, 1868-01-17
Agriculture.

EDITOR SrATEsMAH:-The paramount
influence of agriculture upon all other bran>
ches Of busines, is, perhaps, less appreciated
than any other subject, which is so closely
allied to the vitality of each and every indi-
viduaPs personal success and pecuniary ad.
vancement. Take man ofbusiness II care
not what his occupation may be) and nine
times out of ten he is an ardent advocate of
some particular scheme for progress; and if a
man of public enterprise you will hear him
on all occasions advocating his hobby, and
spending his time and means in propogating
his ideas and promoting his scheme. While
do not End fault with this, but rather
commend it, 1 must enter protest against
the neglect of agriculture, which may be
very appropriately termed the hen that lays
the golden egg, VIII ,reby all other branches
OF business are sustained. In order to arl
rive at proper appreciation of the influence
of agriculture, just consider for onelmoment
the effect of stopping the plow. At once
commerce ceases, the loom is still, the sound
of the anvil echoes no more, the wonted re-
verberations Of the carpenters hammer and
saw is heard no more; there is no further
use for the jack>plaiD; the engineer needs
no lubricaling oil; the merchants goods lie
unsold upon his shelves, or if sold they are
worse than sold, becouse purchased by mons
producing, and of consequence, bankrupt
customers.
Now, if this be true of agriculture, and DO
one will gainsay it, the conclusion is inevit-
able that, it is the duty, the paramount du-
ty of every individual to encourage the farm
er; and these facts should give the farmer
new faith and cause him to redouble his dill
igence, being made sensible of what devolves
upon him: and the fact that the infcence of
his labor is inestimable, unending, and not to
be dispensed with, should cause him to hold
up his honest head and demand considera.
ton of himself by the whole human family,
cot because of himself, but because of the
magnitude of the influence of his labors for
good, for promoting the welfare of his race.
If such views could be instilled into the
farmers themselves, and through them into
their sons and daughters, our little towns
and villages would not be so overstocked, as
they now are, with one-idead fops, seeking
or rather waiting for clerships, professions,
arts, or some position without the disgrace
full appendage of manual labor attached to il.
But, brother farmers, all these praises and
honors being accorded to US, who is to ask,
demand, sue for and obtain for US the same
at the bar of public opinion? Do not ex-
pect the lawyer, the physician, the merchant
nor even the mechanic to do it; they all have
their legitimate business to pursue, and con.
sequently if left to them will be neglected,
and the next year, the next generation will
find Us in the same state. But 1 am per-
suaded, that if we will show disposition to
help ourselves that those who are TO great
extent dependent upon US will lend us their
sympathy, and aid, and thus render our task
light. am agreed says each and every
farmer, but how to commence and carry out
the plan is the question. l cannot lead. Let
it be done in this manner: Subscribe for,
pay for and read some good agricultural pa>
per, reduce to practice what the paper teach
es you, learn to think and investigate ques-
tions that arise in the pursuit of your labors
or such as are asked by enquiring neighbors,
aud those you find in your agricultural pa
pers. For the better attainment of so desi-
rable results, Isuggest the idea of farmers
clubs. Let there be such a club established
in every neighborhood, with stated meetings;
and let every farmer enlist in it. Every
farmer may not be able to read scientific
discourse on given subject, bat he can SUBJ
init questions and obtain answers, and thus
promote the end in view, while such as are
more gifted, have taken more pains to i'm
prove themselves heretofore, have more full.
ly appreciated their calling, can deliver lee
lures interesting, useful and instructive to
the aspiring farmer.
Mr.. Editor, if the foregoing is deemed
worthy place in your columns, and you de-
sire it, will continue the subject.
AGRICoLA.
WoI1o WILL 1870