The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-11-02
The State Fair.

Evefy friead OF the progress Of Virginia mus. re.
jcice 10 behold such evidences of the element, Of
prosperity and wealth furnished By the State
fair AasGnblages Ike tAis OF the asricu.uri.. of
Virginia, wilexert greater and more heaIthful
influence upon her sabstant!a interests than sll the
pelfical Conventions whieh could be held betwean
nov ami tac beginning of the next century. Agri
culture has been tho favori.e pursuit Of Viz
ginia, but unfortunately the farmers and planters
OF the STATE, until n1pasativeiy recent period.
have net appreciated the benefits resulting from
soca.on aaa organization, from the interchange of
views and tie determination Of Information, which
result fror, tle establishment OF Agricultural so
cieties. The Interest of agriculture, 80 long
neglected, have within the last few years. re
eeived a decided impulse; Agricultural eocicties
have been established in many committee; new aud
improved systems of farming adopted, until We
nov have In the State Fair of the Virginia Agrieui
tursl Society a movement full of hope for the
generation of Virginia agriculture and with Il, Of
all tho4e gree, interests of wbch is the chief cor
ner ssonc.
Ills among toe benefits of such an exhibition that
Il brings tAe farmers Of the State together and ena-
bles them to compare their views, to see the pro-
gross which has been made in other sections and 10
obtain detailed explanations of their mode of cul
tivation from their brother farmers, to acquire, In
short, valuable Information in every branch of ru
rsl economy, and going to their homes, TO turn to
practical account the experience OF Others and the
knowledge acquired by Themselves upon the wide
field Of observation they have enjoyed They thus
learn how to improve their farms to the highest de-
gree and to make the largest crops at the least
pense. such result would amply repay the io-
dustrius farmer for his trouble and cost in attending
the Fur, willis is general effects upon the ag
ricusnre Of the stats would be beyond all cslculs
ton
Much has been Eaid of the happiness and content
of rural hfe. We know not whether men are hep
pier in the green fields than smong brick walls.-
Certainly they ought to be, tus happiness depends
rather upon inward than outward nature. ThereSs
alchemy 10 conteutmen. which will transform the
most common metals into gold There Re systen of
cooperation IN the governmen. of Providence.
~ which. general thing, the rncans OF happiness
are equally distributed among mankind. Yet ws
freely admit that country lite is tie most desirable
In its healthfulnses its Independence lis simplicity,
its retireneos It's freedom from temptation, iss
slant corununion with the lovely face of nature-
The country life of Virginia in particular has espe
Cial chann. our domestic ins.itusions eusuring 10
the country gentlemen opportunities Of leisure and
mental cultivation which not to be found In the
rural districts Of the free tstes The consequence
is that 10 intellectual, moral and eocial elemeuts
the county life Of Virginia has no equal IN this
country, nor perhaps IN the world.
But, valuable agricultureis no State can proc
per which makes 1t its exclusive interest Agricul-
ture alone can never adequately employ people
And 1t Ia one Of the advantages Of exhibition Hike
that 1ow presented in city, that is restrict
ed any single interest but brngs TO the attensi
of our people the msBy srs and process
es which the inventive genius of the day hes intro
dueed into every department. Of Industry. We
have adequate water power In Virginia for facto-
ries foundrics machine shops In short, nature has
endowed as with as much capacity to become a
great manufacturing "a n great agricultural com
rauniy, nor shall we secure, even for the agricul
tural 1tereste the hishees possiblddegree Of pros
peri;y nnless we divsrsify our Industry by encou-
ragiug the mechanic arts and the esfablishment OF
maanfsctories