Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-10-27

oil regTet, lndk tue ldIluou anu ~
improvement 10 agriculture, was languishng,
and would continue TO languish, for The want oil
adcouaie reward-!hat our lands and harvesls
are 10 come into competition with the cheap and
rich lands and abundant productions OF the west
and Southwest; that The application OF steam 10
railroads and 10 the navigation OF long rivers, by
quckening and cheapening transportation, mas
brought so much new and rich land into cullva-
ton, and lis productions into our markets, when
had otherwise been too distant 10 be cultivated
with profit, and has produced, and will continue 10
produce, over productions and low prices:
These appIehensons and fears are painful 10
the husbandman and unfriendly 10 agricultural
Improvement. But lei US not quail under ap
prehensions like these, but rather lei our efforts
and energies rise in proportion TO The disadvan-
tases 10 be surmountcd-even il they are as great
as they are supposed by some TO be, the farmer
has the remedy for them in his own hands. WIN
industry and lrugalily he can produce nearly
enough on hisown farm 10 supply all his necessary
wants. Short crops and low prices only ahect
the surplus proceeds OF his labor The pnce oi
what he makes has reference only TO that winch
is over and above what is necessary Tor his own
consumption. Let US then, lake especial care,
under all circumstances, 10 make as lar as pos
! sblr, on our own farms and in our own families,
| every essential Of comfort and convenience winch
we can produce, without palpable waste oil labor
and capital When We have accomplished this
and Topped Off every superlluous article from The
list. which habit and custom have made us re-
| gard as necessary, We will be surprised al The
small amount TO which our cash outlay may be
| reduced Having thus satisfied ourselves by
| little perseverance in industry and economy, how
| little ready money expenditure is actually neceS-
sary To all our reasonable wants, letus rouse our
selves up 10 the habits OF thinking; lei us make
ourselves, by reading and by IN active and honor
able spirit Of enquiry, familiar with The whole
| list of products and demands OF different States
and countries, their uses and prices in our own
and foreign markets. We will then be enabled
| to make The best adaptation OF our land and labor
| and the means al our command 10 supply mat
which is most likely 10 yield The greatest profit
If we constantly act on these views and carry
them our, in prcccpl and example, even small
| farmers with Limited means, will he able 10 stare
sol only short crops and low prices in The face,
| but also to stare adversely herself out OF coune-
| nance.
And. above all, let US Danish from US negli-
oence idleness and soth. Let no feelings Of de-
spondency take possession ol our hearts or heads;
| let Us 90 on with a spirit OF improvement That
| never Tags and perseverance IN our efforts 10
increase The feed Of our pastures and The yield OF
our haryesls, that never tires-ever remembering
that diligence and industry, united with moral
uprishiness oil conduct, never fail in the accom-
plishment of any atainabe object.
| Drive your business; do moi let your business
drive you-s maxim applied by man Of pro-
found wisdom TO every species OF employment,
and 10 none is il more applicable than 10 agricul-
urc. The farmer should, if possible, be II all
times before hand with his operations, especially
in filling his crops He should work them at the
right time, beforethey begin 10 suffer for The want
of il, and he will ensure vigorous and constant
~ progressing growth. II they suffer for The
wan, of lillagc but Tor day, The growth will be
obstructed and the yield diminished. As pre-
| paratory 10 proper and economical cultivation,
The soil should be fine, and free from grass; for
one acre OF land with clean surface, can be
worked twice as soon, and doubly as well as one
set in grass while all the energies OF The soil will
be directed 10 the suslenance OF useful vegetation.
! In hot climate like ours, frequently exposed
10 drought, deep culture is desirable, that the
roofs may sink deep in the soil, below the in
Huence OF all but very extraordinary drought,
where, finding permanent resources VI nourish-
men their growth may continue uninterrupted
through the whole season. Looking 10 The agri-
| culture of Eenrico in particular, we see spirit
OF improvement among the farmers, but It is loo
limited in It's character and 100 feeble in lis et-
forts Ia replenish and myigorate the poor and I'M
| productive farms that spread over large portion
| OF the county. On the rivers, and near The city,
there are rich and fruitful farms, in high Stale
| of Improvement, exhibiting much 10 remind US
| of human labor human exertions, and OF The
cares plenty and enjoyment OF their owners.
| "Whal 81 richly and deservedy attracts The
| eye and delights The mind as gardens, orchards
and fields, neatly and skilully dressed and Guilt
vaed, fertile and highly produetive2" Some
cheering and encouraging prospects like these
| are TO be seen in The belt oil country surrounding
Richmond: and can but hope that their num-
| bers and iruiltulneSs may continue TO increase
| and abound, until the market wagons be kept
constantly going 10 The city loaded with milk aud
butter and all The varieties Of rich fruits and We
eetabes that our soil and climate can be made
TO produce, in return for the liberal and patriotic
spirit which many OF her citizens have manifest
| ed in promoting The objects OF this society
Commerce, manufactures and the mechanic
arts are the great friends and helpmates of agri
culure-any feeling Of discomfort or dissaisiac-
| ton between them is but an insane enactment OF
Agrippa's fable. They are The great members
Of society, and the vitality of each is as much ne
cessary to the health Of ALL The limbs Of the body
| 10 the life and strength OF the whole man. Any
| war between them is but sheer insanity, ending
| only in The weakness and debility il not in the
| death and decay, Of all. The merchant, in reie-
renee 10 the profits Of agriculture, has ever been
| the farmers constant friend They are bound TO-
| geiher by interest, that great master passion oil
| the human heart, ever sharpening The eye-sighl
and quickening The judgment Of them both. The
merchant, with his active industry, his extended
knowledge IF the climate, productions, institu-
| lions, manners, customs and wants oil the va
| rious portions Of The globe, may be IT garded as
| the active principle which gives life, MOTION en-.
| ergy and activity TO all The divisions OF labor
He collects the surplus proceeds of agriculture
| and sends some TO he consumed in distant lands
and some 10 The manufacturer, and he returns
and distributes them, fitted Tor many new uses
among all classes and conditions Of men.
And here must beg leave, as one OF The far
mers oil the country 10 say that The merchants Of
the city ofRichmond seem fully aware OF The con-
neciion between The various ayocalions ofthe CT m
munily, and 10 thank them for the liberal and pa
lriolic manner in which they have come forward
10 id and assist this society in its patriotic en-
deayors. They have moi considered themselves
as separate class in Ihe community, without
sympathy Tor others, but in manner al once
| credilable 10 their generosity and intelligence,
| have come 10 aid, with their means, in undertake
| ing 10 foster and improve agriculture, manuiac-
| lures and the mechanic arts in our community.
| Nor can allow this occasion TO pass without
referring 10 highly gratifying event which trans
| pired few months since. The metropolis Of
| he United States has witnessed a scene OF no or
binary interest, a scene never before witnessed in
4 lldl CeUItOl lidiiJ PdsSioH PSlIhdii IkuC.
All The trades oil this vastly extended country as
sembled there during the last spring, exhibiting
in great National Fair the various speci.
mems Of American skill and ingenuity. Not only
the mechanics, but The manufacturers OF great
portion OF our Union had taxed their skill 10 pro.
duce specimens of neat and endurable workman
ship 10 be presented, and among those whose
names were mentioned conspicuously in The pro-
ceedings OF The day, and complmented for the
beauty OF their workmanship, were several men,
bers Of our Society. This should he peculiarly
gratifying 10 every citizen oil the Commonwealth
who feels an interest in her wealth and prosreri-
| ty. But the qualification should be more intense
to The inhabitants Of Richmond and The members
Of this Society, since they have sent artizans TO
lhi, great assembly, whose skill was conspicu-
Gus even among The best that the Union could
produce.
Having briefly skeched 10 you The importance
Of the objects we have in view, cannot bu, ex-