The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-12
MISCELLANEOUS,


I'M
unable TO give the of the author. which is omitted
in the paper from which we copy;
Mr. President AND FELLOW. CITIZENS. The annual
festival OF the farmers and mechanics OF Onondaga coun-
~ has again arrived, with It's pleasant associations its
noble exhibition OF the multiplied products OF human in
dustry, and It's tangible evidences oil Improvement AL
low me- Mr. PRESIDENT TO congratulate the society over
which YOU have the honor preside upon the peryang
and increased interest which has been manifested by all
classes o citizens IN The welfare and prosrery OF
The important and ennobny pursuit TO which your ener-
eies are devoted The hero of many we'll fought battle
field the professional man. and indeed men OF every pur-
suit have been present. ready 10 do homage TO agriculture
and 10 acknowledge Its paramount Importance The gol
den grain OF Ceres, TIE choicest gems OF Flora the de
cious OF that guarded by the
tabled esperdesthe curious handiwork Of the skliul
mechanic, the highly wrought neede-work and EN-
broile Of the sad matron and blushiDg maiden have
all combined to charm the beholder, and 10 ravish his
senses with admiration and delight.
With the experience OF the past and the evidence of
the present before us the beneficial influence of fairs can
no longer be doubted They tend TO excite spirit OF
generous emuation and laudabe ambition to excel in
The most useful department Of human life Ambition is the
main spring in the great clock work Of human e-the
motive power 10 efforts and well directed effort is the
grand secret OF success progress. and Improvement Let
past and present success urge you forward TO increase
your efforts advancing the cause Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts as the creates: good you render the
greatest number In this connexions let me quote the
Truthful and last words Of the iamented Wright. who
took delight in ting the earth, but, alas in whose
bosom he now peacefully reposes by wider and
secure establishment OF successful agriculture
among our citizens as q permanent employment, are
laying broader and deeper the foundations OF free
suons the pride and glory OF country, and priced
y eemen as their richest earthly blessing The history
Of all civil governments, confirmed by the experience OF
this epubic furnishes demonstrative proof that well
educated, INDUSTRIOUS and independent yeoanry the
safest repository Of freedom and free institutions"
Agriculture in its ruder form is cOeyal with the dawn
of time, and venerable for its antiquity In the early
ages OF the world could hardly rank as an ari much
less as science Mere subsistence its object then
l.stl.
ages OF the past in which the detestable doctrine had oh
tanned that the legitimate business of civil government
was war; conquest and plunder Instead of the triumphs
Of the peace and civilization the ancient historian
chronicles little than the adventures of heroes and
the ravages OF conQuerors But under such una-
vorable circumstances for development several ancient
celebrated its excellence. Some ardoned il with the ee
gance OF fancy others methodZed il with the precision
Of rules. Hesod, one Of the earliest OF the Grecian
poes sang lis praises; Xenophen at later period, in
his Economies treated of its Importance, and described
its influence on the prosperity OF country and the ad
vancement Of civilization. Virgil has ennobed the sub
isct with the dignity Of Latin verse In his Georges he
described the rural occupation OF his ounirymen, and
treated at length of the cultivation OF the soil.
In every age agriculture has claimed the attention of
mankind in proportion to the degree OF freedom and civ
period OF republican Rome, agriculture was held in high
estimation Thati. was deemed an honorable occupation
Is certan-ior Cato and Cincinnaus called from
the plough TO the dignity OF the consulshp but under the
rule o subsequent desposm in Italy, the rural arts de.
cllned The once fertile fields OF the Campagna, which
supplied mulliudes with employment and susenance, the
and pestlenta marshes For the same reason the "feu
ds system" which prevailed for several centurss in Eu
rope was uniavorabe to the development OF systematic
agriculture The tller Of the soil was but the mere vas
sal and slave Of his liege lord :
"Gur'h born thra OF Cedric the Saxon" without one
nooe aspiration for Improvement was the ahect slave
o. ignorance, as well as the servile bondman OF his
have thus alluded to the past to show tina, ignorance
and despohsm have ever obsructed Improvement The
converse OF tins s equally true, that intelligence and
freedom secure advancement the useiul pursuits oil
NE But we leave "ihe dead past and proceed TO speak
Of the living present.
The age IN which live is characterized by improve
menls IN every department OF life Progression is the
law OF humanity; The application OF science TO agr.
culture rs the beginning OF new era in husbandry, and
ha. lald the foundation Of system based upon clear
and rational principles Chemistry, mueraogy, and ge
oogy are among the triumpha recently achieved by the
human mind, and have already taught the agricuurst
many useful lessons Inquiries have been made into the
causes OF the fertility and baenness OF the eath The food
and nutriment OF vegetables, the nature OF the soil, and
the best means OF meorating it's condition The far
me seeing OF which yields its eighty bushels,
and an adjoining with the sunshine, the same
atmospheric influences, and waiered with the same ge
nal showers OF Heaven, producing but twenty bushels,
has been led TO inquire, whence this difference The
analysis OF science has solved the problem, The organic
elements which enter into and form the cereal grains
are ascertaned The true theory OF the laws oil vese
table life teaches that those elements in soluble state
avg Aken up Dy tne sponRioes OF Iooues Oh tne pant
which, by their power of assimilation, convert those ele
ments the stem, leaves, and seeds OF the perfect
plant Liebeg. Johnston and others have done much in
agricultural chemistry, towards reducing agriculture to
The certainty OF science Science and experience teach
the iamer that elements wanting in the soil must be
suppedelemen.s absuacted from the soil by excessive
cropping must be restored In shor il as necessary Tor
,he farmer to feed his land his team. This TACT has
been dsregarded in some parts of-Vngina, and other
portions OF the South, and consequent barrenness and
sefiliiy have been the result.
Scientific knowledge, admitted to be indispensable in
oher empoymens has been thought to be OF little con
sequence in agriculture The previous study Of years is
Iequea IN other professions before the pupil ls pei
mueo 10 pfactec and yet II has been supposed that
every man could become successful agricuturist with
pu' any preliminary preparation. This false idea has
peen one OF me principal of the slow progress
which has been made The agricultural requires an
eoucaoh winch shall teach the principles useful his
i Anu now 70 apply those principles in practice Science
mas zone much for The benefit of mankind. " II has
sng'nened hfe II has mitigaled pain il has prevented
$3.50 mas gwen new security to the mariner; il has
spanned great rivers with bridges Of form unknown to
our fathers It has guided the thunderbolt harmlessy
IRON Heaven 10 earth il has lighted up the night with
'he lendor OF day. has extended the range of human
VISION; Il has multiplied the power OF the human muscle
y has accelerated motion II has annhaied distance |;
has Facilitated intercourse, making the very air the
highway OF thought; il has enabled man to descend 10
ne ueplhs o the sea, 10 in the air. to penetrate
securely INTO the noxous OF the earth to trav
sse tb- earth in with the speed of the wind and
%s ocean IN ships1whch wait not for wind or tide
fa"y f.y an agency which has produced such important
@ should not be overlooked in its application to that
~ n winch all others based upon which all others
me county OF Onondaga. point OF natural fertility,
Aks among the fret in the State but If we fail to make
Wacucsl application OF the philosophy OF tillage,
ue eIemens OF fertility which bouneous Nature has sup
I'D apI, ahnA