The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-10-12
Snberson ynteligeruer.
From the Rard Carolinian for October.
Agricultural Societies.

States of the Union but generally. through
outthe South, agricultural societies seem to be
organized to hold annual fairs, where tine STOCK
NAV be exhibited, large crowds collected, and
the young and the gay enjoy themselves. AZ
this present time, if our agricultural and me-
ohanical societies, with their fairs, effected
nothing more than social reunion annually
Of the citizens of the State, would advocate
them, because this much is often productive OF
great good but they should aim at something
more lasting, more substantial, and more per
manent in its effects upon the country. The
fair should simply be culminsting point
where the material advantages of the society
are to be displayed. The object of the society
ahould be 30 to encourage and apply the indus
trial energies of the people as to develop most
thoroughly all the material resources OF the
State. This being done, the annual fairs are
necessary to show the result Of the years labors.
There one should learn the resources OF his
entire State; observe the agricultural progress
of his fellows; and, sctuated by laudable
ambition, should be encouraged to raise inner
stock, harvest heavier crops, grow more diver
sifed products, and use the best improved i'm
plements of husbandry. For these reasons;
and with this view, every one should attend
his annual State fair, even though he went no
where else from home IN q twelvemonth.
But agricultural societies should do more
than hold an annual fair to properly effect
their purpose They should assemble their
members in convention at least annually to
prevent abatement of interest In the cause OF
agriculture. At these conventions those ques-
tions with which planters are most familiar
should be discussed in such style as would en-
yage the attention, and perhaps the partclpa,,
ton of the humblest delegate. A successful
cotton planter may be ignorant OF gram cul-
ture; the most skilful stock-raiser may be un-
acquainted with the grasses; invaluable water
power may not be utilized from want OF oral
instructed; much valuable practical and ex-
perimental knowledge may be withheld from
the public because possessed by those who are
unwilling to write for agricultural papers, but
would be willing to address convention OF
their fellows. :,
I am aware we have in every community
croakers who take pleasure in decrying all
united efforts of this kind. Fortunately such
men are of little weight. They are those who
would shout "politics" if they saw profes-
sional man in an agricultural convention. Or
thoss who will critically watch the progress
and result of q neighbor's experiment, and If
the experiment succeeds, will sagely remark,
aOh. it costs more than it is worth p but if it
fails they assert with wisdom greater than
prophetic ken: ''I told you So" Such crea-
lures are social incubi that the world has sup
ported since the food, and may abuse them
roundly, for they will never know it unless
thew. perchance, see it in some borrowed agri-
cultural paper, and then they will be the last
to observe how exactly the cap fits their own
thick skulls.
Another most important and valuable adj
iunct to an agricultural and mechanical society
would be competent agent or commissioner,
whose time should be devoted to travel, not
along the thoroughfares, but among the bye
WAYS and hedges of his State, that he might
collect for the use of this society, every posi-
BILE practical idea that could be incorporated in
a semi annual report, to be submitted to the
annual convention, probably in the spring, and
to the society during fair week. By this means
the most accurate geographical, geological, ag
ricultural, mechanical and STATISTICAL lntorma-
tion could be procured. The proportion OF
forest, open and waste land; the value OF lands; ;
the area cultivated annually in the various
products of the State; the comparative area OF
these crops through series of years; the con-
dition of the growing crops; the results Of the
years lahors; the quantity and quality OF labor;
the value of the market crops and their cost
and production the hygienic condition OF the
State; its educational advantages the induce
ments to immigration the status OF society !;
the relative cost of production and subsistence
in the various sections of the State; the invest
ments in manufactures their profits and sue
cess; the habits of the people, socially, finan-
cialIy and industrially !; the general resources
of the State, and how they are being devel-
oped; and whether or not agriculture Is prac-
tically progressive science; these, and many
others which circumstances would suggest, are
subjects upon which such commissioner would
be required to report Who can estimate the
Al. SC
knowledge of these and other kindred subjects
correctly compiled and automatically reported
by competent and truthful commissioner?
I know of no steps taken in this direction by
any Southern State except the State OF Geor-
gia, through her State Agricultural Society,
and its good effects are already visible in the
stimulus There given 10 agriculture and me-
chanics nowhere else to be seen il the South.
Their system Is somewhat after this style ::
Every County in the State has one or more agg-
ricultural and mechanical societies or clubs,
and each of these is considered subsidiary to
the parent State society, They have two con-
ventions annually, to which are appointed or
elected annually one or more delegates from
each of the many subordinate clubs or societies.
A county may possibly have dozen or more
delegates, but it is entitled to but six votes in
the Convention. The Executive Committee
submits to each convention programme OF
business, embracing every possible subject with
which planter or mechanic is familiar. These
subjects are discussed in a familiar conversa-
tional style, which enables every delegate to
acquire invaluable information for the benefit
of his club of society.
Georgia, too, has commissioner, whose duty
seems to be more to impart than collect infor-
nation but even in this he is q two-fold in
structor to the people, for while edifying them
on the one hand, he is, on the other, collecting
material for his report to the convention.
An additional stimulous to the cause in
Georgia is the liberalitvv OF the various rail,
roads. Every delegate is transported to and
from these conventions free. Individually this
NAV be small matter, but collectively it is a
magnificent donation to the cause of agricul-
ture, and one which ensures full convention,