Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-11-19
Mr. BARRINGER'S ADDRESS.

DANIEL NJ. BARRINaER, October 81, 1859, before
the AeeElenburg Agricultural Society.
congratulate you, too. gentlemen, on the mani
fest progress which agriculture has made in the last
few years throughout all this region of State
You are having your reward in . much larger pro-
duction from the fields and an increasing general
prosperty-in the great appreciation Of your lands
and in the increased comforts and happiness Of
home. Much has been done-yet great deal more
remains to be done-in fact, little has been done,
compared with what can and will be, ultimately &C.
oomplished to restore the natural fertility Of this
beautiful and originally, very rich section Of the
State. The virgin soil which our fathers found and
which attracted to its possession one Of the best
emigrations that settled any portion Of country
has been abused and neglected and has long since
disappeared. A new country-a sparse population
Of pure and simple habits-of few wants with the
necessaries Of life easily supplied by the most i'm
not need or care for. l remember when boy in .
store to have heard an aged matron of Revolution
ary times, who had passed her three score and ten
years-an ancestor of large and respectable pro-
geny in . neighboring county, make it boast that
she had never worn calico dress or taken dose of
medicine. Homespun and health, honesty and pa
triotism, were the fashion then. They lived within
themselves and on their own means The low price
of land here, and in the farther South and West
to buy other and better SOIL when the present was
exhausted, instead Of improving his own-the dis
turbance Of the Revolution and subsequent period
in our history-the constant stream of emigration,
which has poured out from our State to all portions
Of the South and West and above all, the fatal
want, for SO long = time, of good and Home
Market for the productions of the soil; these have
been the leading causes which have retarded agri-
cultural improvements among us-and entirely
for no no
character Of soil But its bases still remain
Its present condition invites and demands our ut
most scrutiny. care and intelligent culture It may
be-shall say, is now being, as it assured:y will
ultimately be made by an improved agriculture,
richer and more productive than it ever was
We have the most powerful and urgent motives
to renovate this wasted soil and restore and surpass
the natural fertility Of our fatherland The fatal
causes Of pernicous deterioration are no longer in
operation. Emigration has nearly or quite ceased
to'drain us Of our people and our wealth. Our
country is gradually filling up-and We are rapidly
becoming IN old and settled community-our lands
throughout the State have more than doubled-and
in this immediate section have trpled and aualrup-
LED IN value in the last few years. Our wants both
OF the necessary comforts and Injuries of life have
increased with our increasing population and the
facility OF their Qualification. The social position,
IS well as the prosperity of the tiller of the soil has
been greatly enhanced-and more than all we now
have ready and good market for whatever we
make BY mighty power, whose agency was un-
Known to our forefathers-a power which is revo-
lutlonizing the world-the citities on the sea are
brought 8 it were, to our homes and the once dis
tant and expensive markets for our produce. are
now at our doors. The slow beast of burden-o:
nesh and blood--consuming your substance. is re.
P.aced ny the Iron Horse. who, fed by fuel and
fame, dashes on in his fiery course-dav md
Tnisht-doubing the value Of the husbandman's Ia,
DOR and rapidly transporting for comparative tri
ne the produce of the farmer and the goods of the
merchant even when they sleep in the repose o.
=
Whatever be the trade-profession or pursuit q
ME the support Of all must come, directly or inili
fecty from the earth and its tillage It is deere,
OF heaven. "ln the sweat of thy face shalt tho,
eat bread, till thou return unto the pronndn 7
was done in mercy-to sweeten the toll Of man an,
give enjoyment to his labor. And this sweat of tn
face is the best of al fertilizers-without whicl
none other viii avail. But 1t must be assisted b,
other means II you cannot afford to buy guanoo
Or phosphate Of lime, or gypsum or the vsriou
other means to furnish the necessary ingredients
r'ch and producing soil, you can make on YOU
nms snd m your stables, that which will answer q
more universal and more certain in its .nnl:cst;or
But 1t Is not sufficient that you make and save an
get manures and put them on your lands. Thes,
tso. must be prepared for its proper reception-sl
sorpton and beneficial influence The ground mn,
oe wen tended must be we'll and deeply plowed-
mast De made porous and dry q well Is rich. II
srsnust penetrate the earth, SO that the plant I'M
% sustained both by the organic and inorganic eli
menus which constitute its food, and which is |
essential e its vitality, proper growth and matu.
y. we must drain Or irrigate the land as it, loc
condition may require. Our lands hovev.r
general, need more Of the former. th.n The lat.
beautiful and enriching g the process ia, and 50
dspensable. in many countries, unsupplied 81
sqmcient moisture Ike the Southern provine
o. SPAN Where it Is stin psacticed Is taught by 4
AoosA Dsainage too, 8 now necessary xitk I
not only for the soil but the health Of lie count,
Meets slnne = tllis inppstant fssspses MN
Eed systsm e drainage and high euifiv,t;m +,
dnee treas6ent a fhia region of countryi
Aotasssa # cropA is top much neglected viii
nseeNa q ths Ane crops impevsrshes ths "a
1t Is well known that our leading stanles ~h;c%