Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-26
AGkiCuITuRE I'M VIRGINIA..


. ne most important suggestion in the Governors
Message is that which recommends TO the fostering
care oil the Legislature the Agrcultural Interests
OF Virginia. We know OF no subject of which His
ExctlleGcy could mote appropriately treat than this
and he has expressed himself upon it in yay which
we hope will lead 10 proab reflection and results
Agriculture is the leading and the most valuable of all
the pursuits OF life. Il is in fact the foundation upon
winch est' The prosperity ofevery individual and com
m nity. 1t furnishes the materials for commerce ma
Vi2aion and manufactures, and supplies the comforts
ana necessities which contribute essentially to the
happiness aud enjoyment of human life. Well there
lore, may Government adopt and recommend the
most efhcent measures Tor imoroving the soil, and
suehgihenlnR and widening the advantages OF this
great department OF Industry. In Virginia the system
OF cultivation reeds extensive and radical reforms,
and they are the beneiactos OF the State who
contribute most by judicous ccunses to the eleva.
ion OF he farming interest For several wears there
mas been an increased feeling amongst the people at
large IN behalf OF this interest, and many salutary
changes have been made in the old routine oil tlage
by which lands were annually impoyerjshed and crops
reduced by the ieeblest averages
The prospect now s, and we are gratlfied 10 see 1t
mat under the guidance of the new lights which SCI
ence mas opened upon the Agricultural world, Viz
giEans VIII soon abandon all their antiquated notions
on the SUBJECT and, catching the spirit of the age 90
ahead, as they should Go. We therefore 6iohIy
commend the Governors illusions ia his Message to
tllis the most important, item of State policy and
would add our humble voice to his TO awaken in the
puoiic mind that universal attention to which il de-
mands one OF the suIesi and speedest methods of
n
ms branch OF our affairs sa vigorous prosecution of
works OF Internal Improvement There is close
aud kindred relation between The two subjects. so
much so that the process which mutplies the f,c;I;
ties OF travel and transportation, serves also TO Slim
late the energies and multiply The resources of The far
mer and planter. The cheaper and more convenient
their access to market the they will exert them
serves 10 iertlllZe their lands by the apnl;cs
tlon OF the various manures In truth the arg,l,nents
ID favor OF comprehensive yet properly discriminate
Ing system oil Internal Improvements by the Com
IL, HDl1 4
weight from the consideration of their insena1ahIe
connection with the Agricultural lnrerest-an interest
To which the proceedings of our Legislature cannot
be too frequently and earnestly tuned.
We have The evidence of the mutually beneficial
ern railroads and canals, which by their influences
have augmented the value of farms along their lines
In many instances 500 per cent, and BY so doing
have secured tor themselves an amount of travel and
transportation which enable them to make profitable
returns to the Stockholders in the shape of dividends
nus DO these two great interests act and re act upon
one another. We and always have BIZ en- the warm
TREND OF Agriculture The "ilers of the soil, in
our estimation, are the most worthy aud substantial
as ney are INF most num- rous class of citizens in the
Commonwealth-and their condition should never he
matter OF indifference to the Lessl ure whose nro
vince II is to devise and adopt such measures as viii
confer the greatest good on the greatest number -
Let our makers, then, nowassembIed al thr Can
lto direct their attention seriously and steadily IN the
claims OF this Eeritorlous branch of their coz suen
cv, ana 40 all IN empower to promote the excellent
views which Gov. johnson has addressed to Them
We wish to Virginia prosper in all Fer denart.
mems OF industry. She Is about putting in mo-
ton the machinery of Government and we
trust that her Legislature will be distinguished bv
practical good sense, which will, in the course of
lew years. e&ll9lt very superior attainments to those
which were realized under the old Constitution
T,t