The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-10-28
ANNUAL ADDRESS

IarriculIuraL Society. at the Far Grounds
near Raleigh. an Friday. the I'm Octo-
Ter. 1870. Big PRoF. E. MITCHELL, Of
he JHiccysifY.
Three weeks ago last Tuesday, l was
lyuured with a communication from the
Committee of the Agricultural Society OF
North Carolina, in relation To the duty
now discharge. A gentleman had bern Sc
lcctcd for tie performance of il, ia all re-
snectS cua!ificd.-onc who would have of
frred for your acceptance the cCunseis OF
wisdom. in which the operations of q mind
richly endowed by nature. would appear.
combined with the fruits and results OF earn
ct study, MIXTURE reflection, and Il very
sufficient experience But, it having been
usccrtainrd that this excellent gentleman
would be called away and detained else
where BY circumstances, at the time beyond
his control. it became necessary to find
person who, on the spur of the moment
would provide something that would pass
muster at this anniversary The Commit
toe did me honor of taking it for granted
tina: if could not, on SO short notice,
prepare all address suited to the Importance
of the subject and the dignity Of the oce''-
sion, might, at any rate, make believe do
30, a. well as some other people.
! propose to examine and ascertain, as
accurately as can, whereabouts we are in
the great ocean of agricultural improve
memt aud knowledge; especially that part
of our knowledge which is most intimately
connected with the science If chemistry.
To do this it will be necessary to look pref
~ far back, as well as Immediately about
us, If any art or science is warranted in
tracing it, history to the very cradle OF the
human race, ] suppose this to Oe eminent
ly true of farming. inasmuch we have it
from the very best of all authorities, that
the first father of the human race was put
into the garden of Eden, to dress and TO keep
it. Of the agriculture of this garden do
not propose to treat at present, though !
may find occasion To- speak of ii hereafter.
/ conc down, thom, at tt single stride from
that remote era and unknown locality on
the carth'S surface to the most ancient seat
of civilization aud the arts ; to Egypt and
what il most worthy of attention in the con-
dition aud modes of culture IN the country.
1t seldom rains in Egypt, which, so far
as the growth of the vegetables is concern
cd, is dependent altogether upon the waters
of the Nile. The habitable and cultivablc
part of that country, if not confined abso-
lutely 10 the low grounds of that stream,
extends bat short distance beyond them
Once in Il year, somewhere between the
middle and end of June, the river begins to
swell from the effect Of rains which have
fallen, do not know how long before, in
the interior of the continent of Africa
The quantity Of the water flowing in it
goes on increasing very slowly for about
two months, at thc end of which time tn.
channel OF the Nile il brirnful and it begins
~ como over the banks aud cover the low
grounds. A month later it is al its highest
point. and month later still. or at the end
of October or beginning of November has
returned t" its channel again, leaving the
soil after having been flooded for two
whole months, most thoroughly wet, and i'm
rreenated also with whatever elements of
fertility the river has brought from the re-
gions of it's remote fountain head. The
ground now receives what little breaking
up it requires, and the wheat which is by
far the most important crop, is sown. As
the atmosphere of that country is always
dry, at least compared with that over
hanging tho other portions of the earth's
surface, fan effect probably of the deserts
that border Egypt on either hand the eli
mate is favorable to the health and vicor of
this particular gram. 1t is very little sub
jcct te blast, or rust, or mildcw, or to any
other Of these casualties. which sometimes
blight the hopes of the farmer in our own
country. The agric ulture of Egypt was
therefore mainly, if not altogether mechan-
ical, the overlooking of the Nile supplying
annually the elements of q perennial fer
ti!lty.
Palestine or tho Holy Land the theatre
Of so many miraculous events recorded in
tho Scriptures, was very different sort Of
country. With some plains OF moderate
extent, the greater part of its surface is
rolling or broken. The rock that under
lies tho soil is limestone. Here, as in
Egypt, the Kind of culture to which the
population are in a great measure. if not
altogether restricted, il determined b.
causes beyond human control. During
four months and half of the ycar-the
three summer months, September, and the
first half of Oct"ber-rain very seldom falls
there: The rains commence la the latter
part Of October and continue through the
winter and spring. 1t follows that the
rotation of crops must always have been
imperfect in that country. Our common
Indian corn, even if known, could not have
boon cultivated TO an advantage in Palcs-
tine. Wheat was, and is. as i'll Egypt, the
principal grain. The soil has always been.
and Is now favorable to its rro,vth md MO