The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-10-12

THE AGRICULTURAL 81 HORTI-
| CULTURAL SOCIETIES OF NEW
| HAVEN COUNTY, SEPT. 25. 1889, BY
Hon, JESSE BUEL.
l appear here, gentlemen. by invitation, to
address you on the cultivation of the soil,
which it is the object OF the association here
convened to promote improvement in. |
have been prompted in the undertaking, rath-
er By desire TO render service, than from
a confidence in my ability to perform one !;
| and 10 the few remarks | have TO offer, shall
need much of your indulgence. for defect in
style and defcienc, in matter.
Agriculture and Horticulture are intimate
ly related to each other. They both depend
upon the soil, and the animals and plants
which it nurtures, for support, for profit, and
for pleasure. They both administer, and are
indispensable to our wants and comforts.
They are governed in their operations by the
same natural laws. Agriculture has cogni
zance of the farm which supplies our princi
pal wants; Horticulture of the garden, which
administers to our more refined appetites, to
our health, and TO the rational pleasures Of
the mind. The one gives US bread and meat,
and the materials for our clothing; the other
the choice dclicacies for The table, and multi
plies around US the charms of floral beauty
and rural scenery. Both tend TO beget habits
OF useful industry and sober reflection, and to
improve Us in all the social relations Of life
Ii is BETTING, therefore, that institutions de-
signed to foster aud promote Improvements
| la these primary and associate branches of la
nor, should unite in their anniversary celebia-
iion, aud in returning thanks TO the Supreme
Being. for the bountes OF 4 fruitful season.
or the utility of these celebrations, and ex
4 f,t,o 0f ba q ooFHp
which are made at them, have no kind of
doubt. They bring to public notice whatev
err is new aud most valuable, in business
which highly interests us. They perform
the work of years, in diffnsng useful knOwl
edge in all The departments of rural Labor.
They awaken. in the bosom of hundreds, The
dormant powers Of the mind, which otherwise
might have slumbered in apathy. They ex
cite 10 industry, TO emulation, and TO the study
of those laws which every where control the
visable creation, and which enlieh,en and re-
} ward all who humbly seek and follow their
: councils. Noi is it The cultivator of the farm
} and garden alone that are benefited by these
exhibitions. Whatever tends TO Increase and
} improve the products of the soil, serves TO
augment the commUu stock, and enables the
} grower 10 supply the marke; with more and
better products, and to buy more literally OF
J the other classes in return. The merchant
the manufacturer, the mechanic, and The pro
} fessional man, have all, therefore, as deep al
interest in promoting the improvement ofag-
riculture and horticulture, as the farmer and
O gardner have. Society is ia some measure q
n Joint concern, at least so far as relates 10
what is termed the producing class; the more
q these earn I5y their LABOR, the greater IS the
accession Of substantial wealth to the com
n muniiy. The amount ofhoney N hive, de-
ponds not upon the number Of bees 1t con
tains, but upon the labor and skill Of the icork
ing bees. The farmer virtually provides fol
q the other classes, and is at the same time
their principal patron and customer; and tho
O his labors are toe often held to be low anc
mental by those " no cannot or will not appre
q ciate their value, his condition affords the
best criterion BY which TO judge ofIhe welfare
0 of those around him. No country can long
0 flourish or preserve its moral and physIca
health, whose agriculture is neglected and de-
graded. The amount Of farmers sales, &
= of his purchases. will depend upon the surplu:
y products Of his farm, and upon the profits o
n his labor. Double these by an improved sys
tenn of husbandiy, which feel assured car
n be done, and which has been far more thar
y | realized, in manv old districts of our country
and you will double the substantial wealth o
n the neighborhood, and impart corresponding
y life aud activity to every other branch of bust
n ness. II we look to Spain, 10 Portugal, to
great portion Of Italy. to South America, o
n any other country where agriculture is neg
lecied, or holds but a subordinate rank, W.
n shall find degraded population, character
lied by superstitious ignorance, poverty ant
p. crime. Every class of community, therefore
n has deep interest in promoting the improve
= ment of the soil and all should willingll
U contribute their aid towards enlightening
honoIing, and rewarding those who are hon
esily employed in its cultivation.
10 With regard TO the utility of agriculture
and Horticultural societies, much Will depend
70 upon the objects which bring together thei
10 members. If they associate for selfish purpo
ses, merely to mouoPolize the spols, ant
70 withdraw whenever they are disappointed II
~ their sinister hopes. jealousies and apath.
~ will ensue, and the association will fall, a
~ many under like circumstances have fallen
without public loss or public regret.-But
the association is formed for mutual improve
10 ment, and 10 the patriotic desire 70 do pup
Do lie good; TO stimulate and reward industr'
10 and enterprise, however humble their con
dition-and strives by concentrated and per
severing efforts, to improve the condition O
a district. Of county, or a state-then vii
" it inspire public confidence. obtain public sup
" port, and become a public blessing. To il
~ Iustrate this last proposition, beg to refer t
~ some associations which have been tried, an
~ whose Iabors have been crowned with palpa
NJ BILE and brilliant success.
~ The counties of Berkshire, Essex an
~ Worcester in Massachusetts, have each, 10
m many years, maintained an agricultural socle
~ tV. and thew each distribute ten OF twelv
hundred dollars year, one kalf of which
paid out of the state treasury, in prizes
successful competitors in the various depart
DO ments of agricultural and household labo
DO 1t is said, and believe with truth, that ever