Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-11-13
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

these Societies are beneficial or not 10 the
agricultural community. To our response
to the remarks which appeared in the Bea-
con some few weeks since, the editor of
that paper replies:
GAIL poetry and puns, my dear fellow
The sole object of these Societies seems to
be to get up an annual Exhibitions; and, in
point Of actual benefi. to the agricultural
community, one number of the finer lean
Farmer Is worth the best half dozen of
these affairs ever held''
''The American Farmer is undoubtedly
valuable to our farmers and planters who
read it, and we have from time to time taken
great pleasure in recommending it to all
those who did not subscribe for it, How
ever, we cannot agree with the editor
of the Beacon in the comparison he has insti-
tu,ed between Agricultural Exhibitions and
the "Farmer.'' We think it is very evident
that that journal has derived most of its
usefulness from agricultural societies and
the men who have been most prominent in
advocating them. Look over its pages, from
time it was first issued by Mr.. SKINNER up
to the present time, and it is evident there
has been gradual improvement in its pages
as agricultural societies have multiplied
in different sections Of our country. The
fact is, Mr.. Beacon, agricultural journals
and agricultural societies are assisted by
each other, and both are inseparably con-
nected with the interests Of Agriculture.
Since the Beacon seems to place but little
or no value upon these societies, i, will be
we'll to examine into the merits of the sub
iect. go that we may arrive at the truth. If
the Beacon is right, we are wrong. Our
object is to benefit the community in which
we live, (Which, like that Of ST. Mary's, is
purely egricutural,) and to gain an honest
Observation-Disclosures, we are sure, which also
prompt our neighbor. As no arguments
are offered BY the Beacon to prove these
associations valueess To the farmer, and
never having seen or read one from any
quarter, we feel some curiosity to know
wha, il is that can be urged against them
1t is true, complaints are sometimes made
that they are not as beneficial as they nigh.
be; but this is no argument against them.
1t only proves that they are not as perfect
ly organized as they should be; and We re-
ply in homely phrase, ''lhe child mast crawl
before it can walk" Its the duty of every
one to do his best to perfect these associa-
lions, and not stand off with folded arms
and find fault. We have thought that pro-
baby our neighbours opinion has been in
Auenced somewh a. by the lean display made
a, Cattle Show in Leonard,own some two
or three years since, but as this is mere sur
mise we will say no more about it. Hav-
ing the interest Of our adopted county at
heart, and believing that well-regmated az
ricultural societies are second to no auxili-
aries in beget'ing spirit Of improvement a.
mong our farmers lly-and especially
in awakening the dormant energies Of thai,
class of them who still persist in rejecting
shook farming'' as humbug, and conse-
quen,ly never read for imformation,-we
have made few extracts from the produc-
tons Of eminent men in the country to sup
port US in the position we have taken.
We will begin with an extrac. from the
Address, delivered by the Hon. ELISHA
WHIrrlEsEv, at the Montgomery County
Agricultural Exhibition, in 1S49 Mr..
Whilllesey himself extracts, it will be seen,
from letter written by President WASH
INGToN-that great and good man, in whose
judgment every American has reason TO
confde. Mr. Wh,'lesey says:
His remarks (Washington's) upon the
formation Of agricultural societies, and the
application for aid from the State and Ma
.ional government, is we'll timed, and mos.
ably and forciby stated:
"Associations, when harmonious, give
strength and energy to the various plans
and objects to which they may be directed
"A ,hree-fold cord is not easily broken"
The establishment Of agricultural societies
was cherished obiec. with President
WASHINGTON. In his letter to Sir John
Sinclair, in 1892, he says: alt will be some
time, fear, before an agricultural society,
with congressional aid will be established
in this country. We must walk, as other
countries have done, before we can run
Smaller societies mus. prepare the way for
greater; but, with the ligh. before US, hope
we shall not be so slow in matura,ion as
older nations have been" He mentions
that on attempt was then maturing to es,ab-
lish State society in Pennsylvania.
Speaking Of the organization of county
and State agricultural societies, Mr.. White