Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-08-04
.AcDpRESS
HON. CHARLES JAS. FAULKNER,
President of tae Berkeley County Agricultural
and Mechanical Association,z
To the Farmers and Mechanics
OF Jefferson, Morgan and Berkeley Counties.

i Alta recent meeting ofthe Berkeley County
| Agricultural and Mechanical Association, a
resolution was adopted, by which [ was in
structed, as the president of that Association,
to issue a brief address calling Your attention
to our proposed annual Fair and Exhibition,
which has been arranged to take place on the
Sth, 9th, 10th and 18th days of September
next. | proceed with pleasure to comply
with this request of the Association for from
my earliest childhood my interests have been
identified with those of agriculture, and what
ever is calculated to advance the welfare of
the farmer, aud to promote the cultivation of
the soil, has ever found in me a sincere and
earnest advocate.
The Association, TO which I now invite
your attention, was organized for the, purest
and most unselfsh public purposes All the
labor bestowed upon its advancement, has been
labor of love, freely and gratuitously rem
dered. It's principal object has been to bring
the farmers of this section of the State into
close and intimate relations with each other
to afford them the opportunity of comforting
freely together in relation to their interests
and to adopt such suggestions as might tend
to benefit, elevate aud improve their condition
in life.
It's further purposes was to stimulate Just
and honorable competition among themselves
In the cultivation of'their lands, and in the
improvements of their stock to call their at
tention to all new and valuable discoveries in
the processes of agriculture. and in the ap
plication of the most useful and valuable me-
chanical Inventions. whereby their la5ors
might be lightencd and economical. It seeks,
further, to produce laudable rivalry in the
rearing of the best quality of poultry, of fruit,
butter, cheese, vegetables, and articles of do
nestle manufacture. most of which latter
classification falls within the female depart
ment Of every rural household.
This is a general outline OF the objects and
purposes sought for by our Association. With
a view tc carry them fully into effect, we pur>
chased, in the vicinity Of Martinshur", some
thirty acres of land, which we have enclosed
and improved with all the necessary build
ings, at Il cost exceeding thirty-two thousand
dollara.
We have had, far, tvo rrrnal Fairs,
neither UI them under the most favorable
circumstances, and yet both calculated to en-
courage us in the prosecution of our enters
prise. Large crowds have attended from
abroad to Eatronizc our exhibitions but we
have been somewhat disappointed in not fiud-
ing that it has attracted the attention and So
cured the favorable cooperation of tho far
the extent that it would have done, consider.
ing that it is mainly to promote their inter-
csts that this Association has been organized
The counties of Jefferson and Morgan. with
Berkeley lying between them, form marked
and almost isolated territorial division of this
State. They were, except the western part
OF Morgan. originally one county; and now they
form one Senatorial! and one Judicial District.
of which MartinsburS is the center: why
not also from one Agricultural District ? In
such an enterprise this, as said upon for
rIer occasion, Omitted we stand divided we
Fall" 1t is hardly practicable to have a
successful annual Fair in each of these three
counties. We have started the enterprise
here in the center of the district; c0mmuni>
cation is prompt aud direct through every part
OF it by railroad We have already expended
more than thirty :wo Thousand dollars upon
the ground and its improvements and we ex-
pect to eXpend some thousands more before it
reaches that point of completion at which we
aim We again tender to our fellow. citizens
of Jefferson and Morgan, not only name in
common with us in the Association, but
joint ownership with us in this attractive prop
erty, and free and equal participation with
US in all its rights. privileges aud bencfits.-
single share costs but ter dollars, and enti-
not then with confidence appeal to our fell
low citizens OF the counties of Jefferson and
Morgan TO unite their interests with Ours in
this enterprise. that we may have ore spot
in the center of this district, dedicated to the
agricultural and mechanical improvement of
the three counties, to which all may lend their
aid. and of which all may justly be proud ?
Tony fellow citizens ofthe county of Berkc
ley what more can say than what | have
already SO often and earnestly pressed upon
their consideration? To their sagacitv. en-,
terprise and good sense, this Association owes
its origin. It sprung from conviction upon
your part, that it was calculated to benefit
you as farmers, and y1u have given to it all
the life and efficiency which it now possesses.
Foster then. and encourage an enterprise
which is so far, at least, peculiarly your own
,york.f Such associations have been found. in
IsSes country who're they have been tried,
ot good husbandry. The
oEe 9hichrthe farmers ne,
inso IN Absence of opportunity
~ .as as5ociation, which belongs to al
every other trade aud occupation in life,
render these annual gatherings of the highest
Importance to his interests. Fairs are now
doing for agriculture what the fairs cf the
middle ages did for commerce they concen-
trate and difFuse knowledge: thew suggest