Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-11-24

disgrace to lie farmer, and the American
masses decided that it should be no ground
for his exclusion from the Chief Masisracy
Now, the question arises how is the IA; ;m.r
to be elevated to his Legitimate rank into so.
cirty. and the annual accessions to the pro-
frsson ended! AS am farmer, | shall
make no apology for addressing myself to
this question with carncstncss.
In the first place it is of primary import.
ance that moro attention should be devoted
to such sciences as aid US in the anal ysis OF
our soils, and the application of manure.
Chemistry should form the study of every
person who designs to become cultivator
Of the soil. knowledge of agricultural
chemistry is the corner stone in the charac-
ter of the farmer. independently OF the
pleasure to be derived from its study, it will
prove highly useful to one who tlIs the
ground. We all know that some mauurcs
cause both corn and cotton to " fire" and to
fail in seasons of drought; yet how few can
give a rational explanation of this phenome-
nontam not recommending people to grasp
shadows, or to adopt every untricd theory,
but to acquire practical knowledge Of all
TINT dilninishcs labor, and presents the en-
taustion of the soil; to increase the useful
ucss aud responsibility of their vocation hy
mental Improvement; and to lay aside the
customs Of past times, rs things that have
been superseded by new inventions.
Secondly, as matters now stand, every
one feels the evils resulting from the lack OF
the esprit d'corpS, which common habits,
homogeneous interests, and kindred pursuits
should inspire. Each man depends upon his
own stock of knowledge, and ncighborhood
is divided from ncighhorhood as il by an inn
passabIe gulf. We know nothing of what
is transpiring outside Of our own neighbor-
hood, and not unfrcquently never see our
nearest nrighbors more than once in six
months. The wise nhservant man NAV pick
speculation out Of the conversation of
the most stupid and iltcratc, and improve
by the blunders of others. But do we man
ifrst any desire to gain information, to aban-
don our false notions, aud to avail ourselves
Of the salatary improvements of the age |.
The mass Of agrculturists seem indissolubly
welded to the customs Of their fathers.-
"Book Farming is Il synonym of arrant
and i'll success.
This is serious obstacle to Improvement.
If farmers would organize county societies
for the distribution Of the premiums, the in.
tcrchaugc OF individual experiences, tie dis.
cussiu,r Of new-imprnyculeuts and theories.
they would add to their stock of knowledge,
aud give a frcsil impulse to agricultural pro-
gr,s:. The social relations and ncighborly
charities, that such reunions would produce,
are alone enough to justify the formation oil
these country societies. We must act with
concert, if we would accomplish anything OF
moment.
shall conclude this article by invoking
planters, however meagre their early educa
tion may have heeii, or much neg lccted, to
take agricultural papers, to throw aside their
aversion to book farming, and to improve
their minds by judicious course of reading,
Do not lag behind the age, nor cling to Gus.
toms which have long since been condemn.
ed. But ahoye all, employ all your arts OF
persuasion and influence, to dl<suade yonr
sons from cmbarking in professions now ton
ovcrstocked. Agriculture opens 4 fair field
fnr tbs exercise of their talent, and affnrds
full scope for their ambition. Edmund Ruff.
fin has carncda fame that time cannot etIace.
He is more of a hcnoiactor Of his race than
the hero whose claims to fame are recorded
in blood. A. w. DILLARD.