Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-10-25

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this great and noble pursuit. to presume to give IN
struction to many whom see around me, of whom
/ Iwould fan aspire to be an humble follower. am
here to learn, rather than to teach And II were
to attempt any thing like practical information,
should have to to sources equally in reach OF
you ALTO the recorded achievements and experience
of great pioneers of agriculture in other lands inns
knowledge few shings will procure, where estao-
lishcd facts and settled principles that have under
gone the closest investigation in the closet OF the
student the crucble of the chemist and the expe-
rience of the practical farmer, are embodied In IAN
guage far more simple and happy than any at my COM
mand If l were disposed to attempt display OF
agricultural leaning | might, it is true urge on you
the importance of thorough draining; but then, l
should only be asserting what is established
principle in agriculture and in attempting to prove
that every drop of water more than nature requires
for the growth of vegetation poisonous to the SOIL
my language would be dull and tiresome, compared
with the glowing accounts in which agricultural wri-
speak of the smiling fields and luxuriant harvests
in England and Scotland, and some parts of our
own country, where for centuries had stagnated
muddy pools and sodden wastes. l might descant
the Importance of deep blowing and thorough
pulverization of the soil 4; yet how commonplace
would my remarks be, compared with the views of
the agricultural chemist who proves, on philosoph-
cal principles that the rationale of this consists in
enabling light heat and the constituent elements of
the atmosphere the better to penetrate to the roots
of plants, for whose nourishmcnt and growth they
are indispensable.
might speak of the benefits of rotation of crops
and the importance ofa more extensive root culture;
but to you it would be far more edifying to learn
from standard works agriculture that every sp e.
cmen of the vegetable creation, like every depart
ment of organized life, feeds upon its own peculiar
food and consequently, constant succession OF the
same crop will ultimately exhaust the soil of some
component element Indispensable to its productive
power. might speak of the Importance of cultiva-
ting the grasses, both an element OF national
wealth, and of permanent improvement; but why
do this, when it is known to you that the hay crop
of this country is second in value to the cotton crop
ony-when it is well known fact that the greater
the advancement of agricultural improvement in
every country, the greater is the importance attach
ed to the cultivation of grassland when it is still
further known, to rcproach, that eastern North
Carolina annually pays to the northern States hum
dreds of thousands of dollars for the article of hay
alone? | mig ht urge the Importance of cultivating
less land, and of devoting energies to its
thorough improvement; but my language would be
far less impressive than:the rural beauty which has
often greeted your vision when travelling through
the northern States of this Union where handsome
cottages, plentcous board smiling faces, and happy
homes, constitute the wealth, and minister to the
happiness of the owners of but a few acres, every
foot of which is in high state of fertility devoted
to some useful purpose, and yielding an abundant
reward for their labor. | might insist the neces
sity of manure, means of restoring and improv-
ing the soil and on this point / presume should
have less misgivng and prejudice to encounter than
any other. This was, doubt the first move
ment made in agricultural science !; and for
thousands of years continued TO be the only one.
The luxuriant vegetation following the accidental
incorporation of manure with the soil, suggested
itself to the Senses without the process of rational
deduction. The importance of manure, neces
sary to vigor OF growth, and return lii fruit
time, comes down to US sanctified by the moral
teaching of the parable The life of the barren
fig tree was besought and spared for more year,
till should do his duty, in applying to it the
elements of fertility. The present condition of Eng
land, where, m the last hundred years. the average
of the wheat crop has been increased from aver
age of2 to one of24 bushels per acre, and in many
districts to 80 or 60 bushels-of Massachusetts,
where SOIL naturally barren and rugged, has been
subducd and improved as to support Of the
most wealthy and powerful communities on the earth
afford more eloquent and convincing argument,
in favor of carefully preserving and restoring to the
soil the clements ofmanure than language can utter
or pen can write. As to the best means ofprepar-
ing 1t and method Of applying it, that belongs rath
err to the laboratory of the chemist than the rostrum
OF the orator | might diiatc on the Importance Of
lnnc, which both theory and experience have estab-
shcd to be the great basis of all permanent agri-
cultural improvement; but why attempt this, when
the immortal work of Ruffin one of the great pub
lie benefactors of his time the calcareous manures
has IN plain and practical style, unfoded not only
treasures OF knowledge, but mines of wealth. the ex
lstence OF which were not dreamt of few years
since.
And so in regard to thc entire catalogue of all
branches of agricultural knowledge if 1 to
presume to give instruction, should fall short of
what may be obtained in any good agricultural jour
nal. or the countless works of standard authority
OF the demand for agricultural knowledge. 1t is not
the difficulty of obtaining information that is the
bar to our progress. 1t is the difficulty of remov-
ing long cherished prejudice and ancient habit, of
approaching the wonderful progress in industrial
enterprise that is in operation in the world around
us, of awaking to the Importance of awaiting
solves of vast stores of knowledge, that science and
experience are daily bringing to light; of aroLsing
laudable ambition among our people to enlist as
competitors in the great ofprogressive improve
ment-these all that is necessary to make
State of the most prosperous. wealthy, and hap
py communities earth If could be the humble
instrument of stimulating your pride North Caro-
linians; of impressng you with sense of the high
and honorable position you occupy the ti!ers of
the soil the influence you should exercise in the
moral social and political scale the responsibility
resting you, in elevating the character of your
country, and in diffusng the means of prosperity
and happiness among your fellow men and the
rights and privileges to which you entitled under
the government, as the great controlling and con-
sentative element in institutions, and the duty
you owe to yourselves in asserting and maintaining
them could do this, should feel that had
accomplished my task as the organ of the feelings
and sentiments evoked by the occasion, in manner
honorable to myself and beneficial to my country
mon. But the theme is so vast embracing so many
interests, teeming with many grand associations,
well moral practical that whilst am over
whelmed with grateful sense ofthe honor assigned
me, am appalled, by the conviction of my inability
to do justice to the subject and the occasion
Tt is good fortune to live in age of wonder
full invention of startling discovery, of astounding
Scie &c ly no