Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-10-17
agricultural Societies.

Agricultural Societies.
The following article fr6mehe Lynch
burg (va.) Ncws, on the subject of Agri
cultural Societies, is quite as appropriate
to this State as to Virginia; and We
commend it to the attentive consideration
of our readers:
While everybody is so deeply con.
ceEned for the reconstruction Vt fthe Union
it is somewhat remarkable that so little
attention is given to subject Of equal, il
not of paramount, importauce-the re:
construction of the State in her social and
industrial interests. The impression seems
to prevail TO great extent that every
thing depends upon the admission of our
Senators and Representatives to the Fed
eral Congress, and national politics, con-
sequently, absorbs the popular atteltio
to the exclusion Of domestic and local af:
fairs. Now, while it is conceded that
representation in the National Govern.
ment is very sacred aud valuable right,
yet there are interests nearer home of
even greater practical importance to every
citizen of the State-interests SO intimate.
ly connected with our prosperity as indi-
viduais and as a people, that they are
really Indispensable to it. The success
of the Presidents policy, the admission
Of our Congressman, and the restoration
Of our State to position of perfect
equality in the Union with all the other
States-desirable as these things are, they
will not cure our worst Ills. they will not
restore our lost fortunes, nnr pat into our
pockets the money necessary 20 r,cet our
wants: 1t is not q doctrine-of >otdid ma.
terialis% ths ap6h tfs6 tie development OF
Their natural resources and the increase
of their wealth. Money or wea!;ii, as
means, is sine qua non: food aad raj
ment for the body, education f"r !ac innd,
cannot be procured wiIhoul i l. : re-
quired for building aud keeping yf ra'-
roads and canals, for erecting chi:rhrs.
and for the support Of ministers aud
teachers.
A sage has said, "Thc create ,.uuiic
benefactor is he that CAUSES two bIades OF
grass to grow where only one grew be-
fore" 1t cannot be disputed that agri-
culture is our chief resource as people;
and to this fact are we mainly indebted
fnr the nobility of character i'.r which
the South is distinguished. Whauver
then, may tend to the improvement OF
agriculture has just cain ui.un 'he al
tcntion and active snpp"ri - .r'y one
among us. He eanuor b ~" - nno
cent who looks with careit 5 l:e:ii' renee
upon any measure 81 enterprise ding
to the promotion Of general prosperity.
1t is in this view we urge the prcpsi"y of
resusrituting the State Agricultural ''orie.
ty, and the revival, under its auspices, of
the annual Fairs, which created such a
wholesome interest in the popular mind
before the war.
The industrial pursuits and interests of
our impoverished seclion need every
stimulus that can he. applied to them.
Nor let il be supposed that the necessities
Of the people are sufficient for this par
pose; avarice is blind, and cannot see
beyond Il present temporary advantage,
often obtained at the price of future per,
mancnt injury. Especially in agriculture;
will it not do to labor with reference
merely to immediate gains, without re-
gard to he future. The worn-out old
fields all around US attest the folly Of such
policy. What we want is, that gene
rous rivalry amors tlle tillers of the soil
which the comparison of results at the
fairs naturally inspires, that intelligent
electism in farming which overcomes, the
obstinacy of ancient prejudice, and com.
bines the elements of success drawn from
various and numerous experiments. The
system of annual Fairs is the most eff
cient agency for producing these results
that has yet been employed, and deserves
to be perpetuated.
But there are many more benefits re-
sulting from Fairs. 1t gives to the far
mer and his family all opportunity fol
pleasant ana pfOntaole recreation, once a
| year, in visit to them, where they meet
with vast concourse of colaborers and
kindred spirits, have all opportunity o.
inspecting and procuring the latest i'm
proyements in agricultural machinery
and buying and selling superior stock ant
.eds; and they learn, by the most infal
| lible tests, the extent of the States re
sources, and the relative value of lands ir
the different sections. TIE advantages o
these Fairs to mechanics are too obvious
to be repeated, and to all classes, indeed
the benefits to accrue fros them seem te
us perfectly apparent. We call upon ou
brethren of the Press, then, in all portion.
of the State, to raise their potent voice ii
advocacy of the early resuscitation o
these powerful engines of material pros
perity and enlightened advancement.
IsA BRoxEN NECK CuRABLE.-A Londol
letter in the Chicago Evening Journal. ha