Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-06-05
WEST BRANCH
fG\G3ll[3G
Address 70 the Farmers Of Pennsyl
vania.

Address to the Farmers Of Pennsyl.
vania.
The Agricultural Society Of Philadelphia,
In its anxiety TO pi omo,e The objects Of its
founders, and lhe advancement Of The
great interests for which it was instituted.
desires respectfully to call your attention to-
wardifthe founding Of State Agricultural
Society, and to ask your aid in fur,herance
Of the measure.
While ii is matter Of surprise among
the enlightened farmers Of other States
who have formed or projected States Soci.
eties, it is cause of regret to many Of our
own citizens, That Pennsylvania. essentially
agricultural, can not ye, boast Of Stale
institution, combining the skill and expert.
ence CT her.intelIigent asriculturis,s. to be
made available in diffusing general
knowledge Of improved systems Of hssban-
dry and tillage. and impar.ing energy and
vigor 10 the most important of all her in
auslriat pursuits. .
In Time past with a mpara,ively sparse
population, when means Of inlercommuni
cation were limited and difficult, there was
reasonable excuse for not having State
organization /; but now, with our present
facilities, in the increase Of population, with
cities and towns dolting every portion Of
the State, and canals and railroads inter-
seeing every quarter and running TO every
point, should the formation of State soci
~ be longer delayed, Pennsylvania will
justly incur the reproach of culpab!e aPa.
thy, in standing is,lessly still, while in this
progressive age SO many OF her sister
States, less favored by natural resources,
are keeping pace with the times. in The ad-
vancemcnt Of their agriculture.
Though the project Of Stale aerculiu-
tural society comnends itself especially
10 the farmers themselves, ye, it is no,
without claims Upon the consideration Of
others, appealing. as ii does, TO their State
pride, iir'not directly to their interests.
Can the merchant or trader be indifferent
TO the main source from whence his ware.
houses and ships are filled aud (reghted
Can The manufacture. or mechanic thrive
without an abundan, supply Of the staff of
lilei Or can the capitalist who embarks
in railroad and canal stocks, expect remu
neraling dividends on his investments, un-
less the products Of agriculture contribute
ute 10 the tolls, especially on such lines as
the Central Railroad And can the State
ever expect 10 be relieved Of the heavy
debt under which she now siaggers. if her
waste and unprotuct;ye lands are no, bro't
under profitable culture, and the farmers
stimulated to increased exeriion, 10 create
active capital out Of matter now inert and
valueIess! 1t needs no argument 10 prove
that if The farming interest is permitted to
lansuisb, every other Industrial pursuit
will exhibit corresponding signs Of decay.
II behoves, then, every citizen who regards
his interests, as well as the farmer, 10 lend
his aid to any feasible plan tha, will impari
hope and energy to the ,illers Of The soil.
The frs: practical step, in farherance
Of this chject is. to establish State ins'i
tuition, through the medium Of which. far
mers can have free interchange Of opinion
with each other upon the best means Of
promoting improvement in the theory and
practice Of Agriculture, and the opportunity
ofexhibiting annually, at designated local
i.ics, their stock and implements, with
;heprcducts Of their fields and orchards.
This is the desideraium, if attained, that
will make Plttsburg. Chambersburg, Har-
risburg. York, Lancaster, Reading and
.Easion as famous in the annals OF ngricu!
suraI fairs and cattle shows in Pennsy Iva
MA, as Rochester, Buffalo, Utica. Albany.
&c. are in Nev-York.
Among the causes that have led 10 The
unexampled prosperity Of New York. o!
late years. none is more striking than the
encouragement wisely bestowed upon her
agriculture, by the Legislature Of ,ha,
State incorporating State society, and
granting some 8 to 10000 dollars annual
.y-io its auxiliary societies. which has
stirred up the energies Of her farmers. TO
compete successfully for the palm Of dis.
iinction, even with her mercantile commu-
nifty. The great bulk Of her western lands.
bu, few years back wilderness, is now
equal in value 10 the earliest cultivated
lands Of ;te State, and thickly settled with
wealthy, cn,erprising yeomanrY, oble
and willing TO contribute their quo,a of
taxes to supply the treasury. by which the
State is enabled 10 maintain her character
and credit. |, must, h. wever, be admitted
rhst her yrea, canal did much towards the
wondesfA progress of New York. bu,
without the impulse giveTto the farming