Middletown transcript., 1874-10-10

that will fertilize that field, with littl
or no labor" Aye, your lordship.
said Donald, ..and when that time dot
come, your lordship's other pocket wi
hold all the crops" But whilst "
may in this case be disposed to agre
with Donald, let US not underrat
books as u necessary adjunct to goo
farming, or shut out the light whic
modern science is throwing upon thi
| most important branch Of human occu
patton.
Agriculture should be studied as
| business, and take it for granted tha
one feature Of this Association will b
an agricultural library-whsre well-se
lected works upon agricultural chemis
try, on mechanics as applied to agri
culture, upon the culture of fruits, tn
breeding aud care Of horses and cattle
the architecture of farm buildings, to
gether with the periodical literature. OF
the general subject, Of Europe and th'
United States-will be open to the In
spection and study of all its members
Mans best success is born of bis ear
ly failures, and let no one be afraid ol
ashamed to present the result of his ex.
periments-altbough imperfection and
touch Of absurdity may attend them.
Thomas Jefferson sowed the seeds ol
many profound and useful inventions in
agriculture, yet some Of his propositions
were very ludicrous
When Benjamin Franklin came back
from France, he introduced into this
country the use Of Gypsum as fertili-
ger, and hence its common Dame "Plas-
ter of Paris;" and we are told he caused
a field to be sown in the "great road
to Washington in the shape OF the
words. THIS HAS BEEN PLAsrEnED. ="
and thus made in the tall clover that
grew where the plaster had been cast
green letters to arrest the eye Of the
traveller.
Let each member of this Association
iu like mauner. whether he be travel
Ter in foreign countries or thoughtful
observer in his own, bring each his tri-
butte, great or small, to build up the
commonwealth. Such generous spirit
of free trade in discovery and useful ap-
plicaticn. will tie our farmers together /;
tie our counties together tie our states
together, and do more for the Union we
all desire than volume of coercive and
punitory laws.
l suppose more capital and intellect
ual ability are applied to agriculture in
Great Britain. in proportion. than in
any other country. l mean scientific
culture of the land and care and skill
iu perfecting breeds of cattle and horses
is greater than in any other country in
the world We all know the limited
area of land there, the high rents it
commands, and the close and careful
cultivation required to pay such rents.
and support those who farm the soil ;
the yearly rents Of many farms exceed
ing the fee-simple value Of excellent
lands in the older and more settled por-
tions of the United States; and yet,
in September, 1871. Lord Derby ex-
pressed bis belief "that the production
Of England and Scotland could be dou-
bled if sufficient capital were employed
in the cultivation of land Lord Lei
cester, as the result of an extended tour
through England, Ireland and Scotland,
his entire concurrence in this
opinion. And so. also, Mr.. Golden
believed that England might again be-
come a self-supporting country. instead
Of being compelled to pay EDO. 100000
a year to foreign countries for wheat.
If this be true Of England, what shall
said of the United States-or to bring
matter closer home and within our own
jurisdiction-what shall we say of our
own Peninsula With so much Of its
ine land lying unimproved. and our
farmers putting their money into stocks
and bonds. and their sons seeking oc-
,upations and homes in other States and
flying. alas ! to the busy, wearing. fe-
verish life of the great commercial cen
tres.
This exodus from the country 1 look
upon with anxiety and regret. for it
seems to me that our Republican form
IF government has its best hopes in the
luiet opportunities for reflection and
salm. secluded consideration Of events !;
IN the formation and maintenance of IN
1iuidual and Independent opinion and
which country life and pur-
suits SO manifestly afford, and which
,ity life seems to destroy.
And are not these dreams Of sudden
wealth, and unbrokeu commercial sue
scenes Of which are laid in
he commercial and money centres
,ften, nay. usually. illusory?
was much impressed seme years ago
With the statistics Of an agricultural
'ecisty in our sister state Of Maryland,
which embraced the general history of
is members for an entire century, and
he comparison was established of
he condition Of those families who had
continued to hold land, and those who
lad been allured by the less laborious
md apparently speedier ways to wealth.
md had embarked their means in COM
nercial and financial adventures. The
and holding families were still to be
raced by the substantial possessions Of
heir descendants who were maintaining
he solid names and solid comfort Of
heir ancestors, whilst Of the commercial
lass, here and there only, a stray head
vas to be seen above the breakers Of
he sea'of chance, whilst many wreck
ID fortune lay scattered and forgotten
long the shore.
Depend upon it. there is much mean
ng in the old name given to houses and
ands-REAL ESTATE. And what of our
eal estate on this Peninsula, my
riends :? Has not a kind Providence
,iven us combination of advantages.
goodly heritage, wherein to live our
ives and prepare for the great life to