Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-18

farmers, or that orr soil is naturally poor Our
| soil is the bast IN the World aud practically we
are the most skiilfGiin nearly all the mocha cal
Appliances required in farming
| But the questio still afises: Arc gooC
lpernitted the coil Of New England, New York
kPennsyIvania and Ohio 10 deter1oT2te from
1yield OF thirty bushels Of wheat to the (2nd
other crops in proportion) to less than fifteen
bushels. 1t was not good farming that permit
ted large portions of the Southorn States to be
come absolutely barren; and it is not good farm
ing that is now permitting the unparalleled sol
OF our prairie States TO grow loss and less pro-
duotlve from year to year. These facts suggest
| Palniul Ienectlons, and lhocate that our great
skull IN producing and adapting machinery to
agricultural purposes, and our unsurpassed prac-
teal talent as u alton, are being employed only
| to exhaust the natural wealth of the country.
| SIT was estimated twenty ears ago that to re-
store the Land then under cultivation in the United
states 20 it's original fartllity would cost th0us-
and millions OF dollars. The same wastefui and
exhaustive process is to great extent sti1 con
tinued
Glare we. who tappau to have possessed the
land IN its Trgt wealth. any moral right thus to
contract a national debt the burden CT which
| viii Cypress our children and our Children
achildren It ia a de!u sion to suppose that this
crime is greatly ntig atod by the fact tn at our
country possesses vast tracts OF uuoccu pied
land, to which We can remove as soon we have
partly exhausted our farms. Even i! there were
no limit to this, yet the argument would he
founded upon false principles Of political econo-
my.
~ estimates the natural Increase Of our popuIa-
ton, augmented by the mighty tide OF imngra-
ton, m lst see that all our public dom sin vi!
soon pass into private hands
England and Scotland ara perhans Justly
cited as leading all other nations in the ant CT
agriculture
"There are nu1i8rous e2ainpi0a Of the appl!-
cation of scientiao principles i'll farming II Great
Britain that We might study with great ad7ant-
age. The Marquis OF Tweeddaic, FOR ina;auee
when he came into possession Of b s estate found
the land worth rental OF only ten sk;lli3gs
Isl J0) an acre. By calling to his advice SCI
entific men, by bis intelligence and enterprise
by the application OF scientific princip,cs and
tie most advanced practices to the trc&tccnt of
the SOILS. he raised his entire estate II q degree
of productivenC5s that coumaDdcI q YEARLY
rontal of 3 los ($i7 50) per acre
If education or tho application OF fcien
tific cultivation can add thus to the pro-
ductiyenc5s of our lands, ought we not to
educate.our sons for this work England
and Scotland are foremost III agricultural
education. Several Of their Universities
have within a few years indeed az agricui
tural department.
The Royal Agricultural College NJ Cil-
encester Is now established upon i'm
footing.
The University OF Edinburgh has an
Endowed Agricultural Department undey
the joint patronage Of tho Scotch Agricni-
tDSElS'J
Germany has her Agricultural Colleges.
America has bcgun the good work and
the aid given by Congress i'll tho donation
of public lands TO the States for this par
pose (of establishing Agricultural Gel
leges) seams wise and just
Why then should We lol avail CuIGoi5e4
of their experience, and also O. the mc4p5
if properly within our "each supplies!
TO our State by tho proceeds of the Ealo Of
10 1c donated frY r +
cultural education, and, ct no distant day. .
erect upon these grounds an Agricultural
College, where our children and their dc.
scendants may be taught tho practical
duties Of life-whero they may acquire I
that knowledge that eleyates the practical
agriculturalist, the mechanio OF tho mr.
chant.
An institution of this character, under
the control aud patronage Of this Asssocia-
ton, should embrace all classes Of cur
youth, who are to be the practical men IF
the State. Farmer, Mechanic, Merchant.
And studies adapted to all their wants
should be pursued.
THUS may We build up III institution Of
learning upon al enduring basis that will
supply thorough practical and tAcorotlcal
trailing for oar children for generations
to come. Yea, for those that Will rise UP
and bless our memories.
The foregoing thoughts and OPINIONS
as l believe, by u large u :
Iorlty OF our associa5es-seem to ma to be
not altogether inappropriate to this cccas~
ION. Ii ''as the twig is bent the trees
inclined how vast is the Importance Of
adopting the best system OF education .or
Are not these objects worthy Of our
highest aspirations; are they not appro~
pirate duties to BE- performed by this As
ISOLATION ?
In conclusion, felIow-citizens, either Of,
or not Of the Association, allow me to say I
hat 1t has come to my ears that charges
II political and religious part.aIi3y Or bias
AVE been made against Us, mainly. [ |
udge, because one OF the prominent Off s
'er5 of the Association is the editor OF +
eading political newspaper. I desire :
therefore. to say to you all, that tho !.
harges alluded to are not tr;1e-not ONLY {
lot true. bnt are without shadow 81 i
oundation, in fact, SO far as regards this 8
association. The gentleman referred to
las been, during the past year, my mo
bic and efficient assistant in all that pcr-
aims to the duties of General Secretary.
He has prepared the premium list, con
iucted largely the corr cponaeuce, ana
q EaaJ CT the "details pertaining to the &
administrative and executive duties de- {
Giving upon myself and Executive Com :
.nything las an ol1ic5rj to give our Associa- I
ion party character. With his political c
curse We have noting to do. 7
We, AS an association, are no mere )
for what appears in his news
aper than tie editors are for what we
fer as premiums.
Ag0in.-It has been charged tEat We 4
fer premiums for SoulteTn manufactures :,
I'D productions that are not open to the
Grid. That Is to & certain extent true c
Fo do ofler premiums to encourage and 4
clip to raieo up business and begct { (,
pint OF Improvement and enterprise III
ur pocr and lately devastated Southern =.
ountry. Who can reasonably COMPLAIN n
this 1t must be borne III mind that Y
urlng tho late civil Wat the South lest
Va billions OF dollars worth OF PROPERTY :. :
or manufactures, with few EXCEPTIONS. :
ere given TO the flames her coDlma-oo =
as swept from the ocean. and many
lousan6e CT her gallant yoemaarY persisted Il
ms erin 81