Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-12-04

vcation and Ordered 30 be spread upon
che Minutes.
y, ,be Farmers and Planters
of Eastern North Carolina
At the Convention held in Wilmington,
m the second day of October last, the IN
dersigned were appointed q committee to
Issue an address, urging you to greater
efforts for the improvement of our system
Of Agriculture, and reformation in our
present system of Education. In the dis
charge of this duty we beg leave to present
for Your consideration the views and sCg
gestiors which follow.
The depressed condition of our agricul
tpraI interests is obvious to all. 1t is not
necessary, nor would it be profitable, to
irouire into the causes which hase led to
this depIorable result But, whilst We ali
see and feel IT, have we sought diligently
for the remedies which may be applied for
is relief? If we neglect to do SO aud give
way to apathetic despair what has the
future in store for Us and our children =?
Homestetds falling into decay, fields thrown
out and lift unfenced and uncaltivated
rank weeds and forests of secondary growth
usurping the places where grain and cotton
have heretofore iourished-these are so ae
OF the shadows which the future casts
across our path, SOC to become realities
uuIess we awake to consciousness of our
sitnation and apply ourselves vigorously to
The task OF aver;iug them.
I,
entitled 10 take rauk with the sciences.
The farmer who c!eaves TO antiquatcd no
uoas, regardless of that progressive spirit
which has in our day taken hold Of all the
gursuits Of life. VIII find himself in the rear
4 his competitors in the race for wealth.
IL may attempt to throw the blame for
his scaut Laryests on that great scape-goat
Of poor farmer8-the seasons. If, how
ever, lie be fortunate enough to lave as a
ueiahbor, one who keeps pace with the
progress Of Improvement, he will find, by
@ comparison OF crops, that the latter has
discovered the secret which renders him,
IT, great extent, independent of the vicis-
STUDIES If the seasons. And, if he be not
Go"e2eosly joined to the dead idols of the
rs, he will ultimately be drawn, by the
ferce oi example, into the adoption of i'm
,roved methods Of tillage. hese methods
IRE based upon principles discovered by
patient and profound ee-rchers after TRUTH,
aud are confirmed by the Judgment and
experience OF practical men. Successive
contributions have enriched the science of
agriculture, aud added clearness and GER
fanny to its principles, and 1t now stands
before the world a symmetrical whole
worthy of the study OF all who are inter
2sced IN the cultivation of the soil.
Mach has been ccomplished, but much
remains to be done, for agriculture is pro-
gra~sige The same tireless spirit OF in
ye~t;2a.iou which has exalted il to place
among the sciences IS still at work, striving
e. b.luc to light those secret processes by
which Nature, III her great 4.oratory OF
earth, i, putting together the elements
ohich form the staple Of animal food, or
the textile fabrics which clothe nations, or
the fruits Which uUulish the body aud
delight the palate. Whilst the theory of
agriculture. IS thus receiving cOuStal m
DrOvtmeuts aud Is continually approx
mating the condition of al exact science,
does ;lc practice OF 1t in our section keep
pace with this progress? This question we
are compelled to answer III the negative.
We are Obliged to confess that with us
gucuIture IS in a backward cOndlt on
Shall tins state OF things continue? Sua1
Te touteutedly assume n position OF in
seriuHity III this, the nOblest of secular &C.
equations? Can We admit that the world
was mistaken III awarding to the people of
whom We form branch, the possession OF
tcmues8, patience, courage and intellect
H. exhibited during these latter years OF
var and disaster Ii we have these quail
ties they must now find exercise not III the
tented trld, but in that better field of labor
whore the rich harvest repays the labor Of
The Ausbandmar. Let those who aspire to
the tame of Statesmen occupy them selves
IN the attempt to restore to its pristine
beauty and sUildlty our shattered political
adIh.e let us, the cultlvators Of the soil,
he employed with equal Zeal in the more
humble but not less honorable task of re-
building the structure of our material pros
perity. This can be accomplished only by
Intelligent industry.
Industry TO be intelligent must be edk-
cu7L 1t IS beyond the scope of the duty
assigned to this committee TO enter upon
general discussion of the subject of educa-
.lnn but We trust we may be INDUCED in
making a few suggestlC rs touching the
educatlOn of those designed as agrlcul-
turists The various educational instltu-
tlItll> OF jBo most Cif1IlGSu COuuCIlCS 0AO
5t>td upon the principle that each profes-
sion requires peculiar training. Yet ag-
Giculture, though acknowledged to be the
most important Of industrial pursuits, be-
c9Ii>c 1t constitutes the foundation of all
others, has never in our schools or colleges
received much attention. This negligence
las been due partly to the fact that not
until within a few years has agriculture
been recognized as scientific pursuit.
The world has made too low an estimate of
the qualifications requisite for the success
ful cultivation of the soil. Even now we
occasionally encounter the remnant Of q
prejudice against any other kind of
agricultural education than that re-
ceived at the plow- handles. 1t might as
we'll be expected to train skillful ply
slcian by combining the student to
the duty of nursing the sick, and denying
him all access to works of science as to
expect to make first class farmer by an
education derived altogether from the
practical operations of the farm. Theory
aud practice should be combined il all
schemes of special edu,ation. Now the