Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-04-17
r,o GINA STATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
To The Cifi.ens Of amherst Count

,,r,lSi .
,e' r, muittee, consisting Of siA persons whose dn-
% i. N bring the claims OF the Suceiy tn public pat.
o,omipeny before the farmers and solicit them
:. IN The Society and contribute IN liz support. We,
aIcrscued having been charged with this duv fur
VI. a comfy Of Amherst. beg leave To say few words
's,rb the medium Of a newspaper.
0ee If the chief causes Of the anguising condition
,,;coure in Virginia al this time, is The want OF u
Ian and c,cert among those interested in it, in cunse-
oc. Of which the spirit al improvement, is confined 10
;cnlar l,caiiies while in much the larger portion of
=. STATE the eAhsus'ing aud mprovideni systems
".s,,odty are still pursued. which have converted
. nj the richest rraiuns OF the Stale into a wilder
-. The formation vi State Society will tend TO en-
1., a general and universal spirit Of improvement
IN hiring its influence 10 bear only on the par,cu
a. interests Of the farmers but all the great aud vital
.,a,,ss If the Commonwealth
.Spne Of the most exhausted lands in the Stale have
h.en restored 10 their pristine fertility By udcious
,.ment The object oI our bring ,huse
,bo have wrpnah this happy change into the councils
fa State Society. that they may reveal the secrets OF
heir success, thai the inexperienced and mrrovdrni
may both learn huw 10 improve and That il is PR 6lable
=, dn az, That il is 10 The interest Of the farmer to i'm
nraye his lands alms plain I. admit Of reasoning
vet there are so ne who practice, whatever their
oplnions may be, would seem 10 demand further proof Of
,be pron,siun Let them look at the increased value
f the lands the qnadrupled crops, the comfort, wealth
and happiness OF the farmers, where the spr, OF improve
men, has gone abroad and then laying their sreplicsm
aside jpin this effort to promote The Of agricul
lural improvement
..The interchange Of opinions aud collection of useful
sxperence which must grow from the successful opera
ton Of State Agricultural Society will tend gradually,
hut certainly. the OF detective systems Of
hnsbandry the introduction OF improved breeds Of cat
lie and Of the best and cheapest Implements Of agrcu
ture and the general diffusion of valuable. interesting
and profitable information where ignorance, indifference
obstuscy retard the progrrss Of improvement.
Experience has demonstrated that seli-inierest alone
strong is is not sufficient 10 make change
from bad to good systems of hushandry, and that other
aids necessary call forth the full development Of
energy, skill and ingenuity. The bestowa Of premi
ums and other honorable distinctions have been found
be most valuable and indIspe nsabe auxsries. A State
Agricultural Sociey can put these auxiliares into ope
ration the extensive and beneficial SCALE BY of-
fering premiums for new inventions In machinery vaiu
able experiments in the ,heurec branches of agriculture
the improvement OF the different breeds of stock useful
essays varons agricultural and scientific SUBJECTS and
the general encouragement of prudence, economy thrift,
and skill in practical hushandrv.
"lhe formation of such Assoca ton, by creating a
spirit Of inquiry and desire of scullura information
among the farmers will elevate them, class in the
estimation OF the community Al present. hnshandry is
regarded by many as laboons and plebean occupalio
and unfit for the scientific and well educated man. We
must renove this Impression, and exali the In
teigent farmer 10 the rank he deserves hold pubs
lie estimation.
The establishment of a State Agricultural Society
will hiring together into the cattle raiser OF
hacco planter and grain grower of the East and teach
them that their interests instead of being antagnisca
dependent each other; and. while their united ell
forIs and combined Influence cannot fail 10 give weigh
ty impulse Ia the welfare If both. Virginia will her
people bound together by The strong gament Of mutual
wants aud mutual etorts--a consideration which ad
dresses itself mol 10 The farmer alone but TO every pa
,rioc of the Old Dominion
Nor /, thu farmer alone concerned IN the Improvement
ui agriculture. The merchant. the radespan, the
ssna man. the statesman, will all find their interests
promoted bv the advance OF Improvement and intelligence
anong The farmers They depend IN us for their iood
t',rr cioth'n!, Their very livelihood What we have
we share with them--what promoles welfare pro>
InoIes lhelfs-and what mi ures us wl ruin them
We therefore, appeal 10 all classes If the community to
lend helping hand 10 the improvement of agriculture.
Far!ners OF irgiaa, We ask the benefit Of your
opraIlon III I'M, scheme in three ways In the first
place, ask yol Join the Society, and To solicit your
ilgbors 10 nin aud by your peculary contributions
able The Society 10 effect the objects pfoIsed We ask
YOU To pay the Treasurer the lnconsderabe Of
dollar annually. that you may receive in return hun
dred fd III compound interest in increase of know
ledge and all the other brnefls likely flow from the
successful operation o the Society. Wehope The veal
my farmers will do than this If the iiller Of
lew with his hands bring his annual contrbu
ion OF dollar To the treasury in proof Of his zeal this
good cause hDw will the Of thousands manifest
his? VIII he ~" become a lie member of the Society,
aud thereby show that his zesl Equal 10 his means 2?
W III he make liberal dauaiiuns the fund 81 TO-.
wv, which II b" proposed 10 ra'sP the principal o which
Is 10 remain tTever untouched, perennial Of
enlargement H. agriculture We cannot doubt it,
Such donations have been made in other States and
are 10th 10 believe that toe farmers It rgnia can be
gellu Of the vaunid trait Of our character, and
To resign 10 any the palm Of generous llberay and noble
pnblic spirit.
I'VE invite you to co operate with us in the attainment
OF the objects proposed by The orma ton ct county So
cleiles and neishborod Clubs, which shall be auxar.
TO the Stale Soce,y, by Obtaining subscribers 10 our ag-
cnur' journals. and by perseserng eforis, both md
v'dna and collective. 10 disseminate agrculiuf, know
ledge, and knde the flame of agricultural mprov 2menl
throughout borders.
And. lastly, ask you TO operate with us by
suming that control the counris of the State which
properly belongs you The ability OF The Society TO
promote the interests Of agriculture will be vastly in
creased by legislative aid such is set forth in the re-
solutions adopted by :he Convention 10 obtain it, The
farmers in every neighbohood, especially the members
81 The General COMMITTEES, mus, circulate among Inc
people petitions 10 the Legislature se.g nr'n lhe'
wants and demanding share of the attention. and assis
lance OF ,ur law makers We doubt not that re lie
g'slaure, in their WISDOM will grant the aid asked
ont The Socety can demand it with much greater cunf
dence 1t the farmers hestr themselves. and second the
demand by petitions generously signed.
he only remaining topic 10 which we shall advert
IS The question that may be asked it practicable To
''fm such an Association in Virginia at this time! We
confidently answer in The affirmative. We have The
most aouhdant material iO In formation OF such so
ce'y, in the energy. intelligence and public spirit Of
numerous body Of well Informed farmers. The time is
most suspicious during the calm hlch has succeeded
The late storm of political exriiemen and the scheme
mus. succeed n in the spirit of hercules. we put
shoulders I'm wheel aod urpe n7, instead Uf