The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-17
To the Efitor Of the Jourma!E

10 the EfIor Of the Journd0
As measures are being taken for the organization Of
a County Agricultural Society, in this county. in the
absence of a regular agricultural paper, it would sccm
not inappropriate to say a few words ut this time in ref.
erense to having Department in your very excellent
JOURNAL, say one or two columns, devoted exclusively
to the interests of practical farmers, and to be supported
by original, voluntary contributions from them, or choice
selections from popular agricultural papers of the day.
By such an interchange Of sentiment upon topics OF vital
Importance, which so intimately concerns every tiller OF
the soil, | think that the interests of the country a.
large, and especially of the farmers Of Dakota county,
will be in a great measure subserved. Of course those
old fogies who persist in following the footsteps of their
illustrious sires, and farm it, SO and so, because their
fathers did, would not be expected to contribute any
thing to this department but those, whose experiments
had brought to light some new principle in agriculture,
or those upon whose minds some new idea has suddenly
burst, ,couM be expected to publish them to the world.
What say you, Mr.. Editor, to these suggestions 2 Such
an arrangement would certainly please me much, and,
for one, | am willing to furnish my quota OF matter to-
ward the support of such a project, and should deem
myself highly compensated, if by so doing | might IN
any way subserve the general good.
Should my prop osition meet with your approval, l
shall be happy to redeem my pledge at an early day.
p. F. CoUNrRYMAN.
Nininger, March Is, 1853.
rive are highly g~rati6ed with the proposition con
tanned iu the above communication, and hope it will be
acted upon by our readers, so that 1t may prove worthy
Of the intelligent farming community in this county.
Such a plan can only be properly carried out by a gen.
eral cooperation of all concerned which embraces every
one interested in the prosperity of our State, and their
own neighborhoods especially. Emigrants are induced
to settle in certain localities by reading about them !;
and through the newspapers much valuable Information
can be disseminated that will certainly affect the tide
of emigration to turn to Minnesota. If our settlers
perceive our advantages as an agricultural State, or oy
observation or experiment learn important facts IN re-
latiou thereto, what does it avail if they keep these mat
tiers to themselves, or merely talk OF them among their
neighbors? In one instance, we have heard of a shrewd
farmer who learned one fact whose importance might
be estimated by millions Of dollars, and he consents to
let thousands suffer for want of that information rather
than take the pains to make it known neither is he
Indifferent to the good of his fellow creatures nor the
prosperity of his adopted State; it is an unwillingness
to do what he has not been in the habit of doing-wrlte
out his views for pub ication. 1t is impossible for an
editor to know such facts unless communicated to him
in some form we would prefer the parties to prepare
their own articles, but will c~hcerfully perform that la
Dor if we have the requisite data furnished US.
In other States great exertions are being made by
sending forth all the inviting information to be obtained
through their papers, by books and esen by engaging
lecturers to go all over the East to bring il before the
people-one of these is referred to by our Boston cor.
respondent, " Egbert." Shall We not profit by their
example and experience? 1t will certainly be a small
matter, therefore, to do as Mr.. Countryman proposes
aud while seeking to benefit one another in that way,
ou. farmers will also be doing good service to the State