Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-01-13

State which its exceeding importance would
seem so Justify. II was The truthful re-
mark OF George Washington, That there is
emo pursuit in which more real or import
ant good can be render ed to a country,th
by the improvement OF its agriculture. =
The art oil tiling The soil IN such manner
as TO secure The largest yield of vegetable
mailer of which il is capable, and The aps
plicaion OF the principles of science 10 that
art. so far as Indispensable 10 The attain
ment of this end is a topic worthy OF the
attention Of the best minds OF the State. -
Agriculture is The primitive, as It is the
most necessary occupation oil man. II
was at the beginning of his exlstence,a e,andis
at the foundation of all his pursuits. In this
Commonwealth, it is peculiarly adapted 10
the soil, to the climate, and TO the habits of
the people, and constitutes their greatest
source of wealth and happiness. II is The
agricullurlst who pays the largest share of
the counlry's taxes in time oil peace, and
furnishes the greatest number of her sol>
ders in time OF war. # is the most steady,
peaceful, and di5nifed, as it is The least
exacting of all our great interests.
But it is said by many good citizens that
there is no utility in the application of the
teachings of science 10 the practice OF ag-
ricuIture. This, IN my opinion, is an er>
roneous idea. In late report from the
Patent Office at Washington, il is estimated
that "one thousand millions Of dollars
would not more than restore to their origi'
nal richness and strength the one hundred
millions oil acres Of land in the United
States, which have already been exhausted
of their original fertility" A proper ap-
pIicaton OF science would arrest this waste
Of the elements Of tire soil. In Europe,
this process Of exhaustion has long since
excited alarm. What it is doing in our
country, is shown by the startling Iacts al.
ready presented. To counteract lis effects
in the former country, about three hundred
and fifty agricultural schools have been es.
tablshed in the latter, there are not doz
en-. The result of the European schools
has demonstrated the practical utility oi
scientific farming. These institutions are
calculated to teach the art OF lllIng The
soil, and to disseminate scientific knowls
edge o(this great pursuit. To place with
in The reach of the agricullurist, knowI'
edge Of The constituent elements Of The
soil, and the influence Of these upon vege-
tation, enabling him TO discover "a deiicien,
cy in any one Of these original parts, and
showing him how to restore it without cx.
haus,ins another 10 learn him 10 compre-
hend the different stmulants for the soil
Of mineral, vegetable, animal or liquid ori'
gin, and The proportion oI each which the
lands may from time TO lime require
They also teach methods Of practical far
ming the use Of implemenls-the nature
of seeds, and the origin and character OF
insects destructive 10 vegetation. What
farmer in Pennsylvania can say that he
has never made mistake in the use OF
manures, or that his crops have never been
injured BY destructive insects And where
is there one who would no: be willing TO
contribute something 10 be protected
against such damage in future!
But is il not astonishing, that in this pro-
gressive country Of ours, so suited 10 agri-
culture, and in this age of scIentlfic dis.
coveries and perfection in all The arts, that
no institutions to impar instruction i'll the
science Of agriculture have been establish
/ ed Ii is true, that societies have been
/ formed in a number Of The States and ex.
/ hiblions have been held calculated to ava.
ken The people to the importance of this
subject. Our Stale society, organized a.
! bout Two years since, has held Two eXhbl,
tions, which have done much good IN the
way of sending to all parts of the State
the best breed Of domestic animals, the best
grains and seeds, and the most approved
agricultural machinery. But it seems tc
me, that the government might justly lenc
her aid and counlenance to This good work
In Maryland, an agricultural chemist ha:
been employed by the State, and | am in
formed that the result Of his investigation:
have been highly satisfactory aud uselu
10 the people. Cannot the great State o
Pennsylvania do as much for her farmers
She has expended large sum in the de.
velopment oil her mineral resources, ant
has cherished her manufacturers by every
proper means, and it is right that sht
should now do something for her agricul
turists. ], therefore, respectfully recon-
mend the appointment of an agricultural
chemist, with a moderate salary, leaving
the details CT his duties 10 be suggested by
The State and county societies.
The subject of growing wool, in ou
State, is worthy oil special attention. hac
the pleasure, at the late State fair, shor
time since, OF examining an extensive care
of specimens Of this article exhibited by
Peter A. Browne, Esq of Philadelphia =
Ii is said 10 be the most extensive, interes'
ting and instructive collection Of specimens
in the United States, or perhaps in th'
world. No man can examine it and no