Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-30
Improvement In Agriculture.

The cultivation Of the soil, as it lies at the
foundation Of all production, aud is the iudis.
ncnsable prerequisite Of civilization, II not OF
existence, possesses 40 importance that Can.
not be oyerrated. Perhaps DO great interest
in the country has made more rapid advan-
ces in the past twenty years, and there ~
probably none in which greater progress Is
feasible, and yet remains - be accomplished.
The business of agriculture Is beginning to
be Justly regarded, not merely as q drudgery,
a labOriUus occupation, calling for thews and
siucws, and their patient and industrious em-
Payment, without any particular demand
upon The IutelIect, aud scarcely upon ordinary
intelligence, but as q science, an art, q pro-
~iesslOn, requiring not less the exercise OF the
powers of the mind than OF the muscle, aud
giving ample scope for the exhibition OF the
highest order OF mental ability, calling in
deed upon the faculties OF both mind and
body 10 that exact proportion which Is calcu-
lated to d~evelnpe them 10 unison to their
highest extent, and to produce man IN bis
most perfect symmetry and power, physically
and intellectually. Yet the pursuit Of sgri-
culture has not theoretically nor practically
attained the position II is destined to reach,
either in popular estimation, or In the manly
and Intellectual development OF those who
follow it as an avocstion, or the triuuphs
which are vet to be achieved 10 the field OF
superior crops and increased production.
The advances 10 agriculture have been OF
two kinds: in the Invention and application
Of labor-saving machinery, and IN the science
aud Increased knowledge witch has enabled
The cuitIvator to raise better crops, and a
greater quantity, from a gwen space OF
ground. ln the former respect, it seemed,
many years ago, as II the limit OF useful In
s~entlon5 bad been reached, and that labor
saving appliances could 90 90 further; but
every year has produced new Contributions to
this department, and sometimes introduced
startling Innovations, until we are unwilling
to doubt the possibility Of anything which
can be even imagined. The farmer who was
content to ploi along 10 the old.fashioned
footsteps Of his fathers, and who looked upon
the introduction Of anything new a. a folly
and a swindle, bias disappeared, sod all are
ready to secure the advantages OF any novel
~ or Promised i'm Improvement IN the now pop
u.Ar labor-saving machines. Who that re.
members rhe luxurious and tedious method Of
thrasaing grain with a fail, would be willing
to tOresO the expeditions thresbing machine;
or who, after using the scythe and cradle,
would be willing u 90 back TO the sickle, or
to give ny for the former the rapid operations
If the mowers and reapers of the day, by
which acres of grain are cut down With a
fraction Of the manual labor required by the
ancient method! Thus through all the depart
ments vi agriculture, labor has been 30 as
t1nishingly economIsed, that a mort wonder
ful revolution has been effected. Ii has been
tantamount, indeed, to quadrupling she work
ing force Of our rural population. The
strength which fifty Years ago was expended
upon a small farm, will now cultivate a large
plantation, and the wear and tear Of muscle
required to make a small piece Of ground
productive, now suthces Tor the tIllage OF nu-
merous Il Ids. The labor and capital in stock
in land which once was barely adequate to
secure u support Tor a family, will now, W.
ing 10 great part TO the advantages sccruiDg
from the use Of agricultural labor-ssvlng Bs-
chimes, yield yearly a handsome surplus, be-
sides supplying the farmer with Injuries and
elesanccs to which he vas, Il few years ago,
2 stranger.
But 1t is not only in the facility Of garner.
ing harvests, and performing all farm work
with economy and expedition, that the ad-
vance in agriculture is visible. 1t is noe less
marked 10 the progress OF scientific know.
lodge, as applied u the tiliing of the ground
and the discovery of methods to secure the
best crops and the largest yield. The proper
methods Of manuring and fer,il'zing land,
the most profitable kind Of crops, their proper
rotation, the methods OF protecting them iron
injury and destruction, the production, rear
ing, and treatment Of stock, ore all subjects
IN which IDEAS prevail which were uuknown
a tew years SgO, and in relation to which the
intelligent agriculturist Just begins to dis
cover bow much be has to learn and TO inves-
and, as he advances, the field OF his
vIslVn Increases, and he begins n ccmpre-
heud the true value and dignity of his pro-
icsslon-nOr will that profession ever lessen
10 Importance. The advances made will be
until practical experience and sci
enufc training shall bring up the prodec-
lions Of our fields to their maximum, and the
condition Of q cultivator Of the soil, already
elevated above the state OF a laborl-
Gus peasant, following 10 the footsteps Of bis
lie knew not wherefore. will be that
vi q scientific agrlculturist, who has penetrs-
ted the secrets OF nature, and with q cultiva-
ted mind and mature judgment, knows bow
10 apply his Information in a manner TO make
II mos, profitable and productive. 10 aiding
in this work, our agricultural fairs, now 80
Ia nearly all parts of the country,
have aeen, and are still destined to be, most
They are the Congresses of Far
mcr., the exchanges where the results OF
%scticai knowledge and experiments are eI-
They have been very useful, and
may still become vastly more 80. The agri-
fair to the farmer is an important
for if observing and intelligent, he
can scarcely visit one without carrying away
with bin lev ideas and valuable informa-
ton -BHN .t0tcrican.
EATHEk! LEAThERM LEATHERM-
l. Country Merchants and Manufacturer are
TO examine our stock OF HEMLOCK
and OAK SOLE LEATHER. with a large as.