Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-08
Pr ~ EaGu,yc5
y ~ I~HIFF'T''
FARMERS CONVERSATION MEETINGS

FARMERS CONVERSATION MEETINGS.
MessIs. Editors: Il IS Il subjtc, Tor resret 10
every thinking ae:iculuns OF Virginia, ihot
there should exist 50 iew aids by means Of assoc
ciat-d effort, or any 2iher than nIyidna ami iso-
lated action, for exiraGin2 agricultural in:oIma
ton. No here else has ndis iua intelligence
nd action done more in- agricultural Improve
meni and profit Than can be 10 nj in Virginia,
and no where hasi.s. been effected 81 any com
hined efforts Of The Agricultural class, or even any
considerable portion hereof. II scarcely ncct he
added lhat.i the Government, The star OF Virginia
has done nothing whatever f3T his all-impodanl
object.
There have existed in Virginia numerous ~
rcni.ural societies, and s3u.r si rAisi. 5o'hc -
these societies have Al particular juhe,ufrs,
elected aud disseminated Valuable IhiurnatIoE.
But much The greater numsei have done nolhir2,
or worse than nothing, lor The proper anu sfea:
al ice, oil all such associations The ciicllInS anG
d,nusiun vi grcul.ulal knowledge. The Iaiical
detects OF constitution ana procedure, which have
produced such general met ency, II i needless
here Ia point out, and wouii bc improper 10 illus
Tate bY citing examples. Il l. enough that 70
general iaci IS uLd-GlaLy ahd Iamendsiy tIIe.
II canno, be doubted hat goat b,nsns wvniG Ge
derived from Agricultural societies properly con
silu;ci anu properly working. bai desPaniLSo y
anv such new CuuIse beng soon co mcncei, II -
M present design nicely 10 propose much noe
humble and unpleiendiag, and yet more eici'ni
means for reaching the ,ame desired enCs. Use
TAI, convenient aud also cheap substitutes may
be found -c0nrc;Sffl0n meetings al ldrn"is. ~ c
held al stated tines AMI places, br, without much
Of formal organization. That such meetings ale
extremely Interesting and attractive, as Vel -
highly Instructive has been iully proved II piac-
llce IN Eng land anG in Massachusetts. Those ~
Boston were held weekly during The session Of the
Les s.atufe, when other business necessarily
brought together there many OF The bet idImris
from all pais ii the STATE. TIC meetings hal
no permanent organization. Tie lhtn abe aSfi-
cultural surveyor Ihe Reverend Henry contn)
presided Al Ike meetings. merely Ia preserve ORDER
aud The rules Of debate. The meetings were open
10 all whether as mere auditors, OF as sha.ef> III
The discussion, IL elicit or to furnish lDijrmation.
Al The close OF each session, The SUBJECT iof 40
next was agreed upon, aBi no ice Vi u pUhl!sacc,
so that every n.ishb.nl"g farmer had tne 10 a.
,cnd who might especially desire 10 hear .hat sub
let discussed. All that 1ould be needed 70 com
plclc lie operation oi such meetings, II begun Ia
Virginia would b. the cosl ~ Inc services ~ a
competent reporter 81 The mailer ln'Eshec III sas
discussion, and o: The printing OF such reports
pers (poli,ical and news papers rs well as others
were glad Tor their own gain, boh to report and
to print The discussions oil these meetings.
Richmond especially during tic session q the
Legislature. would be the best place Ter CON-
mencing such conversation meetings. bat here
is not a county, or scarcely nei2hbo!booi, III
WHICH such meetings might not be he'd - great
advantage. Hundreds OF farmers would IN this
manner freely and fully ltI their experience ana
opinions, oil whom perhaps not one couic I've pre-
vailed upon TO wruc them. And lhuS, WGh no
more expense han necessary Ioase noes OF and
report The proceedings, and 10 publish proper Sc
ections, The results Of lie researches ami eAfe-
rience OF every farmer in Virginia might be- open
To the use and instruction OF every other.
Ii il be not prfsumipg too lar, .hessls. La''ofs,
ak oil you and your city bTetaFen oi all par
tics 10 all This scheme if approved) BY your recon-
incubation and influence. Though, at'his time,
i, NAV he deemed sacrifice ios any newspaper
10 Withhold as much space from political discus
sion as will admit any iclc on agflcnl urr, am
confident that the paper which could Obtain, ana
would publish such reports Of agricultural dI'-
cusson>, would therein provide (ior all country
readers al least matter more aceef'aoie 'hah "
any other kind.
lr,his plan should ird enough laso! Ter sup
mort lei any fire or six farmers, or f.eDcs OF az.
ricul,uraI improvement, who can meet together at
any hour in Richmond, apfoin, time and Pal
vArE place Tor The frs, meeting, and invite gene,
rally 10 attend it all who may be inclined 10 AID
IN the labols. To make sure oil beginning vel,
The participation in The FIRST proceedings Of some
few nelshnoring farmers SHOULD be secured -
special application. a first meeting misnl Dc
! obtained within two weeks after she puoshci
nolice, and weekly thereafter i desired 50 of.en.
A COUNTRYMAN.
Irhe above is from one OF the most enicen-
ed, yea lous and successful farmers ot Virginia.
His suggestion strikes Us as emnenily worthy 't
consideration We cheerluily throw open our
columns 10 the friends Of agriculture, who may
desire to further the useful scheme.-EDirossl