Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-30
THE LAST APPEAL TO THE FARMERS OF
NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA
It has been nearly three years since L began to
devote nv time and what ability | have to the
advancement of the farming interest of North
Carolina. 1t apparent to me at that time, that
the most efficient means which had contributed
most in the advancement of agriculture III other
States were agricultural papers and County and
State Agricultural Societies. Upon this conclusion,
I determined at to publish paper devoted eS-
pecially to the advancement ofagriculture in North
Carolina and to travel over the State and eXhort
the farmers to form County Agricultural Societies,
and awaken an interest sufficient establish State
Agricultural Society, which would bcget State Fair.
In April 1852 commenced the publication of the
Farmers Journal with patronage not half equal
20 the necessary expenses of the publication have
been now nearly three years, stated above, de-
voting my time to this work, wit hout one particle
of remuneration; and, at this time. have only
sixteen hundred subscribers to 1.-The Farmers
Journal " the only paper in the State devoted
exclusively to agriculture. What has been the
of this small number of readers to agricultural
paper among the farmers Of our State? Surely, is
not fact that there are not others who read agri
cultural papers besides the sixteen hundred who take
The Farmers Journal less number than. from
five to six thousand subscribers to paper like this,
at the small sum of one dollar, will not pay and
how easily this number might secured if only ten
names each. Here is the fact before us that we
have the only agricultural paper in the State, with
only sixteen hundred subscribers at dollar year.
and State Agricultural Society with about seven
hundred members the initiation fec being three dol
not every farmer, Whose eye this may chance to
meet feel that it is his duty to expend small
into the general fund for the advancement of the
agriculture of his own State?
Here are three years of my life devoted to the
advancement of my native State without any rem
uneration with the exception of the cold encourage
ment of the careless public. [ cannot continue to
pursue this course any longer, for by it, l have
already involved myself must struggle on until
this vonme of my paper is concluded and then
more haV
heretofore had, give up in despair and seek (aS 9TH
ers have done) my fortune in some other State. 1t
would be a source of much regret to me to have to
leave my native State, for if there is who
would exult more than any other at the elevation of
the farming interest of the State am that man.
Farmers of North Carolina, hear what Mr.. Rayner
said in his address before thousands at the last
State Fair
4" have said that the means of intelligence
within observation-disclosures to enable us to avoid
the of the past and to avail ourselves of the
improvements of the present and the future. An
agricultural Journal, devoted to the calculation of
general principles, and their application our pc
culiar position is indispensable to every practical
farmer Such paper we have i'll our State-"The
Farmers Journal journal gotten up and sus-
tanned in the outset as well know, with great la
Dor and expense and even now, not supported as
it should be. This paper is North Carolina pa
per; it originated in North Carolina enterprise is
devoted to North Carolina interest, and must rely
on North Carolina pride for support. 1t would be
reproach to State and our association to allow
it to fail. 1t is with due Difference, then, that
would beg leave to appeal to the pride and public
spirit of our association, and cf our people here
sembled, to sustain and support it. Even now, in
it's infancy, it compares fovorably with the best
Southern agricultural journals; but, by increased
patronage, shall strengthen and stimulate its
conductors to make it still more useful vehicle of
infornation-a journal of which every North Caro-
lima farmer should feel proud"
This is the last appeal that shall make to the
farmers of the State to sustain paper devoted to
their interest. feel that have done more
than my duty in this matter have wasted three
yeary of my life upon it. without particle of profit
to myself; but my labors have. am sure, rebound
ed to the advancement of agriculture in the State
But this work yet go on, if every farmer in
North Carolina, whose eye this addrers may chance
to meet will at send in his dollar and his
to the publishers of :" The Farmers Journal" w.
D. Cooke & CO., at Raleigh, N. G.
know that my paper has not come out regular
ly in many instances to subscribers which has been
(when my fault at all,) for the want of patronage
sufficient to supports 1t is to the interest of every
publisher of paper that every subscriber gets his
paper instead of Withholding it.
fprompt action is taken by such ought to
feel interest in this matter. in month from this
time my list, instead of being sixteen hundred, may
be five six thousand. j. F. TOMPKINS.