Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-21

Z fiFaGAtSts ~ WIS HS4EbVois. ASItIattuthl
journals extend his neighborhoo5 in THIS
respect, over the Union, and, in truth,
over Great Brltan also. Every impor.
tant improvement, aud successful practice
in husbantry, will be found recorded 10
these journals; and although they may
contain much speculative matter, there
is always enough that is useful, sound,
and available, to at least thrice compen-
safe him for the price OF ks subscription.
And those, too, who profit from the com.
municaions Of others, Will fud pleasure
10 communicating whatever may occur
in their own practice which is likely to
benefit the public, aud also 10 promoting
the circulation of agricultural journals
amoug their neighbors aud frieads.
A. By underwriting 10 introduce the
study Of the principles Of agriculture into
or common schools. Youth is the season
to sow the seeds Of useful knowledge
to instil principles which shall govern in
maturer years. Aud where these prin-
ciples are timely and properly taught and
IncuIcated, there is but little doubt they
will expand into usefulness. Education
gives The impress to manhood. Ii makes
the. proiessed Christian, Mahomeisn, or
Pagan; i, makes lawyers, doctors, or
farmers It makes the idler, the vagabond,
tho liberiine, or the prudent, moral. IN
dustrious citizen. As the twjg is bent,
so will the tree incline. Every effort that
Is made to df'use agricultural science,
will tend TO render its pursuits moro lu-
cra,!ye, more honorable, and desirable,
and to benefit society in a corresponding
degree. We want professional schools
Of agriculture, but, iii we have them,
common schools may be made a tolerable
substitute for teaching the elementary
principles OF tho art.
And lastly, by procuring for agriculture
the patronage of the legislature. Ii there
is one business more important to the
prosperity OF the State than another, i is
agriculture. II there is one interest that
can be more bene fitted by legislative pat
ronage than another, or whose interests
il would seem tbs bounden duty OF the
| legislative councils to foster and promote,
than another, i! is agriculture. This
branch Of labor gives employment to
grea, majority Of your population; il sup
| plies the necessaries Of life, and is the
good source of public and private wealth
and happiness. But government alone,
be il ever so minded, can do but little to
advance agricultural Improvement, with
out the active cooperation OF tho people.
We must put our own shoulders to the
wheels before we call upon Hercules for
/ l. -, rI ., -, IF fetnr,y hipblx
creditabe to the learned professions, as
they ore denominated, that they have
always been among the most active and
efficient in promoting agricultural improve
ment, from the circumstance perhaps, Of
their better approaching its public advan-
tages: and, also, that they 90 to work
without the prejudice and concelts, which
are apt to hang, like the nightmare, above
those who have been farmer bred, and
which prevents their going ahead in i'm
provement. The founder Of the highland
Society, Of which | shall speak further,
was a LAWYER, by the name of Mcdonald.
Most OF the agricultural works which
have issued from tho British press, and
which have eminently contributed 10 adj
vance that nation, as well as ourselves,
/ IN agricultural improvement, have been
written by clergymen, physicians, and
lawyers, who were practically engaged
in he business of farming. And in our
own country, the greatest s;imuants TO
Improvement, and some Of the hest prsc
teal lessons in husbandry, hsve beer CIV
en- by men oil enlarged views, aud liberia
minds, who have been brought up 10
other pursuits, but who have taken up
farming, as a source OF pleasure, or oil
profit, at maturrr period Of life. Enlist,
therefore, by all means, men Of all elias
SEES, and particularly those of enterprise,
wealth and influence, in your laudable
undertaking.
For your encouragement and example,
gentlemen, IN the work you have resolv-
ed upon, beg TO direct your attention,
for few moments, in conclusion to what
have TO offer to Scotland, and TO her ag-
ricultural society TO Scotland as she waS,
aud TO Scotland as she is, 10 her agrIcul-
ture; and to the small beginning of hei
society, to the measures il has pursued,
aud to the splendid and happy results
that have crowned its laborS.
And FIRST, to show what Scottish hus-
bandry 1cas, will quote from the Ed;n-
burgh Quarterly Agricultural Journal, the
best periodical OF the kind, perhaps, now,
or ever published.
"To say what was the state Of agrIcpl-
ture in Scotland, at the date Of the for.
nation Of the Highland Society," says
this journal, 'would, to treat Of it minute
ly, require greater scope than the limits
of periodical would admit. But,
to take one sweep over hill and dale,
over corn field and meadow, we may at
once pronounce the agriculture Of Scot
land, at that period, to have been wretch
ed-execrably bad in all its localities =
Hardly any wheat was attempted to be
grown oats, full Of thisies, was the stan
dard crops, and this was repeated on the
greater part Of the arabic land, while il
would produce twice the seed thrown into
it tuInips, as part Of the rotation Of crops,
were unknown, few potatoes were raised,
and no grass seeds or clover were sown.
1 The whole manure Of the farm being put
on little bit Of the best ground, near the
I tybAw. 4ka,, ,yrasv r,tne lay