The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-03-02
asri1ultural.
From ute Krnnebcc Journal.
agrieulture--ItS Position and
Claims.

agriculture Is as oiu as man, ana
twice as honest; il is the parent of the
nrts, and has never given its children
stones for eggs; it has fed and clothed ey-
cry nation and tribe and individual of the
human race, from Adam dowpwards; and
never has grumbled, never has fallen
short of its promises, and never has be.
trayed its trust. The fne arts, painting,
sculpture and architecture, have had their
dawn, their day millennial glory, and
their decline, but agriculture has grown
strong and old, amid their yicissitudes;
many Of the useful and. ornamental arts
have been lost, but the earth has never
forgotten TO bring forth corn. Amid all
the rayages of time and the wrecks OF en-
pires, the conyulsions Of the physical
world and the turmoils in the political,
tho earth has yielded up her treasures
with no niggard hand, with no sullen look,
and what is better than all, il is more ac-
tive, more vigorous, more capable to-day
than ever before. In politics and morals,
IN literature and the arts, in our estimate
of what is best and wisest in life, we are
apt 10 point back TO the good old times;
but agriculture has seen no better time
than now. Hesiod and Virgil inculca-
ted 10 better precepts than Coleman and
Stephens, nor half as good. Agriculture
has no lost arts to deplore, 30 prayer for
the golden age to return, and no shadow
Of fear for all the future.
As far as any relation exists between
the past and present, We can safely say,
that the present has on y gained. There
was never before so good plow upon
earth as at present. Herculaneam and
Pompeii have revealed in their buried
treasures more beautiful vases and orna-
meuts than modern art can produce; but
nowhere, not even in ancient Ninevah it
self, can we find 4 better hoe or scytLe or
reaper, than can be seen at any Of our
farmers doors. Bueephalus was not a
better horse than Black Morgan, and the
ok Apis of the hill would shrink back a.
basled in the presence Of the short horns
of oar own day. The present stands in
fnitely ahead Of the past. and all the past
together, in the number and perfection OF
It's agricultural implements, in the extent
and variety OF crops which go to make up
the bill of fare Tor the worlds great ia
Lle, in the number and cxceIlency of fruits
which minister 80 much to our comfort
and health, in the increase and profits o.!
domestic animals, which contribute so
largely to the happiness Of man, in the
construction and regulating ofrural dwell
lngs, IN the taste and care displayed in
the beautifyiug ofrural districts, The gar
dens, the walks, fields and trecs-and
more than all, in that just appreciation Of
importance and claims of agriculture u
gon the world. When, until now, was
there ever manifested so much enthu.i-
ssm il the rearing of domestic animsls?-I
The horse convention at Springfield, cal
led together as many individuals, and as
much Of the talent, wit and learning of
the land, as any convention perhaps,
which was ever held in the Union, Oh a.
ny occasion whatever. -Four or FIVE hun
dred dollars is at present offered in the
city OF albany in premiums for domestic
fowls, twenty fge dollars for single pair
Fruit growers conventions are held all O.
Yer the Union, and more enlarged views,
are awakened in the mind in relation to
ihe importance and profit of this great
branch of agriculture. These signs are
ominous, and furnish to the thinking man
The best auguries for the future. Bat the
best indication of all for the hopes Of az
rlculture in our country and the world; Is
that men of influence, Of feducation and Of
wealth, are engaging in the subject with
enthusiasm and profit. Learned profess
ors are lecturing on the subject Of soils
Hnd manures, and fruits and plowing and
drainage. Two Of our most popular collie
ges have opened their mysterious lecture
rooms for full courses on the subj bject of prac-
tea! and scientific farming, and almost
every public journal Of any Importance
has found it necessary to devote a part
Of its columns to the diffusion Of light oD
this very subject
And what, at the present time, arc the |
clslms Of agriculture upon the communi-
ty! Simply, what the community are ey-
cry day giving to it. 1t asks that the
press shall be open to its interest, and the
press has uobly responded to the call!
1t asks that young men shall be thorough
Iy trained, not only in the practice, 6ut
the theory and science Of farming; and .
our academies aud lecture rooms aud COL ,
leges are beginning to open their doors
:or the instruction of tie eager multitude.
1t asks that agriculture Shall take its
place, not only on a level with other han
dyerafts aDd laborious pursuits, but with
the learned professions, and we believe
that ten years will not clapse before
the proudest exclamation of a free, in
telligept man will be 4 am a farmer
The cause Of agriculture demands, in ad-
dition to all this. that the capabilities of
soil shall be tested with every variety of
crop and cultivation; that every species
and variety Of seed aiding at all in the
support of man or beast, shall have full
and fair trial in the court of its con-