Washington telegraph., 1856-12-03
a G r 6 u Tu AL,
For the Washington Telegraph.

hSIecdUiy W Tue piOiliSe Hidue W you
a short time since, l now propose to write
something relative to farming and whatev-
er may incidentally be brought in still
when come to reflect how little informa-
tion and experience l possess in that line,
L feel inadequate to the task. So do not
understand me as intending to give any
thing new either as to theory or practice
shall simply now and then write a short
article relative to farming and the interests
OF our particular locality, in order, per-
chance, that some of our experienced
farmers may be induced to give theories,
and what is Of far more Importance, their
experience in that regard.
| would in the first place suggest the
propriety of the formation of an Agricul-
Society by the farmers of cur county. and
add the hope that the time is not distant
when there shall be such an institution in
every county in the State. A central as
sociation, with its train of attendant bene-
fits, would soon follow.
BY referring to the history of other
States, it will be seen that wherever they
have had both State and County Agricul-
tural Associations, the people make rapid
strides in Improvement; for an instance
Iwould point to Georgia, which State ranks
as high if not higher than any of her sister
Southern States for the increase of her
wealth both in respect to Agriculture and
Manufactures. And if you were to ask
any intelligent man of that State for the
cause, he would proudly point you to her
agricultural and mechanical associations
and then to her Railroads, (there is some
thing talismanic in the word Railroad y
he would tell You the cause of her Rail-
road success, and even the cause of their
inception, was that the people We're ava
kened by these same farmers associations
to proper sense of their necessities; and
when Railroad advocates expect to sue
ceed, | would advise that the. first thing
they should do, would be to get up Agri-
cultural Societies in every county, and let
those societies have fairs, by which there
should be an honest emulation excited in
every farmers breast, to excel his neigh
bor Then We would see and feel our in
dispensable need for commerce when we
would become fully aware of OUT resour-
ces.
The duty of an agricultural association,
as 1 conceive, would be to lave at least
one fair every year, at which there should
be premiums awarded for almost every
thing we produce on our farms. As cot
ton is our great staple, as to commerce
the "sine qua non" as to the procurement
of those indispensable commodities, gold
and silver-let us have premiums for the
best article-then for the largest yield per
acre and as corn and wheat are our chief
resources as to food, let us have premiums
/ for them In the same manner. Let US
have premiums for the finest and best hor
ses and mules, both for the saddle and
harness, for the finest work oxen, best
mich cows, best hogs, sheep and poultry;
premiums for the finest fruits and best
products OF the garden. Let us also have
premiums in which our ladies shall com
pete; let them see who shall excel in ma
king the best cloth from their own looms !;
whose dairy shall turn out the best cheese
and butter; who viii exhibit the best fan
cy needle work and the choicest collection
of flowers
Premiums for the best production of
our mechanics The cotton planters are
certainly interested in knowing where,
and of whose make, they may procure the
best gin stand, the best blacksmith work !;
also, when we want our houses furnished,
we are desirous of knowing of whom the
best cabinet work may be bought; who
makes the best saddles and harness; who
is the best shoemaker. 1 see the most of
the tradesmen advertise in your paper,
which is all right and proper, and of course
remunerative to them; but if they were
to add that the maker of such an
article as was described, took the premium
at our fair, we would naturally be led into
the opinion that the article was superior
one and when in need of such things, Of
course would buy from the person that ex-
celled in his line of business. And if any
mans occupation is not mentioned let him
only assist in the business and he will be
far from being unnoticed.
was strikingly impressed during the
past summer, when on the streets OF
Washington, at the diversity of opinion
that was expressed as to the proper mode
of cultivating our crops, both of corn and
cotton. 1t was during the drought of the