The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-01
M|Tht Earn
FARMERS, ATTENTION.

Permit ME, for moment, to call your
attention, to the LEGAL ASPECTS Of this
soeedy question.
Much anxiety, and alarm, exists at the
present moment and not without abundant
cause, among the more intelligent portion
of the agricultural community, on account
of the rapid increase, and spread, of nox
ious weeds, while, unhappily, the mass of
the people, appear to be stolidly ignorant,
and Indifferent, alike, to the source, and
the extent of the danger.
1t is not question merely, of individual,
of local, or of agricultural interest. 1t is
more than all these. 1t is national. Ma
tional in all its bearings. A national dis
ease. A national nuisance. A deprecia-
ton of the value of the national property,
and consequently, must lesson the national
resources.
A dreadful leprosy is rapidly spreading
its deadening pail, over the agricultural
interests of the country. Whole districts
of our best lands, north, and sonth, have
already, been rendered comparatively val
ueless, and unproductive, by the negligence
and supineness of their owners, in suffer
ing them to become infested, and overrun,
with pernicious weeds. Nor is this the
extent of the mischief. Those foul lands,
necessarily become the pestiferous centres,
from which the loathsome malady is con-
tinually injecting the healthy districts
around them, despite all the efforts OF the
owners to ward off the disease.
As the land is properly the basis repre-
sentative of national greatness; so the pro-
ducts of the soil must represent the nation
al resources. 1t must, therefore, be the
duty, as it obviously is, the Interest, of the
nation, to maintain, with sedulous care,
the health, and the integrity, of its agri-
culture, and protect it against every con-
tamination.
The tardy arm of the law, has been in
voked for this purpose, but with small ben
eft. Law. to be effctual, must not, merely
confer the power to act, upon its agents;
it must also, provide for them, the means
that any law will afford much relief, in the
premises, until the State, and national
poaoers, and resources, can be brought into
requisition.
Our cities assert the right, and resolute-
ly exercise it, to protect themselves against
the invasion, and spread, of diseases, by
means of quarantine laws, the abatement
of nuisances, the rigid enforcement of ny
cienic regulations, and even the forcible
exclusion of the occupants from their own
premises, if occasion should require.
The farmers Of district possess the
same rights, why should they not be allow
ed to exercise them? 1t is time for them
to assert their claims to justice. 1t is time
for them to demand the establishment of
an AGRICULTURAL BOARD OF HEALTH in
every district, invested with ample poicers,
and resources, to maintain healthy agri-
culture. The subject may be difficult, but
the difficulty is not equal to the dangers
which threaten US. Let us act deliberate
ly, cautiously, wisely, but with determi-
nation that will insure redress.
The sale of impure seed, aud grain, for
sowing, is productive Of much difficulty,
and loss to the purchaser. 1t may be ne
cessary to provide inspection Of seeds, be-
fore they are allowed to be Sold
A farm, stocked with Canada thistle or
other noxious weeds, in an agricultural
district, is horrible nuisance, both public
and private: 1t may be necessary to con-
centrate the resources Of the district for its
thorough cleansing.
The sluggard occupant, 1 will not call
him farmer" is often a worse nuisance,
to neat farmers, than his foul, and neglect
ed, fields. 1t may be necessary, to remore
him, temporarily from his premises, and to
place them in the hands of an agent, till
they are fully ventilated, and cleansed from
the infection. And the question may even
arise, whether the agent shall receive his
compensation out of the premises, or from
some more general resources.
You may call these suggestions bold,
what you please, but do not call them
"utopiam." They are not so. They are
founded upon the solid, and universally
acknowledged basis Of equal, and recipro-
cal, rights, which underlie, and sustain,
all rightly constituted, social, and political,
organizations Manual of Weeds.