Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-11-03

4
that all doubts, as to the reasons for and the
propriety of selecting the person who now
has the honor to address you, as the organ
of the managers, will Immediately vanish
Accepting this, as the true explanation of
my appointment, now tender my thanks
to the managers, for their favorable estimate
of my merits as farmer nor can Withhold
word of compliment to their sagacity, in
discovering, and officially proclaiming to the
public, a fact, that otherwise, might have re-
mained unknown, except to my immediate
neighbours. l0l1 '-'.a
The people Of Augusta, deeply impressed
with the Importance of doing all in their
power to improve the system of agriculture
in this and the surrounding counties, have
purchased this beautiful lot of 21 acres, with
a view of appropriating it, through all time,
to the annual exhibition of the products Of
the earth, and of the workshops of our coun-
ty. 1t is true that the primary object is the
development Of the agricultural interests, but
we all know that the mechanic arts are so
intimately blended and interviewer with ag-
riculture that whatever tends to advance the
one necessarily increases the prosperity of the
other.
On behalf of the managers and trustees
f..the Fair, in the presence of this crowd of
witnesses, proceed to dedicate and set apart
now and forever, the grounds embraced
within this. enclosure, to be held, used, and
occupied for the uses Of agriculture, and the
kindred branches ofindustry connected there
with i-9a eng 1 6
In proclaiming this dedication I.cannotfor-
bear from adding few words in commenda-
ton Of the wisdom and patriotism of those
who made it. 80
Agriculture is, unquestionably, the most
important interest in Virginia The census
tables show that Of the adult white popula-
| ton of the State, about one half are engag-
| ed in agriculture-ofth the colored population,
much laager proportion probably seven
eighths are cultivators of the soil. OF the res
idue of the entire population, white and col
ored, much the larger number are employed
in manufacturing or marketing the products
of agriculture, so as to render them availa-
BILE for. the uses of man. Agriculture is
therefore the substratum Of all the other in
terests Of society. It feeds and clothes the
world. 1t supplies the raw material and
furnishes the market for manufactures and
commerce. 1t is the Atlas, on whose shoul-
ders the. whole system Of human industries
securely rests. ..s..st
Surely such a vast interest as this, deserves
all the consideration, and all the aid which
intellect and industry can afford to it, yet
strange to say, until within a very recent
period, there was no occupation which re-
ceived so little assistance from the intelli-
gence of our people. Science seemed to turn
away from agriculture, as something beneath
her notice, and it was left to languish, in the
hands Of serfs and Doors in Europe, and of
slaves and uneducateds laborers in America
These continued, thro' centuries of darkness,
to delye away, plowing, and sowing and reap
ing, with imperfect implements, in the modes
pursued by their fathers, until production
was diminished, and the lands worn out, and
in many cases, especially in Eastern Virgin
la, abandoned to broom sedge and pine.
Fortunately a new era has dawned ON the
world. Diminished supply of food has COM
pelled Science and the mechanic arts to lend
their aid to agriculture. Intellectan capital
have been brought to bear in its behalf, and
already it is beginning to assume its appro
pirate and honorable position in the front
rank of the pursuits Of intelligent men,
Chemistry, philosophy, vegetable physiology,
and the mechanic arts have all been enlisted
as its allies and auxiliaries soils have
been analysed-tbe philosophy of vegetable
growth has been the subject of careful study.
The nature and constituents Of cerials and
grasses and other vegetable products, have
been ascertained and the food and culture
which they respectively require for their full
development have been anxiously enquired
into-labor saving machinery has been in
vented, and more perfect farming implements
manufactured, and new interest has been
awakened in regard to the philosophy and
practice of farming.
The results are already visible. especially
in the Valley of Virginia, in an improved sys-
tenn OF culture, augmented production, an
ameliorated condition of the soil, and the en-
hanced value of our lands.
Every farmer has been in the habit ef ma
king himself acquainted with the kinds of
food most acceptable and beneficial to the
different classes of animals on his farm
| The instinct Of the animals in selecting what
was most palatable to them furnished safe
guide on this subject. But how few persons,
until recently, have understood that every
tree and fower-every stalk of corn and
wheat, and every blade Of grass is living
thing, with an infinite number of mouths,
in the form of pores, from the topmost bios
som to its lowest root, mutely but constant
ly demanding appropriate food and drink !!
How few have thought Of the fact that the
wants of these various plants are as diversified
as their several natures! and that what may
be proper food for one is not adapted to anoth-
er. We know, because we see that vegeta-
bles, like animals, droop and die when the
clouds fail to yield the showers necessary to
their hcalthful growth. But how many,
even in the present day, are ignorant OF the
fact that lime and silica, and ammonia and
phosphorus and soda are essential for the
successful growth Of corn and wheat and
grass and potatoes.
Yet such is the fact lime constitutes large
element in the stalk Of the corn and wheat,
and silica or sand of the enamel which cncrusts
and gives it strength to bear the weight
of the full grown ear How many of our
farmers, when they find their hopes of a
large crop Of wheat on our heavy clay or
rich alluvial lands disappointed by the fall
ing of the luxuriant growth of straw before it
natures, know that the disaster is attribu-
table to the want of silica or sand in the sol, /,
out of which Nature in her laboratory sup
plies the enamel necessary to give strength
and stiffness to the straw. How many, even
| IN o,,. Jo,, ORC ;rnopsn nt of the fact that the