Daily national Democrat., 1858-08-24
Address Of the President of the State Agricultu-
raj Eociatv

many OIL us " ere assent Oled in q distant city
to witness the pleasing demonstration of the
varied and eXhaustless resources Of our cher
ished State
With vastly increased numbers and pro
duets we are here this evening to mark and
rejoice in the cheering progress of the past
| year. and to encourage each other in the de
velopment OF those abundant treasures, which,
in out mountains and valleys, a benefcent
Providence has placed within our reach.
| We are here, the agriculturist from his
fresh gathered harvest, whose plenty places
the staff of life within the reach of ali; the
horticulturist, with the delicious product of
his orchard and garden; the stock grower.
with noble breeds of the horse Of iattle.
sheep and swine; the artizan, with rare spe.
clnens ofgenius and skill the honest, worthy
mechanic, from his bench the delving min
er, from the pursuits of the precious metal
among the mountains and valleys; the mer-
chant too, and the man of commerce have
turned aside from traffic to mingle with this
great gathering of the people. the happy rep.
resentatlves our prosperous common wealth.
AS resident of Marysville, permit me,
ladies and gentlemen, you who have met
from the East and the West, the North and
the South, of our ample domain, to bid YOU
welcome to our city, hoping that its honors
and hospitalities may in some measure minis
ter to the enjoyment Of this occasion. The
exhibition of the products of the soil. of
mineral treasures of the useful and elegant
arts, with suitable rewards for superior skill
and Industry. unquestionably promote great
y the progress of civilization and the com.
fort of society. The examination of the
varied machinery designed to mitigate the
drudgery of life, suggests ideas of improve
ment, inducing steps of progress toward a
rare perfection.
is uot many years since numbers of us
travelled over the first railroads in the United
States, which were the first in the world.
whose advantages and the Improvement in
which has caused their adoption in all civil
lized countries.
1t is little more than fifteen or twenty wears
since those great labor savers to the farmer.
reaping, moving, and thershing machines.
were introduced, and much shorter time
since their use has become general. Within
very recent date the sewing machine has
been introduced, an improvement which
perhaps, more than any other, is mitigating
the stern toll of life, and lengthening the
years Of woman, the noblest of Gods work
mansAip In the Patent Office at Washing
ton may be seen the old hand printing press.
from which slowly issued the immortal
thoughts of the great Franklin. The won
derful improvements of the press at present,
combined with the application of steam pow
er. enables the producing of thousands of
printed sheets in single hour. This remark
able progress, as already intimated, has been
gradually promoted by comparison expert
ment and suitable rewards.
Thus, also, in the improvement of the live
stock of the country; of the horse, whose
principal eXceIlencies are strength, symmetry.
fieetness, power of endurance and docilitv.
all of which, by careful cultivation are sus
ceptable of progress The same applies to
cattle, sheep and swine, whose desirable
qualities are suitable proportions. fecundity,
and, to given amount OF provender the ca.
Iacity to furnish the largest quantity of choice
flesh.
BY the cultivation and comparison of the
cereal grains, of esculent plants and the vari
Gus edible fruits, great improv err ents in vari
ETY., quality and yield can be accomplished,
thereby greatly ministering to the happiness
Of mankind.
These desirable objects are unquestionably
promoted by such exhibitions as this which
brings us together. New ideas are evolved
new plans and systems of Improvement pro
jected, and new impulses given to the indus
trial arts and pursuits of life
As you have passed around ihe stalls. stands
and tables, exhibiting noble animals of supe-
rior breed, Vegetable growths of prodigious
size and quantity, fruits of rare richness and
flavor, glittering specimens of minerals and
precious stones, from our own mines and
quarries, beautiful creations of California
genius and handicraft you have doubtless
felt emotions of increased attachment to the
State of your adoption.
As it is no longer to be questioned that
California can produce the grape in variety
and perfection equal to any country, The
extensive manufacture of wine, which, for
richness of quality and delicacy of aroma,
will bear comparison with the choice brands
of Euoope, is already proving a source of
vast revenue 10 its producers.
While the upper plain lands of ou! valleys,
by proper cultivation, can be made to pro
duce abundantly the small grains, such as
wheat, rye, barley. and oats, the alluvial
soils of the rivers yield extraordinary growths
of corn, clover, esculant plants and sorghum,
or Chinese sugar cane
Successful experiments upon the growth of
Sorghum justify the gratifying expectation
cf those who have turned attention to the
praiseworthy and remunerative branch of
buC vi sugar.
The attempts recently made for the culti-
vaton of cotton rice and tobacco have de-
monstrated the adaptation of our climate and
soil to the production of these great staples
The almost universal attention now being
paid to the cultivation of choice fruits is al.
ready being widely felt by the comparative
plenty of the peach crop, and the speedy
promise of other valuable varieties
In California the scarcity of timber in the
valleys requires not the work of generation
to clear the ground for smooth farming, while
the exhaustless supplies OF timber in the
mountains meets every demand.
If so much of progress and prosperity has
been accomplished under all the disadvanta-
ges of our pioneer condition. what may not
be expected by judicious system and liberal
policyr
While we are not here to discuss the prin-
ciples of government we are considering
those very elements which are as the hearts
blood of our commonwealth-sh soul of its
blessings, the source of its supply.
The intelligent application of labor to the
primary and principal arts Of life may not be
too highly valued. A knowledge of the laws
of nature, particularly relating to the agri-
culture as a science is worthy of your care
full attention, and in order to the advance
ment of so desirable an object, l would re-
spectfully suggest as was done last year, the
propriety of establishing upon broad and
liberel basis, an agricultural school or college,
in which should be taught whatever relates
to animals, vegetables, land, or labor; the
study Of the chemical relations of all substan-
ces which are concerned in agricultural pro
duction.
Such a school should be supplied with phi
losonhical and chemical aDDaratus with a