The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-02-01
Encouragement to Agriculture.
From the Rural SUM-

TX III, III Clu Out DC OVi ~ loihS
that this country. so productive
in the fruits of the earth, should
have received in its agricultural
department so little attention
and aid from its rulers. While
patronage is extended with
liberal hand to the various me-
chanic arts, and improvements
in machinery anxiously sought
and encouraged, as illustrated
in the thousands of patents, ag-
riculture, upon which these and
all other departments of business
depend, is almost wholly neglect
ed. The fault, in great meas>
IRE, is the fault OF the people
themselves; and upon their heads
must rest the responsibility in
the future if this Indifference on
the part of the executive and
legislative departments of our
government is not eradicated.
1t may be remarked that aericul-
ture does not now ask so much
for legislative protection, as she
does for some one to be placed
in position in the government
where his Investigations and
counsels will have an influence
in freeing agriculture from the
burdens imposed for the alleged
protection of other interests. So
long as ancient governments
fostered and guarded their agri>
culture, they were prosperous
just in proportion as production
was made successful. When they
neglected this great underlying
interest, then they refrigerated.
Cicero devoted much of his time
and talents to the practice of
farming and a higher develop
ment of agricultural interest
among his people, and composed
many valuable essays on farm
ing, drawn from his own work
and experience, which the Ro-
mans never ridiculed as book
farming. Virgil, the gifted farm
er>poet, immortalized himself in
his Bucolics. Among the great
kings and rulers of the earth,
Hero, king of Sicily, stands first
as a patron of husbandry. Com
ing in possession of the throne
at thirty, he found his kingdom
convulsed with corruptions and
solutions. He soon succeeded
in placing agriculture in honor
among his subjects, and induced
them, whether high or low, rich
or poor, to apply themselves dill
gently to cultivating the soil;
and, as consequence, in few
years Sicily, instead Of import
ing all her supplies, became a
large exporter to feed surround
ing nations. Thus should it be
with our country, if her agricul>
ture were relieved of existing
burdens, and properly fostered
by the government. This is a
policy which should he the pecu-
liar pride and care of a wise gov
eminent, and it cannot be too
often repeated and urged upon
the attention of those in position
to reflect the wishes of our gov
ernmental policy. When Sicily
was conquered by Rome, such
was the excellence of Hiero's
farm laws, his people were per>
mitted to be governed by their
own laws, the Romans not being
able to substitute any better.
Some of our States have taken
wise action in behalf of agricul-
ture, and great advancement has
been the result. Let the general
government encourage all States
to follow the good example of
those already acting, and place
at the head of her agricultural
department cabinet officer
thoroughly competent to develop
and encourage this vital interest
throughout our whole nation.
The sentiment of the people is
now setting in favor ofimproved
aGricultnra and mhila thu ,naton