The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-23

course OF things 1t may suit the habits OF
certain class, but cannot finally meet the
wants or wishes Of those who are accustomed
New York and Ohio-which at first performed
prodlges In the way Of wheat raising-are
found to be as susceptible of exhaustion as the
shallow soil of New Hampshire, the sandy
fields of New Jersey, or the old tobacco districts
of Maryland and Virginia. The rich prairies
OF Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, which, ac-
cording to a popular delusion, fill mans gra-
naries at the rate Of forty bushels an acre, are
found rarely to average more than twelve or
fifteen. Even the deep aluvion of Missis-
sippi and the whole Southwest is found to be
subject to the rigid law which exacts method
and nurture as the conditions of profitable hus-
bandry; and planters who but yesterday relied
on the seemingly exhaustless excellence Of
black mould, are suddenly constrained to seek
assistance from guano, and the more consderate
culture of scientific men.
'Ihe system of agriculture, if the epithet of
system can be applied to it, which is in use in
this part of the United States"-wrote
WASHINGTON in l7S6-"is as unproductve to
the practitioners it is ruinous to the land
holders. Yet" he added, sit is pertinaciously
adhered to-" Professor JOHNSTON, the emf
inent English agricultural chemist, pronounced
nearly the same judgment after tour through
our country two or three years ago. and few will
venture to gainsayit. And yetthe circumstances
of the different States in this respect are
far from being SO hopeless as the professor 3
published "Notes" might lead the world to be-
lieve. The old error of wearing land out and
then abandoning it, is not nearly SO general as
1t used to be. The tide-water section Of Virgil
MIA, parts of Maryland aud New Jersey, East
ern New York, and the New England States,
have witnessed wonders consequent upon the
application of science to nearly worthless lands.
The process OF recuperaton has been COM
peted Tracts that for years presented little
but growth of weeds and brushwood as the
evidence of mans former presence, are again
made to bloom, yielding an increase at once
profitable to the cultivator and gratifying to all
who feel an interest in the country's prosperity
| The prevalence of the evil complained of by
| WASHINGTON in his day, and by every body
| ton of American agriculture, forms forcible
| argument for the proposed bureau, or something
| like it. The good accomplished by the appli-
cation of science as restorative and guide, is
another argument, not less cogent, in behalf of
| the same object. They form, together, the
bane and antdote-the standing evidence of
the necessity of stimulating Improvement, and
hact Of no nf b.
to rectfy the mischief effected by ignorance
They show the scope that exists for active use
fulness, andy comparison with what has
been done through the agency of enterprising
individuals-the gain which may be expected
to accrue from an organization national in its
character, and possessed Of the means that may
be supposed to belong to it in that capacity.
Apart from the efforts alluded to as having
been made for the improvement of impoverished
lands in Eastern States, the formation of county
and State societies, and their acknowledged
usefulness in regard to the improvement of
crops and stock, present strong incentive to
Congressional exertion in one direction or an
other. They exhibit the development of de
sire to bring agriculture up to the standard Of
improvement by which all other pursuits are
now judged, and furnish good augury of the
hearty cooperation that may be relied on by the
chief officer of an Agricultural Bureau. Knowing
that these societies embody in their lists of mem
bers the best practical agriculturists of their re-
spective localities, we confess that any opposition
they might offer to Bureau would lead us to re-
gard it as unacceptable to the country. If they
viewed the proposal as tending unduIy to cen
tralization, and as involving the probability of
heavy cost with no possibility of usefulness,
we should hold Congress justified in lis tacit
refusal to NEEDLE with the subject But the
position Of matters is directly the reverse Of
this. Instead of deprecating the establishment
of Bureau, the intelligent farmers of the
Union, speaking through their local and State
societies, have long and earnestly demanded it
as act of justice TO the interest they repre-
sent, and of the wisest policy in its NATIONAL
bearings. Mr.. NEWTON, on Tuesday last, |
after quoting passage from President TAY-
LoR's message, in l849, in favor of Bureau. |
remarked:
upon this message, and resolutions of several |
State Legislatures, Vermont, New York, (nearly
W qul0 unhninOu'.) Nherhcnuee'te, JcnnceseC, /
Pennsylvania, Alabama, and State boards of Ohio |
and New York, and Of agricultural societies and |
also petitions, extensively from individuals bill
from the minority Of the Committee upon Agri-
culture was presented TO the House on the 81 II of
July, 1850, to establish an A gric ultural Bureau
and laid upon the table; and there IL remained and
was never called up; and from all this mass of evi
dence, and tho weight Of its influence and the de-
mands and wants of more than eighteen millions of
people, this little bill, from the minority of the
committee, lie the product, and the only product
May not the farmers Of the country be constrained
to cry out, Our voices not heard; our prayers
are not regarded; our interests are passed over
with too much indifference
within the last two years that prophetic dccla.
ration OF General Washington, that smaller socie.
lies must move the nation, to which i before re-
erred lie being more strongly demonstrated.
New York bas State society, and from seventy
% eighty county societies. Pennsylvania has
from twelve to twenty county societies, and many
grouped together. Ohio has a State society and
evenly county societies. Massac busetts has
welve societies and In many of ibese societies
eyeral counties together Michigan has twenty
ounty tocieties. Indiana, State society. Ken.
lucky, FIVE county societies. Georgia, a State
Ociety, and fifteen county societies South Can :