The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-11
6 Whose womb immeasurable, and infinite

Teens and feecs all.o
But though it be rue that agriculture is the
most useful, as we'll as the most Attractive, OF
all the pursuits, it is equally undeniable, that
it has advanced more slowly taan any other
towards The perfection OF which it Is believed
to be capable. Speaking comparatively, II
can scarce be said TO have advaEced q! all.
In every thing that aids commerce and man.
ufaciures, Improvements are made, which
have changed the whole face of human soci-
ely. Those interests are projected forward
into tie future, with a force which overleaps
centuries, while agriculture creeps on with
| the slow pace of the hours. In other depart
menls ingenuity and skill have supplied the
place of labor, but the hard toll Of the hus-
bandman has not been promptly lessened, nor
his profits in any striking maaner increased
Even the useful improvements that have
been invented are slowly and suspiciously
accepted No class of people 10 the world,
except lawyers, are more reluctant, than far
mers, 10 change an old mode of procedure
for better one.
This has been said and felt, as great mis-
fortune, by those who are determined TO
amend i, If they can. They do not believe,
that there lie any inherent difficulty in the ma
.ure of the subject, which should make the
progress of agriculture less, than that of 9TH
er branches Of industry. Scientific men and
practical men-men who think, and men who
work--ars everywhere giving their attention
TO this, as the greatest Of human copcerns.
If the effort be successful, those who aid in
1t will earn title of public gratitude, such
as no conqueror ever won with his sword.
One of the forms which this movement
has taken is that of Industrial EEhibitions.--
The great shows at the Crystal Palaces of
New York and London have done some
good. II is certain that the State Fairs have
been exceedingly beneficial But County
Exhibitions when they become general will
be fairly worth all others put together; be-
cause their effect and influence come direct
4 ly home TO the business and bosoms of the
very persons, by whom alone thecaus must
be carried through. 1t is on the local socies
ties, that the chief reliance is placed. Itrust
that the day when an Agricultural Society
was formed here, will be an era, on which
your memories and those of your children,
will love 10 linger.
To make The society useful, il is necessary
that we should be as nearly unanimous as
possible. We must disarm hostility wherev-
CT we find it, and rouse the Indifferent to 40.
tive exertion. We may reasonably hope
that what we see and hear on this occa'
sion will contribute something 10 that end.
do not see how ans man can withhold
his assistance from you-much less how any
one can oppose you-uness he belongs TO
one or uiher of the four classes, which am
+ about 20 enumerate. /. There are men who
think that Agriculture is wholly incapable o.
any improvement whatsoever. With them
farming is farming, and nothing more; k iowl
edge can not do i! better, nor ignorance worse
the business is now, and was when Adam
left the garden of Eden, in as perfect q con
dillon, as it ever can be. 2. Others believe
that though much more might be known, i
> Is no, best that they should know too much
, especially about their own business. In thei
opinion the Tree of knowledge continues te
bear a forbidden fruit, and no man can make
himself perfect fool except in one way, ant
that is by being wiser than bis father. 3
Those who belong TO the third class assert
that agricultural societies are not the fiji ant
| proper means Of ofspreading among the people
f the knowledge which they admit might, ane
: ought to be, communicated in some way. a
The fourth set are almost too contemplate
, TO be mentioned. They bear to the country
the same relation that hardened sinners do Il
the church. They don't care. You maj
, convince them, that this course is a good one
and still It's success would give them no pleas
( ure, it's failure no pain. Such people neve
i regard anything beyond their own most i'm
r mediate and most selfish interests.
9 1t would be an insult to this assembly tt
s suppose that il contains single person o
!, the description last mentioned. do not be
!, lieye ii does. !, will be sufficient therefor.
for all present purposes 10 show. that grsa
and very desirable Improvements mayb be mad
in agriculture By means Of Agricultural Soeis
h ties.
g Improvement--wbat do we mean by tina
8 word? An art is improved simply by III.
!. use of more science in the practice Of it.
i know very well that the mention of se.entif
/. 10 farming suggests TO many minds the ide'
e OF model farm, conducted on fanciiul prinoi
s Piles, by soms sofs-hsndsd gentleman. viii
!, plenty Of money and not much common
!. sense--a place pleasant enough to look up
|. on, but very misunderstanding annual!
/. from, other sources of the owners income
/, three or fodr times as much as tproduces.--
+ But this is not what mean. The improve
II menls speak Of, are those which will light
n en- labor and swell the profits; improvement
i which can be measured by the incfsase'
D value OF yonr land, and the additional mum
Der of dollars in your purse at the end Of eac
i year.