580 



FARMERS' REGISTER— SYSTEM, &c. IN FARMING, PREMIUMS. 



^his was the worst of it. Many, very many, never 

 obtain much better knowledge of practical opera- 

 tions than they commence with: and that is com- 

 monly worse tlian none. This indispensable item 

 in the prosecution of improvement, is also left to 

 others, wholly uninterested in (he improvement of 

 the farm. To rcmed_v these evils, rules should be 

 established: it should be an established principle, 

 that all manner and kind of work, should be ex- 

 ecuted in the best style: quality, and not quantity, 

 should be the primaiy object of every farmer or 

 planter. We should seldom, if ever, depart from 

 this principle, lor the sake of expediency. We 

 should aim to acfjuirc more executive (if I may 

 use the expression) and practical knowledge. If 

 this knowledge cannot be obtained in schools or 

 colleges, it may in agricultural societies. Let us 

 then Ibrm agncidtural societies, enlist practical 

 men, and apply the lever of associated action; 

 without which, no important reformation has ever 

 been effected — patriotism, philanthropy, and reli- 

 gion, forbid that this principle should be applied to 

 so many objects, and agriculture be left to wend 

 its own slow way unaided, unassisted. Let all 

 lovers of improvement awake to the merits of this 

 noble cause. Let us associate, combine, and bring 

 to the aid of agriculture, that intelligence and en- 

 thusiasm, which characterized our ancestors. And 

 the Old Dominion will soon put on a beautiful 

 garment of green, "and all her paths drop fat- 

 riess." All men, of every rank and nation, are 

 deeijly interested in the prosperity of agriculture. 



Tlie importance of established rules, oi" sys- 

 tematic operations, especially to the slave holder, 

 is clear and indisputable. Slaves have generally 

 been trained by agents, v,dio have commonly been 

 required to aim at quantity rather than quality in 

 the common work of the farm; consequendy, the 

 slaves have acquired bad habits. Having been 

 taught, by bitter experience in many cases, that 

 quantity was the criterion of the days work, and 

 caring "nothing for the benefit of the crop, they 

 have 'become expert in finding the easiest way — 

 or in other words, to slight all kinds of work. This 

 is true, with regard to the great majority. Having 

 fallen into bad habits, confirmed by time, there is 

 a strong necessity for a thorough and radical 

 change In the plan of operation, or they will be 

 forever falling back into their old ways; of mak- 

 ing smooth the outside, regardless of the internal; 

 which is the most important consideration. All 

 intelligent, all thinking men, subscribe to the force 

 of edtication — that it is strong and powerful^ — it 

 lias its influence on the slave as well as the free- 

 man; "just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." 

 Hence, the necessity of having them well taught 

 — of established rules — of systematic operation. 

 Wherever it is practicable, the measuring rod 

 should be applied; when impracticable, the work 

 should be weighed or numbered. Wehav^e known 

 the executioirconsiderably improved, and from 25 

 to 33 per cent, added to the day's work, merely by 

 counting the bundles of tobacco stripped and tied 

 up, at the close of the day's work. When it is 

 known by the hands that the quality of the work 

 is to be rigidly inspected, as vs^ell as the quantity, 

 they will take more pains in the execution; and 

 the quantity will be uicreased, as well as the ex- 

 ecution imjiroved. 



The necessity is urgent on Virginians, to attend 

 to this subject in all its various ramifications. It 



requires intelligence and energy to resuscitate their 

 impoverished fields, and bring them back to that 

 state, in which tliey can behold them with plea- 

 sure, and in which we may anticipate a plentiful 

 and prosperous futurity. 



Let us then give to this important subject, the 

 attention it so imperiously demands — let us give 

 to the winds the filse theory that sla\'cry is in- 

 compatible with improvement — let us attend well 

 to the application and execution of labor — let us 

 obtain ])ractical knowledge bj' forming agricultu- 

 ral societies — let us adopt systematic opei'ation in 

 every department — let us resolve that all our flat 

 land shall be tlioroughly drained — all our uplands 

 receive as many trenches or conductors, as will be 

 fully sufficient to conduct all the superfluous water 

 in excessive rains— to sow all our arable land in 

 grass — confine the hoof and the tooth to standing 

 pastures — pay strict attention, and use strict econ- 

 omy in all the sources of manure. Let us attend 

 to these particulars, and we shall soon see im- 

 provement in our fields, and plenty in our barns. 



The anticipation of a long journey presents 

 formidable barriers to a person unaccustomed to 

 travelling; as long as the journey is in prospect, 

 almost insurmountable difficulties arise. Imagi- 

 nation makes mountains of mole hills— there are 

 lions in the waj' — the expense of the trip — the 

 length of the way — the toil and fatigue of travel- 

 ling — and many imaginar}^ dangers standing thick 

 around — discourage and conspire to make thejour- 

 ney formidable. We have only to "screw our 

 courage to the sticking place;" to start, and all the 

 difficulties vanish. The journey though long, is 

 easily and pleasantly performed. Similar to this, 

 is the commencement and the prosecution of a 

 scheme of improvement. Opinions of long stand- 

 ing, prejudices strong and inveterate, established 

 habits, expensive bills, trouble and vexation, stare 

 us in the face, at the threshold of imj^rovement. 

 Commence, the difficulties are removed — the lions 

 are chained. Excited and interested, more atten- 

 tion is bestowed; profit and improvement go hand 

 in hand. 



CHARLOTTE COUNTY. 



For tlie Farmers' Register. 

 LIST OF PREMIUMS OFFERED BY THE BUCK- 

 INGHAM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



L For' the best thorough bred stallion over two 

 and under four years old — one year's subscription 

 to the New York Sporting Magazine. 



2. For the best thorough bred brood mare — one 

 year's subscription to the American Turf Regis- 

 ter and Sporting IMagazine. 



3. Fo/ the best thorough bred colt under two 

 years old — the same as No. 2. 



4. For the best thorough bred filly under two 

 years old — ;the 1st vol. of Edgar's stud book. 



5. For the best brood mare other than thorough 

 bred — the same as No. 2. 



6. For the best colt or filly other than thorough 

 bred under two years old — the sante as No. 2. 



7. For the b;\st jack over three years old — one 

 year's subscription to the Farmers' Register. 



8. For the best mule raised in the county, under 

 five years old — Farmer & Mechanic, and Ohio 

 Farmer. 



9. For the best bull over two years old — the 

 same as No. 7, and Genesee Farmer. 



