The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-05-27
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
Agricultural Societies.


The citizens of Oconee County are about form
';pg an Agricultural and Mechanical Society In
noticing the proposed meeting for that purpose,
the walhalla Courier, makes the following appro-
priate remarks, and we commend its utterances to
the farmers. generally in this county, especially
those not yet enrolled in the Anderson Farmers
Association
This is matter of such grave Importance and
General interest as to need no word of approval or
commentator from us. Every one is aware that
numerous and radical changes have been, and are
being made in the industrial pursuits OF the South.
Statistics of products now realized per acre as
compared with those of the past, demonstrate that
these changes are improvements on the OLD SyS-
tems. and whether we are to be benefited by these
improvements will depend principally on ourselves.
# we stand aloof while our sister counties are
gathering knowledge from mutual experience and
interchange of ideas, we will be dstanced In THIS
our chief occupation. The surest and speedieSt
road to successful and progressive improvement Iii
any pursuit arises from free discussion and mutual
assistance. The county society is aradiating cen
ter from which practical information in farm econ
omy and production is dfused throughout tho
county. Farmers have never properly appreciated
the dignity and importance of their calling. They
have alusys underrated the educational qualifca-
tious necessary to good farming. AS class, they
have been modest and retiring, and though oonsti-
tuting the chief element Of national wealth, they
have seldom sought or obtained practical represen-
tat;on in the state or national councils. They are
interested abov. everything in the success OF the
present efforts to exal. Agriculture from menal
occupation in its true position as an acknowledg-
ed Science. We are not farmers or mechanics but
in our early days we were trained to the use OF
the plough and hoe, and when with the new lights
in agriculture we compare the old system with the
present, we are amazed at the blind prejudice and
ignorance which have so long crippled this branch
of industry. In mechanics too there has been too
much Conservatism" but as class this branch OF
industry has shown more progress than Agrlcul-
ture. Mechanics generally serve an apprentice
ship for their trades. In this way, by proper in
struction, they become passable cobblers in three
years, but the idea of inventing, perfecting and
erecting machinery for the development of the
manufacturing interests of the State has been
fruitless dream. While nature has abundsntly fa-
yored our section in water powers, timber and
minerals, we have been content to stand on the
threshold of mechanical Science, while others en-
ioy the rich fruits of its production. Our inferi-
ority in mechanical ingenuity and the want of q
perfect system of Agriculture contributed more TO
the overthrow of the Confederacy than the superb
or numerical strength ut the North. To be ready
for every emergency demands in fact the highest
excellence in the Physical sciences. This excel
lence Gun only be attained by mutual instruction.
Nan is an initiative animal and the knowledge OF
one generation is the starting point Of the next.
Such has been the course of human nature from
the day our first parents covered their nakedness
with fig leaves to the present period OF comfort
and elegance in dress. Every improvement has
been slowly and cautiously received. There has
been little life or effort towards advancement until
lately. Now whole people are bending their in
tellectual energies in the laudabe effort to recuper-
ate the country by sound practical course of Ag-
ricultural and mechanical industry. Just as there
is wisdom in multitude of counsellors, 80 there Is
success in multitude of well directed efforts. To
collect the useful knowledge thus derived and dis
seminate it among the people is the object of the
present proposed organization. 1t cannot fail of
good results and merits the earnest support ofevery
well wisher of the country.
A Chantar Upon the Late Interview Be.