Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-30

Mr. Gould justly said are Of the second class Of nub
cations but several Of them deserving Of all praise
Inc New England Farmer, edited by Mr. Thomas G. Fes
senden was perhaps the pioneer Of the Journals Of this
class ana deserves kindly remembrance Through these
various channels much agricultural information has been
dihused through the community. Every European inn
proyemen IS Immediately made known on this side of the
Atlanc every thing done in any part of our vast
country is promptly communicated to every other part
and as the natural consequence already in this
department. as in Others beginning repay our inteec-
tual debt to Europe.
II would be impossible, on an occasion like this to
enamerate all those who have cooperated in this great
and merorious work Of dusng useful knowledge the
subject Of husbandry but it would be unjust say
that we are indebted to the valley of the Connecticut
river for two most important contributions The first is
the geological survey Of the State made different
periods by President Hitchcock the reports of which
tain vast deal of information the subject of the SELL
am sure, sir that the venerable President honored
and useful in his other relations the community
titled to distinct tribute of gratitude ON this score from
the farmers OF the State His geological surveys have
been initiated in many other States of the Union but in
none OF them has the task been credaby performed
Inc other contribution made to agricultural knowledge
from the valley OF the Connecticut, to which alluded is
that contained in the agricultural survey of the State by
the Rev Mr. Colman, then of Deerfeld This UNI
deraking which, well President Hitchcocks second
survey had the honor of recommending the Legs
iature The work was not completed, having extended
only 10 Tour or hve counties but the four annual reports
made by Mr. Colman embody great deal Of information
Is matter OF sincere congratuation that the Legsla
tan step in the establishment Board of Agriculture
HIS exeeency the Governor is entitled the thanks of
farmers for the counenance he has extended the
measure OF which also his honor the Lieutenant Governor
has been firm and influential friend If the new board
does as much for the Improvement agriculture as the
Board OF Education which it is partly modelled has
done for that great interest it will indeed prove public
/ blessing g@.8
Another active of the start which our agrcul-
ture has taken within the last thirty years find in the
great increase of disposabe capital and its liberal invest
anita fhao
IN agriculture that it does in manufactures
NO great improvements can be expected unless with the
ad OF capital which afford to lay out of the interest
while the experiment going and if need be bear the
burden of failure In order to carry on husbandry
the greatest advantage there must be sufficient MEANS
not for costly buildings tasteful embellishments these
granfy the eye, and when they can be afforded
praseworthy object of expenditure but they add no
thing TO the productive value Of estate But in order
to the progress of agriculture there must be sufficient
quantity and variety Of land good buildings well adapted
TO their several Objects durable fences plenty Of stock
of all kinds superior implements and the means Of CON-
manding an adequate supply of labor All this requires
capital. i
1t is within rather recent period that great invest
ments for the purposes of agricultural improvement have
been made even in England where capital abundant
But at the present time expended this object
which are almost fabulous The outlay of the late Lord
Leicester better known Mr. Thomas Coke for improy-
ing his light soils in Norfolk the expenditure Of the
Duke OF Portland on the water meadows of Clipstone
ana that OF several great propretors in draining al
agriculture of Europe gives very interesting details on
TINS SUBJECT never wish the time when any such
accumuiaons as required for these gigantic opera
IONS shall exist In this counry they Of proper
ton TO every thing else that exists among us but all win
agree with that great benefit has accrued to our
bandry from the capital which for thirty years past has
been flowing from the seaboard to the interior Houses
barns, and fences have been built meadows drained
rocky wastes cleared and brought into tiage improved
breeds of animals imported, and in many parts Of the
state an almost entirely new face put upon the country
TINS species OF investment may not in all yield the
largest immediate return but really think it is that
which in the long is most advantageous the COM
munity.
Another circumstance which, if am not mistaken has
contributed especially of late years. the improvement
OF our agriculture, which certainly has prevented
from experiencing drawback in consequence Of search
y of labor, is the great immigration from Europe Many
causes had combined to drain the Atlantic States and
especially the interior OF State, of large por-
ton OF the flower of youth Commercial life has been
TOO often regarded by young preferable to
farming and has tempted them from the country
believe they make mistake in reference to the
acquisition OF property. very intelligent gentleman
not now living, 1.-THE late Mr. John Lowell told me MANY
years ago that he himself friend forget which
made list Of twenty individuals who went from the
country to town and engaged in trade and Of twenty
others who stad the farms where they were born AT
the end OF twenty years the advantage was on the
sac OF the farmers more Of them had propered and in
the aggregate they had acquired more property Such
however, hos not been the general impression and il
has too often happened that Of best young men
nave left farms on which they might have done well to
engage In trade in which they have failed Many too
have been tempted by the rich lands Of the West and
now lately California, under the excitement of the gold
fever has more than decmated some portions of New
England There is perhaps not village in Massachu-
sets that has not representative 10 San Francisco
and the Sacramento. 1t is obvious that these circu
stances must have affected agriculture unfavorably
by making labor scarce and dear IL seems therefore
an almost proydentia appointment, which, the very
moment when TINS drain acting severely upon
US has opened the sluiceways Of foreign immigration
Sech phenomenon as that which has been exhibited
within the last few thousand emprans and more
landing upon our shores every day In the years with
out parallel IN the history Of the world am not in
sensible that II is attended with some
especially At the places Of debarkaton The public cha
rtabe institutions in our seaports are burdened by
crowd OF new comers but what benefit is there under
Heaven that has not some such drawback Upon the
whole am satisfied that ought TO regard this prodi
gous Immigration as great movement in human affairs
equally beneficial to the old world and the new The old
world IS relieved Of its surplus population Many Of the
emgrants bring capital and skill. or those who bring
neither, nearly all bring the capacity to labor We have
lano enough and TO spare labor is Of the utmost import
ance 70 rs, and am confident that deriving bene
fits from this far Outweishhg the
with which those benefits are qualified.
But must hasten on fear detain you too long-to
another source from which agriculture has derived
great improvement alude to the railways which within
thirty years have thrown their network the State
IS mainly in consequence Of the railways that capital
as have already observed has flowed back from the
board TO the interior. But for these great facilities of
communication IL would be far less frequent thing for
those who have left the country and prospered in the city
to come back in the decline of life their native village
Then, too, what asyincreased value is given by the
railroads the land products Tho afeot