The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-02

22ND, 1869.
Gentlemen, Members Of the Agricul-
tural Society, and Farmers Of
North Carolina:
1 have thrown together hastily
and rudely, some thoughts on the
subject of Agriculture IN North
Carolina. / could not, without
neglect Of my special work, which
is pressing at this season Of the
year, take the time for preparation
which the subject and the occasion
would SO amply justify. And there
fore, for the shortcomings OF this
address, l must beg your patience
for the length of it, your liberation
for the unpublished manner of it,
and your forbearance for anything
which may appear to you ill-con-
sidered. 1t would be easy to give
Won a discourse on the science of
agriculture In general, or on the
state, history and progress of agri-
culture as al art. But my purpose
is more practical.
The two paramount interests OF
North Carolina, at present, are,
unquestionably, education and ag-
riculture. And these two are also
intimately and inseparably con
nected. They demand, as well of
the patriotic citizen as of the legis-
lator, the most anxious attention
and the profoundest study. We
are to consider the latter to-day.
The cultivation of the soil, agri-
riculture, in some of its depart
ments, has always been, and must
e continue, the occupation of
much the larger part of mankind ;
because all human subsistence must
come directly or indirectly out Of
the earth.
In a few of the nations of Europe,
and in one or two States of the
Union, manufactures have come to
occupy the chief place, while agri-
culture has sunk to a subordinate
position. But that can never hap
pen here. Situated on the isother-
NAL zone of 60, along which have
clustered the dominant populations
of the world in all ages, blest with
a soil and climate admirably adapt
ed to the most varied, abundant
and valuable products required by
civilized men, near to one of the
finest and most capacious harbors
to be found on any shore, and
within easy reach of the great marts
and highways of the worlds COM
merce, North Carolina is, and must
remain, chiefly, an agricultural
State.
1t is not meant, by any means,
to ~depreciate our mineral and man
ufacturing resources, which are
certainly very important, and des-
tined to an early, rapid and high
Development but any n who
will take the trouble to examine the
census returns will see that the
agricultural products of some sin
gle counties exceed in value the re-
suits of the mining operations of
the whole State, and a somewhat
similar remark is applicable to our
manufactures. The development
which these important industries
are soon to receive, when our vast
stores of mineral wealth shall be
unlocked by the hand of science,
aided by capital, and when the al
most unlimited water power of the
middle and western regions of the
State shall be utilized, although
vastly important in itself, to the
precise amount of the increment
which it will add to the aggregate
wealth and productive capital OF
the State, will derive its highest
value from the impetus which ii
will give to agriculture, by the re-
moval Of the burden of transporta-
ton, and the establishment of a
market at its door, as we'll by the
variation and multiplication Of the
demand for it's products.
1t being settled, then, that North
Is, and is to be an agrl.
cultural State, SO predominantly
that no other interest is worthy OF
mention in comparison, what and
where is her agriculture /? Every
n Of us realizes that North Caro-.
lima does not occupy the position
In this regard which she might,
and should, and must. Every one
admits the defects of our agricul
ture, great and palpable and glar
ing. All the newspapers and jour
mails, and everybody you meet, art
saying, the old way will not DO w,
must turn over a new leaf, we mus
diversity oar agriculture, must bu,
more manure, must cultivate les.
land, and do it better-must d,
this and do that; everybody preach
ing, but who is practicing2 Ever,