The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-29
Virginia State Agricultural Society.
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.
Address by Rev. J. L. Nj. Curry, d. n.
COLONEL " C. KNIGHT REELECTED
PRESIDENT, ETC.

There came near being serious disappointment
al the meeting last night At the appointed hour q
very large crowd had assembled around the doors Of
the capitol, and were Impatient for adm nittanre :
but the lockc doors and dim burning lights with
IN tod with eloquent silence that hele had been on
the part OF somebody most culpable ntgl gaucc The
crowd generally dispersed, ana the orat went
home: but by the personal exerrions or the Co.
vernon Himself The doors Were al last opened, the
RnS HRhted, ana committee sent, who returned
with the orator.
here was then still further delay but at $50
the Pre.ident of the Society took the chair and
called the meeting to order.
large number Of those who went away did not
return and as they reported a. the hotels Ia there
would be no meeting, many who were anxious to
hear the address did not attend. nd vet the hall
State.
of the leading men of the state, who arr here 10
look after her agl icutural Interests The Pre- IL
dent stated that unless thee VS. obj ciGn il
would be taken for granted that a quorum was
present.
The SECRETARY was proceeding to read III minutes
when; on motion, the e.din! was di p=nsel with
poned until after the address. pV''-
Colonel Knight then introduced as the speaker Of
the evening kef. Dr. j. l.. 81, Curry.
Dr.. Curry was received with loud ap iuse and
proceeded to address the Society.
ADDRESS OF DR.. CURRY.
DR.. Curry began his address by Gcet0usly re-
marking that he did not know why the X. cniiye
Committee had selected college professor living
In Il city TO deliver an agricultural address unless
upon the principle of celebrated critic who re-
fused to read book before reviewing it lest his
mind should become prejud!cel. His acqu intance
with practical farming OF late years would cer,aiuly
make him impartial. But he insisted that as arri-
culture Is connected with Every profession inter
est OF lire, and Is the isis OF all al prosper,v
teacher may claim double inecs' I'm IL be cause of
rs connection with botany, chemistry. and geolo-
fy; ard preacher might shelter under tn au-
ton aud dcgc Ieracy of Roma society in hls day,
urged return To agriculture. the basis Of their for
ner prosperity and the source of their ancient sim
plicity and purity. As he could not be supposed
know anythn2 of agriculture. he might 90 back TO
his first love- ana speak On p6iiticS since agri-
culture Is the foundation OF natonaI greutres, and
there Is no large community where agricultural in
tcI c.s do not cxcctd all olhnr irt:r-sts cnmbnci.
He illustrated tEs point by reference 10 Great Bri-
mes, Of the motto whirh Austria stamps on her me-
dals II Is the art which Hourshes ul other arts.
te insisted that agriculture IS the basis OF all
leraanc"t nati1na! prosperity and illustrated his
aud Genoa. which aUasscd wealth and lnurishrd
for Il time by commercial pursuits. but Soon sunk
into insigniicance, while Egypt, China, and noit,
on the soil, have repaired the wastes OF
centuries and still survive.
He said that agriculture IS so intimaely allied
with politics In the higher sense Uf that abused
term that he might appr priately make pOinicat
address. He did not mean i jeremiah on iHc0mpe-
tcnce and corruption in Ic2isl.ton, or corruption
in pubic fices, nor an expose of the cow,rdice
which lets Iqu r-sen2 ply It's dreadful trade Ut
the expense OF the Taxpayers anG TO the dcmorali
Zalion of youth: which allows Owners Of worthless
ours indulgei ce Of their wiims the pre- eudcc of
sheep husbandry; buI he meant DISCUSSION of those
great principles OF trade and fnan and cons itl-
tioual law which lie IL the base of all sound leeisl-
bounties, but agriculture, the nursing mOtucr of all
pursuits. must not chrp about lllgh tXcs, bank
log monopoii.s, or combinations OF raj road COR
p0rallons 10 buy legislatures and secure discI im
mating privileges. He would pass these by. al
though strongly ten pied 10 express well con-
Sidercd OPT mons on legislation, currency. and con-
lay: ne wonia M looS S og'sic f OF Roiss
Virginitt. and hOlc Mey may be Suppiisd2
lie vividly sketchcd the progress OF agriculture
within gene alton, and illustrated II by the fact
that the England of Victoria supports its of
millions IN gieer abundance and comfort, and with
more ease, than the England Of james ii. supported
It's live millions. Wit in the lifetime Of the oldest
there were agricultural fairs, few agricultural
pupers or books, rtapcr. ~ inventions Of farm
Ing implements, and clinging to the u,agcs OF
foref;lIiicrs but now. CT tie are improved In breed
and value. implements rluEing from the reaper to
The most delicate utcnsil tor cutivating flowers
have been inycned. crops Oh The farm and in the
garden and orchards nave been improved. dairy
products largely increased, and Der; Onal comfort
ana national veal h n eatly enhanced. Yet, the
speaker insisted, there other needs which Fairs.
however valuable, do not INJECT. for these exhibit Ions
re really specimen, OF tie hest III the land and
ther prophcscs Of what ntdUb than or what Eow IS.
II did not become him 10 speak OF improved III
lngr. although nere novice could point ont some
Sh ,meiul cOnServat III Of exploded methods. sub
division of large estates, Interesting tenants In
making permanent impr yemcnts, seem too obri
Gus to reqnlrc al sument- Dvcrsityng crops so rs
not 10 have every, hing depending OH one or two
products is so munifcsly al ilnnelatife duty-a
wise cxrclcnt-lhat ne can only wonder ut The
b.inu adherence which SO oi'cn insures bankruptcy
blc labor Is 4 fell want. Variety OF cmpioyInents
iudiciously selected and prosecuted wound meet
Syl:u Is so inucu needed. Huge Ionndr IS or ner
chant mills. cort factories, requiring large capi
tai utsir- BILE Ihet are cans OF depend on temno-
rary intermittent labor; do not iur"lsh tie de-
II ln, N,.h., Al
plu, munt during the severe weather, when out
uoor work csnuot be safely or Lroh'ahly
done. In The North and West q traveller
finds In every will &c Il multitude of hand craft
arrs small mechani>mS rcquIrins>iO heavy Outl y,
very expensive roll. furnishing renIlIheratitc
employment, moderate but ceitiln wages for the
idle hands OF men. women, and children. he would
have our pcop.e learn The lesson. and make fUr
themselves tie thousand things they now imp r..
hc insisted that we need good roads to- avoid the
tax we now pay upon transportation. which Is even
hca vier than that leviru by harsh ho'ern ent or
collected by corrupt officials. ne drew vivid pc
ture Of Ihc evils OF bad roads, and illustrated his
no,iion by reference 10 TIE matchless road OF 0,d
ONE, some of which, ike The Appan, the Campl.
nian, and the Lo"sulir, remain Ill use until I'M,
hc next spoke Of the value and importance of
,bornugh pcolos cal survey Of The State, ana Illus
tracd 1t by lhe statement that in ruropea farmer
lind it proh1aDe TO employ coinpc'en'
lie urged that every consideration OF duty, Inter-
est ana patriotism "demands the adoption or
rational means lOl Tue au'dlCc III lnc lHlel
lect.l culture Of the agricultural profession ana
for bringing about an ilninedi,lc ana continuous
uniun bet lXt science anu the aDors Or the beld.
He belcved thai as rule farmers patronZed co..
l.rns Irt,er tlnu merchants Yet hc knew OF no
subject about which there Is Il more Wlut-snreid
anu mischil vous misapprehension, aud which needs
more gh discussion, than that OF the benefits
and cuCs OF educatUu. Many mistake the rld-
meuts the clenle.ts, for education. lney coEsldeT
As merely The acq ieition OF prl neal
aud usetlIl knowledge aS fitting men 10 make
hpy IN L U
tue training and dlsciplinins, the qulckchihs aIu
81 strengthening. OF The IL enIal farutles ana iacll-
tating hs application OF tnose ,n Ihi ar M
version OF tile true ends OF education there Is
widely prevalent Lotiou that moderate ability ana
very little INTELLIGENCE Are needed for tillinS tle
enrin and for the ordinary mechanic arts. some
cling 10 ancestral pracices and tlir up heir noses
at science, and leaTuing, ana booA-iarlnlng' 1iiS
chrnics In regard 10 the dignity OF Their cdilngs
and The knowledge required Ior their pursuits Is
humiliating. Nothing Is better adapted 10 lower
the tone Uf prof ssioh and DrlnS IL mo cou-
fem,t Where q preacher, or lawyer, or doctor,
f,i, S, We often hear the remark that be
had better 20 10 the plough or worS-b:nch; Rather
than nerlnit bright boy TO be fdrI er ne Is ent
70 IKE rity to nc Il "morc respectable" lawyer, or
doctnr or clerk. or oafcr. 1nis Is Il positive DIS
n.ragement Of noble ca,lings-a tlcit conlessl,n
( at in eriorily OF talent and knnwedge are sum
cient for hrln The SPEAKER earnestly Insisted as
y mans occupatl not his whole concern IN me
rb # he Is o. citizen, Larcn', hushaho nelnpcr
of socley n Christian c"mum mn m }! ana IT, I,l1i ,e ne
shou d be prepared TO meet ms ob igti4s u, lnese
"a re ,chng realo 5. And he urged mat II is !a!.
acIous and hrtful that lie Inquest Intelligence and
adncaIion cannot be employed In AGRICULTURAL and
mechanical as we'll As In Other caLi i gs !ne
crmnr ne eds acute power of OBJ ervation ana gene
aiin.titn n Gear well-balanced mind; ana ubtII.-
dant vailed, and accurate knowledge and u ere Is
scarcely "a science which VIII not rehec; light oa
his nursuit, hemistry. minera. ogy, mete hoiogy,
h,anr h,y natural history &c, are all landmarks
Of oS fsrning he yiridiy Illus rated and enf"rc d
~ the vnIne OF knowledge TO the farmer and the me
ehanic and meTe every Year ~
~. Insisted upon ihe practlcai importance OF
nIoSidIpg better facilities for industrial and sclen
tiic tte 6nc4 enucation and guo.ed hSmhoiaL Us
and manipuaive skill must be welded !; mat ma
aonaI Wealth and increasing prosperity Oh nations
must be based ON an enlightened employ lneht vi