Year: 1868

Many years ago was informed by that dis


tinguished philosopher, VIM. b Rogers, tina


the soil of the limestone districts of the valley


was deficient in lime If remember Alright


his theory was that in the convulsions ofna.


ture, the supply of lime which had been diff
fused through the soil, had been withdrawn


by its affinity for carbonic acid gas and con-
centrated and consolidated in the form of


limestone rocks, and hence there was less lime
in the soil Of Augusta than in that of Albe-
marie. 6t fs.....s


In confirmation of this theory / will add
that from my own observation and expert
ence, am persuaded lime is the most valu-
able and permanent of all our manures-
But must not be understood as maintain
ing the proposition that lime alone will fur,
nish sufficient food for our crops. No ami
NAL, from man down to the lowest order of
creation can subsist for series of years, on
one single article of diet and in like manner
no plant can flourish if fed by one kind of
manure. Plants like animals, require di-
versity of food but in my judgment lime
bears the same relation as food to the veg
etable kingdom that grain does to the ami
NAL 5-s as..h 81 IL sa.asa es -
The object of dedicating these grounds to
the purposes of agriculture is, to awaken
among our farmers an intelligent and philos-
ophic spirit of enquiry and experiment. and
annually to bring them together to make the
results known and to bear with them the
substantial evidences of their success in the
form of animal and vegetable products of ther
farms: to compare opinions as to the best
systems of culture to impart information to
each other and to inspire spirit of generous
emulation -c- aua. s,' 81


Another object is to induce machinists and
others to bring before our farmers all useful
inventions, i'll the form of machinery to
economise labor and promote production.


In word our object is to build up and
consolidate. on a firm basis, the prosperity
of Virginia. There has been, | fear, in
some parts OF the State, too much giving way
to feeling of dependency; too much of
disposition to fold our arms and to call for
immigration and for others to come and help
us. am not for calling on Hercules, but
for putting our own shoulders to the wheel
| am, as We all are, in favor of immigration.
All well disposed and orderly persons, who
come to settle among us, will be well re-
ceived and kindly treated. But'we must
not depend on Others for prosperity. We
must be the architects of our own fortunes


We live in an age ofprogress. Within the
last half century, the world has made great
er advances in useful knowledge than In the
i've proceeding centuries. Within that time
the Steamship, the Railway, the Telegraph,
the Photograph, Chloroform, the Reaper,
the Drill, the Threshing machine and Sew
ing machine have been added to the facilities
OF commerce, manufactures and Agriculture.
Within that period my distinguished friend
(Com Maury) who sits near me, has dis
covered new worlds in the armament above
us, and sounded the depths Of the ocean,
and mapped its currents so as to guide COM
merce over the most distant seas, and di-
minish by one half, the time necessary for
a voyage around Cape Horn


Within that period new lights have been
shed on Agriculture, and it has been raised
to the dignity of a science. Let us see that
we take no step backward. Let us stimulate
enquiry and improvement by holding out ev-
cry legitimate inducement.


We the Farmers of Augusta, have here
secured "a local habitation and name" =
Henceforth, this will be place of annual
reunion. Here new ideas will be presented
and discussed Here the results of new ex-
periments will be reported and considered
Here the products of our farms. and work
shops, and household industry, will be
exhibited and all necessary sales and ex-
changes Of property effected. Here the best
seeds of all kinds the most improved breeds of
animals, and the most useful kinds of machin-
cry will be introduced and distributed through
the country. To sum up all in the fewest
words, trust that this will prove to be not
merely place of exhibition of the products
of labour, but it will bea mart Of commerce,
and a central point from which light and
knowledge and prosperity will be diffused
through all our borders.


An ancient philosopher said, if you would
give him fulcrum and lever, he could lift
the world from its axis. Here on this spot,
is our fulcrum-knowledge is our lever-lct
us seize it and lift from agriculture the noun
tilins of ignorance and error which have here
tOfOre ODDrcSSe0 it.