Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-10-15
THE AUGUSTA COUNTY FAIR.

that OF any Fair ever held IN this section,
while that of Agricultural Implements and
handiwo.k, fruits, &C., was line.
Col F. e.. RuAin, who was to deliver the
annual address, was unable to be present, be-
ing unavoidably detained By business, and
Messrs A. H. H Stuart, Col. T. j. Ran
dolph and Hon. VIM. Mines Jr. were called
upon and delivered appropriate addresses.
On Wednesday the crowd was larger than
the day before, $4,000 persons bsing pres
ent. The display Of stock on the track and
examination and award of premiums took
place, diversified, by the Dance on the green,
100 couples in the Star Cotillion, most
beautiful sight, ana other sports.
At II NJ. Dr. j. W. Mallet, Professor
of Chemistry as applied to Agriculture and
Arts in the University of Virginia, delivered
a most appropriate address, which we give
to our readers below.
ADDRESS OF DR.. J. W. MALLETT.
Gentlemen of the agricultural Society OF
augusta County,:
In accepting the invitation with which
was honored few weeks ago to address you
upon this occasion. was conscious of my
inability to bring before you much Of inter
est or value, but felt that the invitation
was one which, on several grounds, it would
hava i'll baoon,n mo tn decIina
The conditions which surround us in Vir-
ginia at present are such as to render it, in
a very high degree, desirable that all the
useful arts Of life, and especially agriculture,
from which all the others spring, shall be
fostered and advanced by every legitimate
means The work set before the men of our
day is so plainly the rebuilding Of the ruins
in the milst of which we find ourselves placed
that no difference of opinion on this head
exists and no discussion of so simple prop
osition is necessary. We all see that the
result of the toll of generations that have
preceded US are swept away, and that We
are called upon by more than the usual in
centives that stimulate the exertions of men
to labor for the speedy restoration of materi-
al comfort and prosperity amongst US.
It may safely be said of Southern m2n
that they are aoilling to 60 to work, and that
they manifest an increasingly strong dispo-
sition to do so, not singly and selGshly, but
with such mutual aid and encouragement
as come of united public efforts. These are
none the less willing to work together help
fully and hopefully now, who remember
that they have stood shoulder to shoulder
in other and yet more severe trials in the
past.
Amongst such united efforts at advance
mens in material prosperity there seemed to
be few better calculated to do good than the
annual meetings of societies like yours,
bringing together the people Of large districts
Of the State in pleasant social gathering, af,
fording opportunity for full discussion Of
industrial interest, and displaying the actual
results of improved agricultural parctice,
and the novelties of mechanical ingenuity
1t is the duty Of every member of the
community to aid on such an occasion in
any way he ean--hest far as the exhibitor of
some visible success achieved with the plough
or the hammer, but if not SO, then even in
the inferior capacity Of the speaker Of a few
feeble words, which SO far as they 60 may
at least be not inappropriate.
1t is not only as a member of society.
however, that feel most lively interest in
the operations of such societies as yours and
a hearty readiness to assist in them by any
humble means in my power. The duties of
the chair which have the honor to hold in
the noble University Of the State make me
particularly DESTROYS of profting, as student
of Agricultural science, by the valuable OPP
portunites for gaining information, both by
eye and ear, which occasions like the pre-
sent afford.
He whose duty it is to teach, if he would
be more than mere charlatan and preten-
der, must be especially solicitous himself to
learn-and one can seldom during the year
find himself SO favorably situated for collect
ing information bearing upon agriculture,
for getting al new and interesting facts, and
for comparing the various opinions and ex-
perience Of many intelligent men, as in the
midst Of an asseniblage like the present
But, yet further, l have felt that q pecu-
liar obligation rests upon me to appear be-
fore you to-day, as affording fitting occa-
sion for the acknowledgment ola debt of
thanks which the State University and the
State itself owe to the iberality and public
spirit of former citizen of your county -
The Professorship of Chemistry in its spe-
clal applications to agriculture and the other
useful arts is one, the probable utility of
which has long been recognized, but which
could only be established in really effici-
ent form by the expenditure of large sums
for buildings, apparatus, and material, so as
not merely to provide for the performance
Of chemical operations by the teacher, but
also for the practical instruction of students
working with their own hands. It is upon
the basis Of the liberal bequest of the late
MIR. Thomas johnson, Of Augusta county.
that the University of Virginia has been
able, some two years ago, to introduce the
study Of the scientific relations of agriculture
amongst the subjects of instruction within
her walls, and since then to erect new lab
oratory building of such ample size and
thorough equipments to challenge COM
parison with any institution of learning in
America, in which the student may verify
upon his OWE work table the facts of nature
of which he reads, to ascertain the constitu-
ents of soil, lyze specimen of manure,
ind out the real value of mari, or prove
the nature Of a supposed metallic ore.
A still larger gift to the University, inten-
ded for the promotion Of Agricultural science,
has OF late added to its means of usefulness
an the same general direction, bat, Is have
said, the present is a peculiarly suitable o.
caslon for acknowledging the original obi
cation of the State at large to your county
tor service, the value of which you can
correctly appreciate.
When called to the professorship in ques-
uon' and 'aattempting to enter upon its du-
ties, have felt most strongly that in order