Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-27
ADDRESS OF ". Il. MCFARLAND. ESQ, BE-
FORE TIE GREENBRIER AGRICULTURAL SoCIE-

TY.
M ParsDrSr Axp GKSrtrxkx:-I sm very sensible o
the honor you have conferred upon meby assigning
the conspicuous place occupy In the interesting pro-
eesdings oil the day Allow say that your selection
proceeded on my supposed interest 10 the aSricultn
ure On your eoun!ty-my hearty good uishes Soe your
prosperity and welfAre-did not do than Justice
DO indeed feel deep interest In the your county,
snail always be ready, In my humble way contribute
us advancement But II your selection influenced b,
zoe ioee tnss my experience . farmer would supply
vausoe practical suggestions hints you must, thee
permit me TO say that you have mistaken zeal oe sku
the socitude feel to initiate my farm your county
Tue oest examples Tor ability TO set them. Whist elaiu
'ehowsniP with the most ardent among yoI, in adj
m'raton OF farmers life cannot presume Instruct
direct others In its various details
The institution Of agricultural Society 10 pledge q
more active exeons 10 behalf Of agriculture engsslng
you to adopt approved Inventions aim valuable dis
eoveres OF and to be satisfied with nothing shos
OF the most efficient and improved husbaudy. Your
ciety has connected you WITH tho grand In
half OF agriculture which 10 one Of the most attractive
features OF the age, aud committed you which
viii make large demands energies aud thoughts
You nov 10 fellowship with the great body Of ascot
ated reformer, whose aim dignity earth
its munhcence At the beginning and threshold Of your
society as you are and appearing, for the 6rst
before the public, may, Gentlemen congratulate you on
having taken loag step forward. II Is something to =.
wake to tho utility Of such means in stimulating and
rightly directing plans and schemes Of improv cmeut-
IL 10 short only Of success to perceive the elevation
tho profession oil farmer discern the vast ed il pre-.
sents for the exercise Of honorable ambition and kio-
therein Nay, to become sensible Of the necessity of
agricultural reforms is of ITSELF vast iuprov ement up
on the imoecie contentment which rep in
traditions as the teaching OF infal ble wisdom The rht
Of truth emancpates FROM the grosser forms OF error
tho IL fail for time, through tho mperiection OF our
! vision, to lead US il source.
We must not, however, in zeal to commend them
forget that agricultural socieiss most but
10 an end They can mark out the high aud sale road
aud provide secure aad pleasant the way but
they aot the Termination OF or part of II,
exulIi and
without an animal or the prospect one tcu in
USE as 10 suppose We had our zeal as farmers
ana might await results in INDECENT repose, hen
hau INST tled society would be sensible and lust
TO date hererou farmers since then begin
the feeoninSe anu scrutiny Vt the public ordeal
We make voluntary and unreserved appeal The re
cdrriUg meetings OF your society wall without t, -tup
or profit mere idle aud vain psseau,s unless the mem
oers prepare Tor their recurrence, honest et
collect aud classify the results OF varied aud ripper
experience; aud uaies Sheu .hey toy they De
Doth ready TO npAri Aui eager optaiu Information
81 800 1t will he with eIh b;ion, aud fairs. .x ccp;
they De sustained by an aoiiog and scuerous
ana fostering ani discriminating patronage preside over
aud encourage them. H.ppy expedens they are TO -.
ter aud display the ,srinsenuv aud progress OF the
munes, which nave the dcerneut 10 appresate their
utility aud tue puoic spirit pItronzs them In the
ianSu age OF gifted speaker su.r occasion .they
place III their most attractive lights the libors of in
Cusiry, reward the deserving, stimulate the Iudulent
ana enss III the cause OF public Improvement all
pleasures OF social eu nyment and the enthusiasm of
emulation. WHAT indie ii, be more exh,l,rang than
ne assenoiige oil heithy well cladiree happy people,
surrounded oy the fruits OF their Se directed dastry
tue animals which display their Kindness and the mule
neniS aud iGven:ons which attest their ingenuity"
Gentlemen, IL impossible to question overstite the
rewards OF an improved and progressive landry The
prooiein problem II WAS a. tne has been solved
IN the experience of Site as else where and
none now are SO benighed as 10 deny tina,
the ihm repays the ampes bestowed upon its ,u
sgenenf IL Is every where and felt that the m md
not less than the bodv has its daily task in the eude,
details and combinations of agricultural lfs-a task
Sach II We would successfully perform It. REQUIRES
habit OF anay and Induction trained and Instructed nv
The nts OF tue largest Research We might be surprised
at the low, not TO couemp,uous estimation in which
the tase OF the EARTH its aocks and herds was 10 former
pssiois held We could be surprised at form di,
play oil human absurdiiy This much may be said Of
human ioy that Is impartial and ndscminstt in the
ceuse II has a-sln I'd aud exercised Take for example,
tue DIVISION OF occupation known the mech inical
know not whether TO call il or science what so
much as th IN our day mas established supremacy of
mind aud SUBJECTED the cumbrous elements to ooe.
dent rissilage Witness the steam engine and tele.
sipS inventions OF such cunning Device that forces
the most inrlctaole aud dangerous have been ada In
perform Their mission with the eIac,uess and grace of
trained intelligence. Yet the time has been when me-
chanics were IN such humble and esteem
no embodiment Of fashion would have endured an irtzan
between the Wind aud his mobility. So il was with the
iarmer Al length Is confessed that the occur alton il
az benign IN fAsniouing the character of its followers as
indispensable In the arrangements OF providence In
Decd would seem that we'll arranged wisely conduc.
ted ano ihrlrngfrn could scarcely belong to any hut
high toned conscientious, and had almost said relg
ious proprietor SO much he occupied seed time
aud harvest so uniform and gracious mis- expersnce OF
the regularity aud bengniy Of seasons such affecting
evidences oil desg spring up around him on
| not good christian.
Speaks to thy aoul from NATURES great heart"
This tendency of the farm cultivate sound and lust
sentiment aud principle, We might expect to see es-
pecay eIempihed ia this region Of fertility and beauty
Inc very scenes which encompass your cry out as il
Sefe against every mode and OF unthrfty aud
thankless haste. Your mountains, towering 10 rival
ranges TO the SKIES and roOed in coors which lend Ell
chanment to the view, combine with plains and valleys
eau'tng in their verdue, to form beautiful as
ihdeioe Landscape beauty the creation 10 less
ell sections, Of difficult and expensive art connects
here unbidden with every measure Of cultivation not
previously welded TO blight and waste. The grand Wis
as which expand before you above the reach Of mu
atoh to shut out or dhgure, and every homes cad
are features Of pastoral beauty eIceablr alone by ruth.
ess neglect How rational well intense il the ,ova
OF mountain homes! Toe beauties nature have their
witness III the Of human soul second oo,y
10 the might and mi Of womaas luvelnsss Though
not his cro~nng glory il would diff ult TO saw rhcL
Of ME great distinctions entitled
yet the hst ard nooeI of oeGeacors he whose memory
no" tower OF strength all the earth cherished for
the iarn an affection above the power station and hm
age TO inspire Yes. the love Of the fartn was unexrn
guishable in Washington because its Innocent roust
fdiipntl emp oymens harmonzsd with the solid simple
massive grandeur Of his ature
belongs, gentlemen TO ps ocs ion to advert 20 c,r-
piIuclpIr!, wbicn, arc
respected, Distinguish wei! m4nsg ID rou c,e1
lam, rier than 10 consider maters Of ieui which aye
more appropriate 10 your business sessions 20 YOUR CON
| 'nttees aud reports
Nov, the great element OF success in irmnp fonp.
Hahoh OF al true and sure success il system-;hat
ne'nOd az distinguished from what is capricuus and de-
-utoy; forecast 10 what TO be done dccs On n, IN
ile mJie OF doing aud preparation for it, Any .ys,e
u better than none; stree scheme settled il
AZ least as apt to b. right suggested by the
'n, whilst It certain advint,g In preventing dis
fraction and delay 1t pre-supposes conviction OF the
necessity OF order, without there eau lie no steady
ajVince nor any approach TO habiua discriminating
observation IL belongs toa sound system to attend 10
tho mnuiet as to the Iarges, Details Tor there Is nothing
80 uncomfortable as not TO be worthy Of s appointed
place or time. With timely and juJicious Arrangements
there s no hustle and hurry and everything is attended
10 Ia It's order; whereas without them n the confusion
OF deciding what sba DO done frs many things are ne
! elected aud nothing !, properly cared Tor
In the very act OF forming system, a manner
iorced TO consider the relations Of and eFect-to
inquire reflect decide Had the mind presided over the
operations OF the farm in the low degree implied by such
an humble effort IL ia scarcely possible that course Of
culture could have been persisted in which led by
tura and rapid, sequence, to gules gals and waste A.
well might we believe that the soid ineorate who con.
tinues bis groveing indulgence, until the sini,uds 10