Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-08
THE AGRIGULTURIST.
THE Farm: THE GARDEN: THE HOUSEHOLD.
AxrlculturalF airs.

The country for the past few months has been
alive with Agricultural Fairs They are an institu-
ton almost as old as commerce Originally design
ed, says the New York Journal Of Commerce to bring
the producer and consumer nearer together.
or some say, to subserve the purpose of
religion, their has gradually extended
from the interchange and sale of commodities
for individual gain, or for the support of moral
and charitable socie:ies, to the dissemination
of intelligence by exhibiting the productions of
industry and skill. In agricultural science they
have been the means, through many year. of diff
fusing light and encouragement. Some such advan-
tages among farmers for intercourse and discussion
by which information of new discoveries may be
conveyed, the success of experiments illustrated by
actual production, and the value of recent inven-
lions thoroughly tested are so necessary, in order
that agriculture may keep pace with the rapid
strides Of commerce, and contribute sufficiently and
successfully to the wants of the increasing popua-
ton Of the country and the world, that they need
neither an advocate nor an expounder Their popu-
arity and the rapidity with which they spring into
existence in every considerable district show in
manner not to be mistaken, that our farmers are
awaking TO sense of their usefulness and of the
dignity Of occupation, which, in itself noble and
elevatlng, has been too often decried.
The Importance of agriculture can scarcely be
over-estmated so intimately associated is with eve
~ department of public and of individual welfare.
But of late years, there has been frequently def
cheney of energy and enterprise among farmers,
Tot compared with the work Of their class in
preceding ages but as contrasted with the general
advances of other interests in own days. This
is probably due in part to the fact that the oceupa
ton obliges them to live at distances from each
other, rendering intercommunicaton more difficult
than in other branches of industry. One immediate
cause Of backwardness is the present undertaking
among them of the Importance of early education |
while in mature years they assume the privilege of
throwing contempt upon e book learning" even |
while deriving the heaviest profits from following
the directions of science As to giving attention to
geology, botany, chemistry, &c, many would laugh |
outright at the idea.
Notwithstanding all this considerable improve
ments have been introduced during the last half /
century The agricultural colleges and institutions
Of similar nature founded in this and other lands
have managed by their influence to scatter much
valuable information where it is most needed. Sew
eral of these schools where art is taught in all its
branches, have large farms annexed to their build
lngs depending entirely the students and profess
ors for cultivation and to which they repair from the
recitation room to render the system of instruction
complete by combining theory and practice. Under
heir protection and encouraged By their assistance
many societies have been organized in different
counties, and the movement has already exhibited
he most beneficial results. Far more system and
economy are shown in the arrangement of details
han foTTnarlv lands hava baor TO
Ind more frequent crops, and an anxiety amount
ng almost to enthusiasm, has been evident in the
earch for rare stock to improve the breed of cattle
new impulse has been given to the planting and
grating of fruit trees, which, by being adapted to
he peculiarities of the various Soils have produced
rut good and abundant that it speaks for itself
n markets. Wonderful improvements have
'een made in the implements of husbandry. New
tyles of plows, reaping and moving machines, &c.
ave materially lessened the labor and economical
he time of the farmer Still, there is room for in
ention and skill in every path of science and there
lways will be while nature retains one undscover
d secret. Our countrymen are so far from perfec-
ion that they cannot even pretend to compete with
he agricultural of Europe. Some o. them have
omplained that while the despotic governments of
be Old WOrldlend helping hand to their fellows, the
Republic Of America, although fostering manufac-
ures, almost ignores the farmers existence. Our
government. however, is now doing much. through ,
he arrangements Of the Patent Office for the benft
f agriculture but were it not so, it would seem in
UGH country and under so mid government, the
armers ought to be able stand alone and TO make
apid progress. To do this they must cultivate
lore unity of interest and action. The holding of
sl,O,1I ba f-ao1,aDt VI r,nivarsoI
lions should be formed not only every Ssate and L
Junty, but every neighborhood for disseminating
lie results of experience, collecting Libraries, and
every way striving TO secure higher standard
F intelligence f