Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-10
3D. From the Southern Planter. fH
How 70 Advance Agricultural Sci


CnCG.
Mr., RHfiu.-The great reproach of agri-
culture has long been its slow progress toward
Improvement. Should have hit upon one
chief cause of this, and in some degree its rem
edy, You would. am sure. value the feeblest
ray OF light on this our great national interest.
Agriculture is an experimental science, with
this striking peculiarly. that a ,OAole gear Is
required for one experiment.. When the fall
ling of an apple suggested to Sir Isaac Newton
IN inquiry ss to its cause, he could repeat that
or similar trials to any desirable extent in a
short time. So also Of chemistry and most
other objects ofexperimental scient!6c research
This difficulty as to time is plain and unden.
able, yet have never seen it insisted on, or
turned to any practical account. The remedy
would seem to combine the united efforts Of
many observers. such as we may now find in
our State Society. The tru. key to progress
in this work has, think, been found by the
Hole and Corner Club of Albemarle, No. L."
and only requires to be enlarged and applied to
the whole State. to produce the hsppest re-
suits. The leading idea of their association
was 10 devise, with due elaboration, set of
experiments for each year, to be tried BY Sc
lsct committees. and their exact results to be
reported. Should the Executive Committee
OF our Socieiy do this Office, Of planning care
fully, and.H possible. in tabular form, some
twenty to fifty experiments, and then distrib-
ute the duty Of their performance to some TWEEN
~ or fifty persons for each one, in sections of
two or ihreen differen, eighborhoods through
out tho State; we could hope to learn some
thing certain each year. Should all these sub.
ssantailly agree on their special subject. then
It might be set down as proren. if any serious
contradiction. try it again. These gentleman
OF the Hole and Corner Club have settled sun
dry points to their satisfaction but il tried on
m adequate scale, general conviction would
be the result.
After selecting the most important matters
for full experiment, list of queries should al-
90 DO proposed. to invite observation and re-
Election. as well as to elicit information from
such persons as may happen to know the prop.
Or answer.
A State fair for live stock, agricultural i'm
Plenents and rare productions, is necessary,
- showing important results of labor and in.
genuity In pleasing and profitable way; a.
also to encourage association and mere ex-
tended acquaintance among ourselves. But
- So AsS"A NSaa'S ufC ShSi OstcCt Oi our SOcl.
ETY.. rather lOok upoa ,hsn as necessary
evils.
Should theas views meet your approval and
be carried out. | shall feel highly grati6ed;
f'r really believe that the talent and energy
Of our State thus directed and made cooper
alive, will do mors 70 advance our science than
tho isslated and random efforts of "all the
world besides" The advantages ofa State
Society TO draw forth and difuse what may
be already known on agriculture is very great;
but the above views seem to imply an ALSO
lutte ~ecessity for such an institution to insure
any progress, They certainly afford the
strongest argument can Conceive for the in
corporation and endowment of our Society by
che Legislature. as we'll as for its cordial sup
port by all who are. or wish TO be, improving
farmers. As soon expect an iadicidacl to
build railroad and drag the car himself. as 10
push forward the csrof agricultural science
alone. Yours. sincerely.
THOMAS w. MzRRIwErnER.
February 1889.