The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-27

species of timber can be reproduced almost ad
infnilun,, without ANY perceptbe deterioration
in quality, is reduced to a science, taught in
academies and colleges. And trough we may
not, in this country, feel the necessity OF hns-
banding our almost countless resources of the
forest, vet more attention than has hitherto been
paid to the subject is certainly due to it, II is
to such societies as yours, submit this sugges-
ton II is to your ZEAL wisdom and experience
that the country may confidently look for the
prevention OF these evils.
The limits of this discourse will not allow me
to refer to the subject Of breeding domestic ami
mails, but cannot omit to bring TO your notice
4 most valuable qnadruped-'the ship of the
desert"-for the introduction OF which. an APP.
preparation was made by the list Congress. j
have no manner of doubt that the camels which
nur government are about to import from Ara
ba, for the transport ,tion Of military stores,
may soon become domesticated in the sterile re-
yions and stepprs Of the far West 1t may, in
time, prove Il valuable auxiliary to our internal
commerce, and u very convenient though com.
paratively slow INSTRUMENTATION between
distant territories 1'he camel Of Arabia il, to
all intents and purposes, II domestic animal;
fulfilling the joint functions OF the horse the OK,
and the sheep, and will, no doubt, enter largely
into the domestic economy of our people.
Cameps hair and the hair of the Augorl goat
III animal which | yet hope to nee introduced
into the Allegheny and Rocky mountans--are
the raw material employed in many Of the most
valuable tissues Of the East, and there is no rea-
son to doubt, that with the same raw material
at our command, and with the aid Of suitable
machinery, our ingenious and enterprising coun-
| trymen, would, in due tune, furnish similar, if
not better fabrics.
must now apologize for briefly introducing
a topic, not egtimately connected with agricul-
ture and not properly coming within the scope
of your society. would gladly avoid II, if its
introduction were not in some degree necessary
to complete the cycle Of ideas which, have sug.
gested these reflections. cannot close my re.
marks without referring to the mineral wealth Of
our country.
| America is rs rich in minerals as in soil, and
! produces all valuable and useful metals In the
greatest abundance Iron is not confined to any
particular locality 1t is found in various parts
of New England and New York it extends
throughout the whole State of Pennsylvania,
and the mountain regions of Maryland, Virginia,
and North Carolina; it exists in large quantities
in the States Of Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, and Illinois, and on Like Superior furn..
ishing everywhere the levers of civilization to
an industrious and energetic people.
| The coal region of the United States includes
Pennsylvania, parts Of Maryland. Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and
Ohio. and covers an area larger than the united
Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland Lead
and zinc are to be found in almost every portion
of the United States but in inexhaustible guam
titles in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
1 10 md m aYta in varin rfo
Of the Union but the great copper.felds are on
the borders of Lake Superior and in New
Mexico. Gold and silver are found in California,
Oregon, and New Mexico, and along the range
of the Allegheny mountains in Virginia, North
Carolina, and Georgia.
One great popularity of the mining regions
of America, and especially those of coal, iron,
and lead, consists in the remarkable fact that the
mineral is found, in large quantities, beneath the
richest and most productive soil promising at
the same time rich harvest TO both the miner
and the husbandman Wenot only produce the
minerals necessary to the construction of tools,
agricultural implements and machinery, in an
advanced state of industrial development, but
also the precious metals in s1ch abundance as
will eventually enable US TO regulate the stand
ard of values, and to control the commerce of
the world. IL is maintained by some writers on
rculture, is at least kindred pursuit The az
rculturist draws from the earth the organic
power which sustains vegetable Ns-the miner
delivers her of the treasure long accumulated in
her lap. Mining, like the pursuit of agriculture,
nerves the arm, hardens the body, and renders il
capable Of great physical excrtiou. knowl.
edge Of nineralogy, geology, and chemistry, is
indispensable TO the successful pursuit Of both
branches Of industry, ard will enable the farmer
10 look for new sources 81 wealth beneath the
soil he cultivates; while il will induce the miner
occasionally to turn his attention very proftably
to the external surface Of the vault that covers
his mining operations. The division Of labor
has, no doubt, its advantages as regards the
mere cheapness Of production but il is less
conducive TO the development Of the mind, and
is rarely applicable TO sparscly settled country
In thus cursorily reviewing some Of the chief
articles Of agricultural and mineral productions
which form the basis Of our foreign exchanges
and regulate, In great measure, also the do.
nestle exchanges Of the different States Of our
own confederacy, the question may arise, how
far the establishment OF proper institutions, or
the improvement and better administration Of
those already in existence, may aid in the die
semination Of knowledge among the great BODY
Of our industrious and independent cultivaiors
Of the soil. The subject is m important one.
and appears thus far, TO have excited but little
pull lie attertion.
II would seem, too, rs IL our diplomatic and
consular system were organized simply In re.
gard TO the great interests Of commerce and
manufactures: but could they not be made
equally subservient to the mother interested ar-
ricuture and its coordinate branchesl While
our consuls report on the commerce and mann
fact res Of foreign countries, would IL not be
well 10 require them 10 report also on the differ.
ent agricultural productions OF those countries,
and the improvements which from time TO time
nav be introduced into culture Might they
not be made TO furnish detailed accounts Of the |
different modes Of cultivation. the manner Of
preserving crops the agricultural implements in |
use, and the various kinds Of manure rcsoried 10 |
ne means or preserving or restoring soils ~
Could they not be induced TO report on all the |
variety Of frnit, shade, and ornamental trees and
forward specimens Of seeds, plants, roots, and
huibs Cor urAtuitous distribution arcompanipd