Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-11-07

| proper TO admit and send out as suitable to other
readers.
In regard 10 one duty and authority committed
to my charge. almost nothing has been done OF
attempted. Thi- was the soliciting and obtaining
subscriptions of new members and donations 10
the State Agricultural Society. At the very
outset of my operations it was found that the
authori=ing resolutions of the Executive Commit
tee. in this respect. were misconstroed and mis-
represented. and u-prrslons cast on the commit
tee aud on me n its agent. Therefore / was
not willing To occupy ground which could be 50
grossly misunderstood and nisrepresented' SUP
sequently have in no manner whatever eSercls-
ed This part Of the prescribed duties; and when,
as thus, not asking anything for the recuniary
aid Of the Society. nor even abiding to 1t, 1t Is
not strange that almost nothing has beeu ten
dered or received. The gross amount OF the
few subscriptions aud donations which have been
made through me. has been paid over to the
Treasurer, las stated in the accompanying pa
per marked o. without any deduction or any
charge otherwise made for my personal traFeli-
ing or any other expenses.
It's my duty to acknowledge with thanks, that
my travelling expenses during this service, have
been much lessened, and my labors "a Cominis
sioncr facilitated, by the liberality of the offcers
of the following companies, viz: The Richmond
aud Danville, the Southside, the Richmond. Fred
ericksburg and Potomnc, and the Central lall-
Tohu 'plnpahles-u anu inc lAdpIunhIlh''N N'''
minion) Steamboat Company. These companies
voluntarily offered to me free tickets for my con
veyance during my term of service.and also tho
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company for
one Journey to aud from Montgomery aud Pulas-
XII counties. One of these courteous offers l
have had no opportunity to use. On all other
routes travelled, and i'll every mode, my convey
ancc has been paid for or provided by myself.
As little as may have done, or as little rs g.
ven much better ability could have effected Ill
the time of my short service (now closed ny Its
limitation,) ! think that it has served to suggest
to many minds the important benefits that may
be achieved by similar action,if by more and bet
ter hands. Such partial aud limited services "a
mine cannot do much more than merely indicate
how much more might be done for the promotion
of agricultural knowledge and Improvement, by
inducing n general system of county agricnltu-
raj societies and clubs, which, whether so named
or not, would necessarily be auxiliary in action
to the State Agricultural Society; by melting
these associations and also numerous individuals
To contribute from their several stocks or sup
plies of information, to the great common treas
ury for all; and to incite to and aid in the discus
sion and investigation of all doubtful and impor-
tant questions. A still more important service
ifto be so obtained, will be the making of correct
agricultural surveys OF as many counties rs may
be induced to undertake this aid to agricultural
progresS-nnd which whenever carried through,
though instructive and beneficial to the whole ag-
ricultural community, will be especially so To
the particular enlnties or districts so examined
and reported urun. EDMUND RUFFIN.
Agricultural Comm ssioner.
October 2Sth, l55l