The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-17
evening state Su,trnat.
SATURDAY EVENING, FEB. II, 1872.
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION.
The Convention of Agriculturalists called
by Mr.. Watts, the United States Commits
sioner, to meet in Washington and confer
with him upon topics of interest, is now in
session. Considerable divergence of opin-
ion seemed to exist as to the precise work
to be done. An organization, however,
has been made, and DR.. Loring, of Massa-
chusetts, president elect, delivered an ex-
cellent address, an outline Of which we
print to-day.
No precise definition of business having
been given in the circular which called the
conference, some waste oftme is very likely
to occur. The matter of additional land
grants to the agricultural colleges, has thus
far been very prominent. We are wholly
opposed to any more land grants. We
want the land saved for homesteads, to be
sold only in limited quantities to actual
settlers. But the avails of these lands
may very properly be applied in part to
agricultural education. Still more impor-
tant, as we think, is the proposition to
make the agricultural department indepen-
dent, elevate its rank and enlarge its pow
crs of usefulness.
The matter of experimental farms will
be fully considered.
Such farms should be located in all our
various climates, and present also reason
able variety Of soils.
They should be sufficiently extensive to
be working models and would offer ample
opportunities for experimenting with new
and valuable varieties of plants. These
new varieties of fruits, cereals, grasses and
vegetables, could be produced in endless
succession, and their value and adaptation
to all soils and climates fairly tested.
From these centres they would be
propagated and distributed over the
whole country, or such por-
eions of it as might be
adapted to their production. Millions Of
money now wasted in private experiments
would be saved. The unbroken success
sion of the experiments from generation to
generation, would secure results from the
defeat so common to individual efforts by
the death of private horticulturists. We
know of no one matter of so much practi-
cal Importance to our farmers as this
The money now thrown away for seeds
would go far to pay the expense of main
tanning such farms.
With such man as William Saunders,
our present efficient superintendent of the
Experimental Garden, to direct expert
ments, and communicate results to the
public, our whole agricultural population
would be speedily interested to aid in the
work upon grand scale. 1t is scarcely
possible to calculate the good results which
would grow out of such farms, well located,
amply endowed and wisely managed. We
hope the conference will not fail to consider
this subject, and we trust that great good
will flow from its deliberations.
SPEECH OF DIR. LoRING, OF NIAssACHU-
SETS.
DR.. Loring commenced by stating that he
had been called to the position of presiding
officer of the convention without that warn
ing to which the Importance of the occasion
entitled him. And, while expressing his
thanks for the honor conferred upon him,
lie asked for such consideration as the as
sembly could bestow upon him, thus sud-
denly summoned to assume the response
bility of directing its deli berations.
IL was indeed gratifying to see the large
and earnest delegations which had came up
from the most distant States even, at the
call of the Commissioner, to deliberate on
the subject of agriculture. He saw in the
convention highly respectable representa-
ton of the practical farmers of the Union
of those men who held in their hands an
important industry, which, from the COM
mencement of our history until this hour,
had wrought out the foundation of our So
cial comfort and of our national wealth and
prosperity. He alluded to the important
position held by agriculture in the hands
of the farmers alone in those early days
when the third President rejoiced in the
honest payment of the national debt, and set
an example or financial honesty which has
been followed in our day, and has sprung
from the untiring industry of the farmers
themselves. Commencing with small in
dustry along our eastern shores they had
carried American institutions and Ameri-
can virtues across the mountain slopes and
far along the great and fertile prairies of the
West. And it was indeed, encouraging to
see them ready to join hands with the
scientific investigators in their endeavors to
lay a firm foundation for agriculture on the
best laws which science can lay down as
drawn from teachings of nature.
And the representatives Of the educa-
tional institutions of the country were es-
pecially welcome in this convention. We
have been told by one of the most earnest
and eloquent advocates of system of
national education on the floor of Congress
that to an educated people alone can be
safely intrusted the institutions Of the
fathers in all their value and significance.
And he agreed with that gentleman entirely
and thoroughly. The determination of the
government Of the United States to endow
the institutions of learning in the land was
in accordance with the highest ideas of a
republican government and with the spirit
and genius Of American State and society.
And nothing could be more gratifying than
that large-hearted liberality and large-mind-
ed wisdom with which some of our sons
(alluding to Hon. Ezra Cornell, of New York,
who sat in the audience) had drawn from