The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-28
The Agricultural Fairs

The Agricultural Fairs.
The disposition to establish and maintain
in a.spirited manner agricultural fairs, al
which are exhibited the products of skill
and toll in culture, and stock distinguished
for excellence and careful handling, is to
be hailed with the highest satisfaction by
all rejecting and public-spirited people
It is peculiarly fortunate that this disposi-
tion should appear at this particular Juno
ture. Not only is the country to DC iii'eo
up from condition Of very great pros'ra-
ton the tillers Of the soil arc COM
PEELED by great change in the system OF
labor 70 Introduce radical reforms in their
moda NJ cultivation. Therefore the annual
meetings of farmers at the local fairs, their
free conferences, their opportunities Of
examining machines and investigating new
varieties of seeds, roots, and fruit trees, are
Of the greatest Importance to them. While
in this way the farmer gathers new ideas
and new views, more important to him now
than ever, he returns home, with hope re-
inspired and energy invigorated, to proceed
steadily with the reform which he finds out
the more indispensable from what he has
seen.
No man can behold the spirit OF these
local meetings without deploring the omls-
sion of a fall meeting Of the State Agricnl-
tural Society. 1t is needless to debate the
failure TO hold that fair. We can now only
urge officers, members, and citizens, to oe
gin at once to prepare for grand meeting
next fall. This we are sure will be done,
and that the State fair will be then revived
in it's former magnitude, and with, we hope,
increased success.
Every day impresses upon our people,th |
importance of introducing system of more |
thorough tillage. This is to be done by |
diminishing the area TILED: applying ma
nure literally to this area: and thus so
increasing the product that it will exceed
the Weld Of the expansive area. Thus the
land will he improving annually, and the
rewards of labor increasing, whilst under
the expansive system the land must annn-
ally deteriorate and the yield be diminish
ed. As auxiliary to the system of dimin-
ished surface cultivation, the farmer must
compact his buildings, diminish the dis
tances between store-houses and places OF
feeding. keep fewer and better cattle, ana
maintain neither labor nor brute that Will
not pay. He cannot afford to pay cash for
labor that does not pay for itself and yleld
profit and he cannot afford to keep idle
horses or poor and useless cattle; nav
even superuumerary dogs-for they all
must get n living out Of him; and now ne !
cannot afford to feed useless creatures.
There is now no profit from increase OF
slaves to fill mp gaps and farming that IS
without profit winds up inevitably in ruin.
And Just here it may be remarked that
the new system will be made all the more |
successful and prosperous by the establish
ment Of large commercial and manntac-
turing communities within the State. They |
afford the farmer market at his very door,
and they enable him to increase the variety
of his crops to his great advantage. lie.
has new sources of profit, near Market
and can convert his produce into money
quickly.
Therefore il becomes the interest OF the
farmer TO foster our domestic trade and
mechanical skill. The merchant who sells
to the farmer, if he properly appreciates
the interest of his customer, will contribute
his share towards building up the cities OF
his own State. He will be unfaithtul TO
himself and his customer, and recreant to
his duty to the State, if he does not. We
cannot over estimate the immense advantage
that will flow to all classes of people, and
especially the farmer, from the existence OF
large communities engaged in trade and
manufacturing within the State. A proper
and practical view of the common interest
of us all, let alone State pride, would induce
every one, freely and heartily, to give his
influence and material aid to build up such
cities here in Virginia.
Fully approaching the Importance OF the
agricultural associations, we do trust tna'
the most active preparations will be mace
for those of next fall. It is time to begin
now. Preparation of ground, seeding eul-
ture, all begin now. The Danville Border
Society appointed committees on tobacco
wheat, and corn, who are to gather as much
information as possible on the various
modes Of cultivation and the experiments
that may be made, with view to spread 1t
all before the next meeting. Every man
should be committee Of one to make SINH
lar researches into all matters interesting
to the farmer. We have fallen low. Like
ANTEAs, we must regain our strength from
the ground. A united and vigorous effort
of the " sons of the soil " will soon lift up
Virginia and restore to her plenty and
prosnpritv