The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-07-24
.lGRICUL TURF II.
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6:yn
Patent Office Report.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF AG


! RICuLTURE.
I The following important and interesting
paper, jus, published by the Commissioner Of
Pa'enls, was prepared by Daniel LIE. E'q,
Of the State of New York, a gentleman oil
ability, and one sho has given much attention
to the suhjec, of agriculture. II is IN sub
stance a report on the statistics and progress
of Agriculture N the United States for the
year ls49:
The uudersis ned deems it no. out OF place,
in submitting this report, to ofer few sug
gesions 10 reference to the ways and means
now available for the improvement Of Amer.
can Agriculture.
l. AGRICULTURE EDUCATION.
! Since 1923, when Judge Buel introduced
the frs, bill TO establish an Agricultural Col.
leue in the State of New Yo'k by Legislative
aid. constant Efforts have been made to ren.
der the study of rural economy as science
eot less than it's practice as an art, popular IN
this country. TWeny.seven years have clap.
,ed, q whole generation has passed of the
s,sgc, and New York with her FIVE hundred
thousand cul,ivs,ors Of the eoii, 10 still with
gu, the frs, Agricultural School worthy Of
the name nor is any Other State in q better
condition. Dark as tho view Of As'icul ura'
education really is, it is the darkne" tha,
precedes tho dawn Of blight and happy day.
Meo who have labored for the improvement
Of agriculture, aud the elevation Of Asrcu.
turis's, Cor a quarter Of century, with little
hope and less Of pccunisry reward, nov rea
lize the beginning of an au.pcous change in
public sentiment. Tharks to Agricultural
Journals end societies, the people will soon
disco, CT tina, labor and capital devoted 10 I'll.
age and hu.bandry are as worthy of consider.
alton as labor aud capital ompoyed in mining,
commerce aud manufactures. So soon a. this
truth shall DO fairly comprebended, the long
struggle of the friends Of improvement will
be crowned with success, and the victory won
over bo ignorance and lis traditions.
Ii is, indeed. wonderful how long those en-.
llgh,ened, reasoning farmers, who, like Wash.
ins,on, cherish q due respect for their high
calling, have had 10 beg, aud beg IN win. Of
State Lrgi.latures and Of Congress, for l,l.
tie assistance 10 prevent the universal lmpov
erishment Of American solls. Whatever has
bae done to arrest tho exhaustion Of arabic
lands, has been effected not only without due
aid from e Government, but in spite Of a mis-.
taken policy which encouraged the removal
of all the elements Of bread and meat from
cultivated fields and their speedy Transports
ton beyond the possibility Of restitution.
Neither the earnest recommendation Of the
iliustrious farmer Of Mount Vernon, nor the
prayers Of two generations Of sgricultu'is,s,
nor the painful fact tina, nearly all TILED lands
we're becoming less and less productive, could
induce any Legislature TO foster the study Of
agriculture as a science. Happily, this term,
shen used 10 connection with rural affairs, il
no longer The sub:c Of rdicu'e.
Some pains have been taken IN this report
TO prove tina, one thousand millions OF doIh {
judiclously expended viii hardly restore the
one hundred millions Of acres Of partially eI.
hausied lands 10 the Union TO that richucss Of
mould and strength Of fertility for perma oen
J cropping which they possessed ia their prlmi
D tive state.
The continued hunfuIness Of be earth /.
au interest far greater and more endurn.
e than any form Of Government.
q Il the 81 900 Of people nov in the tniled
States may rshiiuy exhaus, tho natural for
. ,,y Of one.,hlrd Of the arabic lands uf The
country, the Al 900 who will be there TWEEN
J ty FIVE years hence may properly consume The
!. produc,veness of the remaining tvo.thuds O
d all American territory.
: A grea, principle is involved in the science
Of agriculture. which reaches throughout in
d 6lne generations, and forms tho basis OF q
possible improvements and OF the hl.hes
/. hopes Of our race. All advancement 10 IN
"a practicable 10 country tina. closely approx
mates The condition Of desert.
As nation Of farmers, i, is not time tia
we inquire by what nouns, and on what term,
the ftulfulncss OF the earth and the heal,
e. aud sigor Of It's invaluable products may b
o. forever maintained, if not forever improved.
These are questions Of universal concern
men, TO the careful and rigid investigation
Is which no man should refuse TO lend listen