Des Arc citizen., 1860-08-08

The fatening of cattle so as to enable us to come in competition with the north west in supplying our southern cities in worthy of at tention. There is no reason that can see why we cannot raise as fine mules and horses as our neighbors of Kentucky and Tennessee. If by thus experimenting we should hit upon the culture by which the resources of our soil may be developed, by which they may be made subservent to the best interest of man, then indeed will our Agricultural society have ac- complished great good. Then indirectly mot directly line the pockets of the farmer. But it will be said that all this will do to theorise about, who will take the trouble, why certain | ly not a half dozen men in the county. This may be true and so has it ever been with south ern farmers. Contented to go on making cot ton in the old way, shipping it to our mer- chants to classify and sell, not one in hun dred of us being able to tell within two clas- ses of where his crop should be placed. So we have rested contented to be legislated for 1 by every other interest than our own, until we are pretty nearly legislated out of the common wealth or at least left to work our way the best we can without help or favor. And so we have suffered our northern bretheren and English fanatics to write garbled and libelous accounts of our institutions, our homes and our fresides, shaping the public mind, resting content in our ignorance of the great funda- mental truths upon which they are founded- Ignorant of the fact that we being the instru- ments in the hand of Almighty God, govern 1 ing few millions of his most benighted and degraded subjects, thus judiciously and econom- ically directing their labor are furnishing em- ployment, and by so doing the food and raj ment for more of his people than half the world beside, until when aroused from our lethargy by the howl of the fanatic and the yelp of the insurrectionist, we find ourselves with no better shield to defend ourselves, with no better argument in behalf of the high po- sition we occupy, the mighty influence we wield, than the ignominious plea of necessary EVIL.
 1 Let the half dozen then do their duty, the | first stone towards the building of the mighty temple was but small beginning, yet it had I to be built and some one man had to strike the | first blow. Let every man, farmer, mechanic and merchant, bring up whatever he has, it will add interest to the exhibition, and if he does get premium, he may be benefited, if he will examine and profit by what he sees.
 It was my intention to say something to the ladies, but I have already spun this scattering article to a greater length than intended, so I will close by saying to them we need their aid. Let them get their wits to work, bring up everything that may add interest or beauty to our exhibition, and above all let them turn out | to our next fair in all their loveliness and beauty, with their sweetest smiles, and word of encouragement to all, and we are safe, our sky will be clear. What enterprise that has ever received the united energy of American mothers, wives and daughters that has ever been known to fail. Sir, with no other excuse for intruding this prosy article upon you than the deep interest feel in the subject
 am yours, &c.,
 | A FARMER