have their wits shsrpened by continual
TRACTION! and from thence nearly all the discov.
res aud improyem, in the Industrial pursuits Of life
is doubtless from the oi a closer cOmmun mic a ton
mongst the members of the agricultural community, tina,
gricuure, both Art and Science not made the
progress which has characterized the other Arts and
ciences in day. IL has thus been years some times
eore the knowledge of un Improvement has extended be
ond the n-ighboihood in which II originated. IL IL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS unfre qaenty-we see per
pms who by good judgment and great Industry exhibit
stance, OF nea, and successful farming which distinguish
above others in the vicinity The secre, Of their
may lc, for the part rather in their energy
nd perseverance,, and their skilful manage o
Dor, than in the application of settled principles Hence
oh farmers held examples Others their modes
cultivation are published In the Agricultural Journals
I'd those who at book farming amongst whom even
me Agricultural Editors may be included) them
ih compacency, in rather nvdiors contrast TO
ose who may have failed in applying new theory
hat they entitled much credit be denied
he question is do they accomplish than others have
init Of general application d. they take step which
ay be occupied by those who after thrn and which
i'll lead To still another the course OF Improvement
The Agriculture Of Great Britain constitutes the most
rfect system OF which We have any knowledge wrhin
single generation, the produciiven.ss of m lind, has
zen doubled and surface territory (.nc,uding Ire
nd) not MOTE Than twice as large Nrsina a popua-
Pn OF nearly thirty millions U insb;aa;, slstacd-
very cuhsator Oi the soil Is devoted Improvement
cry Town has its agricultural club. and every county
Ticuura society. besides which, there Ryal S5ce
in each of the great national divisions. The world
been explored for materials to i,rtlGe soil. The
lsno OF Africa and America nitrate vi soda from pe
bones from the United States, snd from the cities aud
en- battle fields OF Europe these. every other sub
nee thar mighi contribute To the producNeness of
i'd have been imported great cost, and freely applied
It's Farmers. Tho kindred sciences Ut Chemistry ar,,
ology have been brought the aid ct the Farmer the
sest and most opulent Of the gdom, have taken
lead IN agricultural Improvement; authors have witt
aud popular Lectures have adtessc themselves to
divided audiences IN every part oil the country. In pro-
rtiou as the prcducGyenss Of the soil las increased
ATS have risen likewise-Hnt tho yearly value of land
become. on an average. twenty five dollars per acre.
addition TO the rent the Farmer gives the soil during
n rotation, equal amount in the way Of Improvement
hat but science, added industry and cueIp,ize could
We effected such results
IL is wise, then, for communities well individuals
LOOK abroad to see what the world n large doing, and
avail themselves OF such Improvements the experience
others has established. IT. instance we contrast the
ouut Of Agricultural Improvement in Great Britain
III that OF the most favored part country we have
son TO be mOruhed TO 6ud hat while the crops of corn
tho Brush Efnpi have been doubled within cumpara-
few years, all great staples except i'm so far
the area oi their cultivation has been extended have
atty diminished in amount
The hist step ards Improvement in the present con-
ion OF things, should obviously be taken by the Legs.
re. The establishment Of u Board Of Agriculture the
o~meni OF agricultural ProessVrships in Colleges
the granting OF bounies to properly organised Agrcu
al : ciotes, would DO doing nothing more than the
Importance OF the agricultural interest requires
bngand' during state OF great depression in any
neh Vi industry, parliamentary commission would be
oinied to enquire into the subject, aud government
uld adoP' SUCH measures calculated afford
ledy Under our Tree government, unfortunately, every
g IL left To take care o itself; and OF the States Of
cunederaey has adopted the motto Of ''Iet us
ne" Virginia has expended incacuabe amount
mercy in regulating the affairs Of tue Federal Govern
and the Federal Government, after more than hslf
entury OF INDIGESTION and vaclatOn has not yet set
the question whether any branch OF industry IL mil
to protection. Thus, though have the wis, st form
government ON the earth, the instances OF its benfcent
on have been but few.
Under existing circumstances tho frs, and uos imnoy
aid towards bringing about systematic and intelli-
improvement IN agriculture is the formation Of iRh.
hood clubs. Ii is by associations only that the neces
stimulus eau be impaired. Each member, netting in
Peraon with others, becomes emulous of success He
more narrowly into the pacses of his fellow labor.
the habits OF free and friendly criticism and enquiry
oh prevail, induce him to observe and reflect more
Iely; end gradually he finds the horizon which bound
ais vision, TO become more and extended. II one
her can practically avail himself Of the knowledge Of
ply augmented tie becomes possessed as IL were Of
advantage Of n lever mere physical force. Blu,
hrse associations to be manageable. must be Limited
he number OF their members; and as the combined
Wedge which each association pOssesses may sup
d TO DO OF limited extent the necessity obviously arises
dding To that knowledge, by the introduction Of suita
works. and by subscribing 10 such agricultural Journals
e best calculated 10 contribute TO the general stock Of
rmsuon. Without the aid Of such acces. cries. the
nj 10 DO derived from these associations will be re-
TED Snd ihere is danger, when each member has con.
fba II al
TO fog, and presently die away. But with the conun
shi OF knowledge pouring in from other minds cngn.
10 ho same great pursuit, the interest VI each nte.
member viii be maintained without dlminution.
very club OF association Of Farmers shoujd encourage
making OF experiments such disputed or unsettled
Is 9s may PIT mise to be Of general utility. In fact il
ID be mode oblRstoryon each mombtr to conduct one
pore experiments, aud 10 report the result carefully at
ID times All this DO done without nnv material
Of Time, even II the experiment should result In mn
anual bentht but II any idea should be elected
old pfnctisc improved upon, the experimental ne we'll
be club, may derive essential profit from H. a fer,ls
for experiment manure in oil its forms and eomb
ms, nincal and pnuesccLt and in every mode Of 40.
ton. The most valuable and systematic series Of cS
ienis that were reported. be found in Pro-
JohnsiOn's admirable Lectures on Agricultural Chem.
and the influence exercised by them upon tie ugf-
ra community Of England, has been ircalculible. In
recent excite IN this county the subs Qua.
nd to some extent of Elcctuci'y tir'c bas not been
ns we have learned, any melhyd,cai attempt 10 test
'enye value OF these agents great nuinbcr Of IN.
bals have, no doubt, made uisls bu ~ they were,
most part Isolated, nnd conducted without any con
aetionand the rcsuIt terminated by the eve rather
by weights aud messufss,-thsy will. potbaps n
ted At all be entitled TO no greet consideration. Al
indeed, has the use Of Guano been condemned bv
reds who, In their sfdent irpaginations fApecd h,
have wrought wonders, while oil the energies of
ol' end Of msnures IN general locked up BY
iongst other opportunities Of improvement which
all I'D, tho occasional discussion Of particular sub
might DO rendered Of great utility. Atevefy stated
ng-say once nonih-ihc DISCUSSION ~ seasonsbIo
(ssa time, Tor instance, the cultivation of whoaD
70 engage inc sweDion Of members, 10 lead to
eel results. Tho readers Of Agricultural Pspors can.
I've isilod TO notice the interesting conversations held
winter az the State. house Boston; and those Of
afnefs' Club at the American Institute IN New York
wing the example SGT q, those places conversational
ng' are now becoming very popular at the NORTH