Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-11
MK. RHEIMS ADDRESS.

bic causes. We address ourselves to the remedy
That remedy farmers of Va, depends on YOU: and il is
hard say whether it imports more to yourselves or
society. With new Constitution, we enter upon a
! new order of things. By universal suffrage, and bv
making all the most important Offices elective,
ditiona amount of power has been infused into our DO
litical systeman additional amount of energy aso-
The restless activity of the people will be stayed;
and agriculture whether for veal or wo will respond
to the impulse. Two are before yoeither to
neglect the new duties which claim performance at
your hands, thereby to sink below the depths of party
spirit into the foul abyss of pal .izanship, ana see
yourselves des faded nation of tools and dupes; to
surrender the whole direction of public affairs to those
who make trade ofpolitcs and pander to the worst
passions OF the people whom they corrupt and abuse
and betray-ether this, to take that control which
rightly belongs to you the natura rulers of the State
and representatives gifts conservatism foster public
spirit and private enterp re- to instruct enlghten de-
end and provide for the people, to give tight direction
to the public mind and to protect it from tnat bondage
| which the demagogue would impose and which is rv-
eted by uniformed and selfish and narrow shirt
these are the observation-disclosures We between tbe
two You must conquer by action, or submit bv in
| action Why not conquer! 1t is not dficult Men
nsnctvely worship law and order because il is neces
sary self preservation. The true strength and ex
ceence of government never did lie, God forbid it ever
shall lie in numbers. Moral Influences control
its operations, anly gravity controls our steps
But unlike gravity these influences are inert and re-
quire to be put in notion Itwere invidous to par Gu
arize, but may point in general terms to States
north and west ofus, in which, the other of
| these alternatives predominates, see steadness
loyalty and vii or the germs ofresessness anarchy
/
await u.s. or the other we must speedily assume
Our population is beginning to increase The far West
has receded too far for further emigration Our peo-
pie will stay at home They be driven abroad
| population will press upon subsistence and we must
make provision for it, it will make provision for it
self and become curse, instead of blessing.
But how shall this provision be made? By ag-
cpltural improvement in the first place. by devel-
oping the of the State to keep all citi
zens at work. By this means. have every conf
dence that in few years. shall regain the ground
we have lost; and go far ahead of other States as
| they are ahead of u.s. This is idle boast. In
| spite of the comparative bad management which
have proved to prevail i'll Virginia it appears from the
census of 1910 that the total value of agricultural pro-
duce, including, ofcourse, what was consumed the
farm and otherwise applied to agricultural uses was,
| in round numbers, in Virginia, New York and Massa-
chusets, yeight one hundred and eight and nine and
half millions of dollars respectively being to each per-
son employed in agriculture in these States, $ls66o,
$24O and $lO8 showing excess in favor of Virginia
over Massachusetts, of 42 per cent and of New York
over Virginia of 22a per cent. Though should not
despond too deeply, nor exultoo highly on account of
this deficiency excess, since inspection of the
bles of production will show that the difference main
ly due, the hand to the grade of staples, de-
pendent climate and SOIL and on the other to the
| greater value oftheir annual productions.
Thus find that in 1910 Massachusetts produced up
wards of five millions ofbushes of potatoes. go bush
els to each citizen of her agricultural industry whilst
we made less than three millions of bushels, for 800
But of wheat and corn made upwards of thirtyfve
millions of bushels and Massachusetts fraction under
two millions At that time, too there bounty on
the production of wheat which stimulated its growth
beyond the steady capacity othe State proved the
returns ofthe last which putting her wheat crop
at 297e4 bushels, shows deficit of 1913 139 bushels
compared with the product of 1e40 whereas in Virgil
mia there general increase of so per cent and much
larger know, to tide and all that part of the
State tributary to Richmond On the other hand we
find when compared with New York. that made OF
wheat $780, of corn so per hand and she of
wheat S27 of corn $15s42, than 100 per cent
deficit. But in value OF live stock and dairy products
and hay, we made $102 $4. $3.50 respec5vely-$114.
3d. and she 1921, 1913, SOL 70-$2057o or nearly one
hundred per cent excess The of value of her
oat and orchard crop about osetts the value of
tobacco crop, and leaves the difference in favor of New
York mainly dependent on wool AS there is evil
dent mistake in the number of pounds of wool in Vir
einia in the report of 1S40 shall
the figures but refer in lieu of it to the sasacto
ryreport of the present census, which shows
in New York of 80 per cent i'll Sheep but only 21 per
in WOOL or in that stock which the New York far
feeds and starve, advantage III favor,
erabe to climate alone. off, per cent. But capa
city for grass and hay and for live stock and their pro
ducts is fully equally to theirs and what is OF
sheep, equally true of every other Of farm stock
With this cheering exhibit in favor think it
only necessary for the farmers to cooperate heartily
and ell that our condition requires can be soon at
tanned If we agree to meet each other and to dis
ourwants state experience and practices,
pare opinions and concert plans Tor actlon the task
is more than half accomplished For reflection will
have begun to to reform.
But it is not likely that meeting for such purposes
alone, will possess sufficient interest to call farmers
gether oen and keep them convened long enough do
much good. We woald therefore propose as add
tOnal attraction, the formation OF Agricultural
ciety. Let this be properly organized; let it establish
shows and fairs for the exhibition and sale OF live stock
and farming implements let liberal premiums be judi
ciouslv bestowed these and kntred things on farms
and and useful Inventions let addresses be de-
livered by most intelligent, practical farmers and
never when it possibly be avoided, by any other
class of men; let this whole thing be festival and il
interest is awakened i'll behalf of Agriculture it
will be because of deplorable mismanagement or be-
the farmers of Virginia not actuated by the
motives which, under circumstances, have
failed to influence the same class of men elsewhere.
There may be some who will object to Agricultural So
ceties as useless, If not pernicous humbugs We have
not time to arGure the question at length with such
persons, to require OF them, righttuy may,
offer better substitute for the donothing policy which
we propose to suppant Ourfath is song in the good
effects of such Societies. which only useful as
exhibitions of the skill of the farmer and of his best
friend the mechanic, and affordng in farm manage.
ment stock breeding, and in implements models for
the dgent enquirer and encouragement competitors
for excellence but also, means o. elciting, Incl
IDENTIFY much valuable information from those who
pose such Societies 1t has been well said recently,
that the principle of exhibitions has been recognized
by all nations and in all chimes. Man naturally seeks
to enlist the sympathy of his fellow towards the OBJ
ject which he admires. The worlds history tells u.s.
that every people, according to the spirit its time and
national feeling, has held exhibitions OF that which it
held IN highest esteem At present, they the "or
der of the day. And, with the triumph of Vir-
ginias skill at the Worlds Fair, when Mccormick $
and Husseys Reapers bore off the palm from all sorts
CT competition and where America contributed sub
stance whilst Europe offered gew-gaws we should be
the very last to reprobate or abiure them.
, But who ever heard of Northern people spending
money where it did pay and continuing to do year
by year! If is true that safely follow them in
matter of dollars and cents may take lesson fom
the late report of the Treasurer of the New York State
Agricultural Society," According to that document we
find that the total receipts of the Society for the last
year. including the State contribution of $3.50 40 was
$17,2le 49, of which sum $11954 25 was received for
entrance tickets and contributions the State Fair all
paid by individuals who love their money least as
well as we do vi this sum $5,l55 10 distributed
npremiums and only $1,000 1sexpended in salaries
Whenit is considered that this striking exhibits made
after experience of twenty years. think it very
safe to conclude thatl evidences utility, good manage
men and public spirit beyond all praise Shall we not
emulateit! The details of the management of other
Societies. which tedious to recount exhibit sim
liar, if not equal, results.
The last question shall discuss is that of the nan
ces necessary to start and sustain such Society," We
has henn don.