American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-11-24

L hsl III All, III tnc NncduS oI acquiring
knowledge. Tell ourlegislators To es-
tabiish a System Of free schools where
every child in the commonwealth may
receive a substantial education. Here
is the right place to begin. Wherever
there are good schools There are good
farmers aud good crops. The intelli-
gent farmer makes the best farmer.-
General education is the only reliable
basis on which we may safely erect an
improved and scientific agriculture.
Blu, when the State shall have done
this it will no, have done enough. There
must be special legislation and special
projection for agrIcutlHe. The great
est interest of the State should not be
left to work its way alone without the
fostering hand aud special assistance of
Government. There are special fran
chises enacted In secure Improvement
in almost every other pursuit. Why
should it not be so with the science of
agriculture Congress has pro, ided
liberal premiums aud franchises To en-
courage all the mechanic arts. The re-
suits have been magnificent. The pat
ent ciiice is glorious monument of this
bencficent policy. Aud if do not en-.
large, to-day. upon the importance of
The mechanic arts. embraced within the
scheme aud scope of ynur Industrial in
s,itutc, it is because conceive that here
it is needless to enlarge. Your sam.
pies speak for themselves. American
skill in mechani>m, especially in all the
useful arts. stands pre-eminent. We
havethe model shi ps, lbe model ploughs,
The model reaping machines of the world
Aud oil this is mainly attributable to
governmental encouragement.
But whilst am willing to acknowl.
edge tho happy reflex thrnnencc cxerred
upon the mere ait of tiilage by their
advanced mechanism in improving and
persecling the implements of hus sband.
ny, what, ask, has been done for tho
science of agriculture Monopules
are guaranteed t" almost every other
object Of improvement but this great.
est OF all the interests of ;hc State is
left measurahly unproSected and uuen.
couraged. a kind Of fquas-ag,icnltural
bureau seems tn be rimitiy attaching it.
self I" our patent office; and some OF
the States are lending feeble and re
luctanl hand in aid of agricultural soci
elies. These indications are hopeful
T but as yet little has been done. Why
the Commissioner of Patents, q wear o,
tw" ago. asked Congress for the small
appropriation of $500. to be expended
III experiments, muds 10 deodorise the
rubbish and contents OF city cess pools
aud sewers, aud To convert them into
manure tn be sent back Ia tho farmer
in bags, like gnano, to make restitution
t" The soil fnr The cinps sent down aud
consumed by the p"pua,inn of our cit,
les, But his application was rejected
nay, it was nnheald.
:. We see" says an eminent English
agiiculturist, "ihe steam engine multi
! ply indefinitely, the human hand super
sede. and almost infinitely exceed the
united power of brute cxerion. In.
veniion has lacked no mechanism 10
produce my'iads of the same fabric
thousands of miles of-manulactured sill;
and cotton are produced annually, one
factory supplying daily rs many yards
as would encirclc the globe-strangc
advancement on the ancient spinning.
wheel--while tho sons Of the soil still
toll on through the winters cold, to
reap The same quantity of produce from
the snil as their fathers, lhonsand years
ago"
Why is this so7 The same writer re.
sPonds To the question, and says: /" We
do not say that there is no limit TO the
capabili'y Of the carth's surface; but
fearlessly maintain that such limit is vet
tar from realization, and that not until
prejudice DO silent, and intelligence
universal, can it be hoped that the broad
acres of our lslaud Home will yiold To
science and skill oil tie treasures thcv
contain
Another eminent British agriculturist
few years ago. during The great fam
ine in Ireland aud England, declared
mat, iii science were permitted to do
ior farming all Of which science is capa-
blo, Tho clamor about the corn laws
would soon cease, and The prospect of
starvation vanish" If British agricul.
'nrc is obnoxious TO such animadver-
sion, what shall be said nf our own?
insist, therefore. that it is both the
duty aud the interest Of the State To OK.
tend aid aud encouragement 10 aqricul.
tnre, aud by wise aud provideDi lcgs.
Iatioh to deyelope ihe science Of no,i.
culture, and by oil possibe legitimate
means to dlifnso knowledge Of it u.
mong the people; that It Should stimu.
late and prompt investigation, research.
experiment, and discovery, by the most
adequate premiums aud privileges, i'll
need be. ! claim that agriculture shall
bo ranked among tho professions, aye,
among the learned professions and that
the most useful and noble of all pursuits
shall no longer langui5h for the van, of
tbe respect and patronage due TO it's
merits. SO that hereafter, instead of
seeing OR farmers educating their sous