The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-11-08
ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR WRIGHT


the subject Of agrculure-is relation 10 tn
f sciences, arts, education, society, and ou
!. national prosperity-is the best and most in
tellgent document on this snbject that ha
, come within our observations. We are sol
J ~ that our space will not permit us to Civ
it entire but the following promi,cuous ex
tracts convey an idea of the tenor Of th
whole.
, "The worst of all depredalions are thos
which ignorant and reckless men commit OIL
their mother earlh--the source and suppor
OF organic lfe-when they destroy or impai
the fertility of the land, either by their igro
rance, or by their neglect of the means BY
which it may be improved or preserved. |
is our duty TO leave the earth in a condition
as good, at least, as when we found it.
ain many parls of our country the people
seem to believe that the earth is possessed
of constitution so strong, so stout, and Sc
heallhful, that no extreme of bad usage car
affect il injuriously: but Time, the great in
struclor, is demonstrating our folly, and warn
ing us TO change our modes of farming
While The husbandman carries forward his
works oI agricultural Improvement, he mus
no, forget the injunction, Let the earth bring
forth grass If, dsregarding this mandate
he shall continue 10 neglect The investigation
and cultivation of grasses, the annual depre.
citation Of his crops of corn, and other grains
will ultimately qualify him 10 appreciate full
y the force Of the Belgian maxim-'No grass,
no slock-no stock, no manure-no manure
no crops.'
In the severe drought Of last fall. that blight.
ed The hopes of The husbandman Throughout,
the gleaier part of the northwestern States
when the croakins Of ruined crops had al.
tanned its highest point, close observer
could not fail 10 see, here and there: a field
green and luxuriant in the midst of surround.
ing 1esolation. lfyou stopped to inquire in
10 the cause, and asked for an explanation,
you would learn that no special showers had
visited those favored fields, bu, they had
been subsoiled, OF deeply ploughed, well
Stirred and kept in condition 10 absorb all
the moisture aaoal in the atmosphere, which
compensated for The showers that come not
Instead, then. of repining, we should profi
by the lesson, and 60 and do likewise.
"On the first and second days Of June last,
portions OF Indiana were visited by severe
and destructive frosts few days afterwards
tna farmers might be seen in anxious groups,
with long faces, exhibiting specimens oi
their ruined crops: with all The evidences ol
despair over The gloomy future. But, on Wis
ting the fields, you would find that the inju.
ry 10 The wheat was confined 10 that which
was in bloom the Mediterranean and early
Alabama varieties, many fields of which
were then IN full flower, were injured, while
the grea, body of The crop, consisting of 9TH
er and lale varieties, wholly escaped, and we
had more than an average crop after all The
panic. From this let us learn the lesson,
that early wheat is in danger of frost, even on
The 10th degree Of latitude.
"In low moist grounds, the corn fields sui
fered severely, while the corn-in more eleva-
ted and better drained land was uninjured.-
The undrained ground was cooled down, by
evaporaling even 10 the freezing point, while
the absorbed rays of Yesterdays sun kept The
drer soil at temperature above injury
Drain, drain. drain, was the voice of this
friendly admonilon from Providence, and
we should receive all such admonitions with
thanksgiving, instead of croaking.
aThe mandate that requires man 10 'eat
bread in the sweat of his brow,' contem-
plates the subjeciing OF men 10 a schooling,
a discipline, that shall qualify them to con-
tend successfully against the great and nu-
merous difficulties which arise in their path
through life. II is no: the lot of the tiler Of
the soil to struggle against ordinary foes He
finds giants by the wayside Of life. He must
contend with the elements of earth and air.
Shows, storms, frost, hail, and even rains,
dews, and the blessed sunshine are his ene-
mics while he remains in ignorance of their
influences. He who wages warfare with
the elements of the earth and The air, in
order 10 compel them 10 deliver up TO him
their rich treasures, will without doubt or
question, suffer defea, disastrous in proper
,ion TO his ignorance Of the laws by which
his adversaries are governed. But the far
msr who understands these laws, will be
able under the favor of Heaven, not only 10
bring forth treasures from the earth annually,
but TO explain the means by which he accom-
plishes his great work.
He studies the nature, condition and
quality Of his lands; and his fields are impro-
we'd, not exhausted. by cultivation. His
knowledge, experience, and judgment, ena-
BILE him to adapt the crop 10 the soil, or 10
prepare the soil for the crop. He reasons, he
reads, he reflects, he makes experiments, and
he discovers new methods of overcoming old
| obstacles.
"In this great work, we want for leaders,
men whose examples and precepts will ex-
cite the enthusiasm, and win the confidence
of :heir fellow-laborers in the field of agri'
culture. 10 every farming district, through
out the vast extent of our fertile domain, we
want more men qualified By their knowl.
HI.-..