Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-03-15

die household goods farming Implements and
the thousands OF cnfgrailts. NhO are annually
seeking homes in our beautiful Wisconsin. and
heavily laden on their return, with our surplus
produce; villages and cities have crown up rs
( by enchantment; colleges, academies, and COM
mon schools are in Successful operation; plank
| and rail roads have become the order of the day,
and the telegraph wires convey to us the earliest
| intelligence. Such is rapid sketch OF progress
scarcely less rapid. Such is faint picture Of
scenes which have passed before the eyes Of ma
ny who are here to-day, TO participate in the first
public exhibition Of the agriculturists of Wiscon-
sin.
Let US now for a moment contemplate what
remains to be and to place us in the frs! rank of
a-riculturists, rank we ought to hold, station
we siaQ occupy if we bat do justice to our rich
soil and superior advantages. Upon this point
there may be diversity of opinion, but | am
quite confident that all will agree that we have
pursued the continual cropping system quite
long enough, and that we must change our Opc-
ratlons if we would keep our lands in good con-
dition. have no doubt that the system which
has been pursued heretofore has perhaps been
the best that could have been pursued taking all
things into consideration. Oar farms were of
necessity fenced into large fields or enclosed in
one entire field the tough, prairie sod had to I'M
dergo the process Of decomposition, and it was
only by continual blowing and cropping, that it
could be brought into good state OF cultivation,
and properly sublued
Wheat being CCngcnial 10 our sol! and the sta
pie commodity Of the country, the facilities for
transpandng it TO an eastern market or selling
to eastern purchasers being favorable and prices
generally fair, our wants being numerous and
pressing, there seemed to be no alternative but
to that ,f h;al,
w.ll adapted to our soil and which yielded the
most sure and profitable return to the farmer
But the times have changed, our circumstances
have changed, Our farms are being fenced mo
smaller fields and better adapted TO a system Of
mixed husbandry and Il rotation of crops. Oar
cattle and sheep have muliipliad; the quantity Of
wheat per acre has diminished and the crop less
sure than formerly, it having been grown for a
long succession OF years on the same ground,
prices have become iluCtuating and therefore Un-
certain, and labor commands higher prices than
formerly, the unprecedented failure Of the last
years crop, together with the low price, has cau-
sd our hide bound pockets and purses to COM
plain Of that most serious maadv, the "cmptv
belly ache" These and other causes which
might be named, have awakened spirit Of en-
quiry, in order TO ascertain ard apply the most
safe and sure remedy to restore healthy and
successful action III our farming operations.
The subject began to be investigated, and ii was
very soon asccrlained that in order to effect a
permanent cure, requires the united efforts and
wisdom OF the whole farming community; pub
lie meeting was notified for consultation, and from
that meeting originated this association. The
several meetings Of the club. have been well at
tended and interesting. The various topics per-
tanning to agriculture have been discussed, an
interchange of views and opinions respecting
, our present system OF farming, and the nccosSity
and feasibility of changing and improving the
same, and the various methods BY winch II may
be DONE has believe, convinced all Of Us that
the growing OF grain exclusively, and Particular
/ !y wheat, on lands which have been devoted to
that purpose for a succession of years must BE-
/ abandoned, and that il we would keep oar lands
in good condition, and render our farming OpCr-
atoms profitable and successful, we must adopt
Il more systematic course, having as far a. Frac-
tcable, particular reference to Il judiCOus rota-
lion OF crops and special care, that our drafts up
] on our mother earth do 10. exceed our deposits.
Agricultural associations have been found to
! be indispensable in all sections of the country,
! where an attempt has been made to elevate the
standard OF agriculture to that rank which It's inn
/ porance demands. These societies encourage
the spirit of enterprise, they difuse the knoWl-
edge OF useful experiments, and tend to awaken
a commcndabl2 competition in the various depart
ments Of agriculture. They animate and en-
courage the farmer in his pursuits, and he col
( loCts from year 10 year information that greatly
adds to the pleasures and profits of his daily bu-
siness. in those places where they have been
/ kept up for many years. they nave confidence OF
the public. All classes Of citizens are Interested
in them. The most successful farmers take the
! deepest interest mtaem, and are always ready to
alifuse as far as practicable the skill on which
/ their Success depends.
/ The farmers in general, possess one noble and
distinguishing trait, il i, a readiness to impart
all the valuable information which they have on
the subject of farming They have no desire to
/ keep secret those measures by which the condi-
ton Of their noigh5ors may be improved.
/ In tho meetings Of orr society, information
will thus be communicated. that cannot be com
mtted to paper, for the farmer will sec and know.
/ he will hear and h. instructed So highly do
esteem these associations that were | as led what
is the first and most important step to be taken to
improve the agriculture Of any section Of the
country, nv answer would be, " form an aEricul-
! tural society," and for the most indspcnbIe re-
qui,jle, Iwould recommend agricultural journals.
These peri ideals have done wonders in convey
/ ing knowledge to the farmers Of the various mo-
( thods by which they might elevate their profess
sion, increase their profits, and assume that rank
I in society, and in the councils OF the safe and
nation, to which they rs a class are cn'itI2d
/ And however saecrngly the oyerWiso, set-sut-
hjcont and narroW-mluded may dccry " Book
! Farming" the insinuation is 50 fiimsy and pre-
4 pos;crous, that no liberal minded and enluirina
man will tolerate it for an instant Is il 70 DE-
presumed that any one Is perfect, that he is all
wise and beyond tie power Of Increasing his
. knowledge Is the experience Of the long liza
Of an individual endowed with an acute and dis
cIning mind, worth nothing, when 4 column OF
ordinary print can convey the experience OF
years on particular sahIact in the clearest man
( ner, ard beyond cayil or doubt Ii / discoy-
or valuable fact in the rotation Of crops or in
the application OF manures, or produce new and
valuable grain orfruit, and discover it only 10 my
immediate neighborS, there perhaps it Dies: bat
disseminated By means OF the press with lis hun
drcd thousand wings TO the ionr winds of heaven
it becomes Il recorded fact. more durable than the
( sculptured marble or the monuments of a nations
history, accessible to all and free TO all alike
( \ well conducted agricultural paper. with its cd
itorials, its communications and selections Gun
bracing the whole talent OF the country, are Sc
many individuals a.rayed with their argument,
ready for combat with any antagonist, and The
reader may comwre. DISCUSS. digest or reiUte il
L -sE