1538] 



FARMERS' R E G I S T E li . 



697 



fit to (he commonwealth. Before proceedinir to 

 the consiiiemiion ol" tiic proper and best nieuns of 

 Airiiishiiio; nn;iii'iiltural iii>:ti'uclion and l^nnwletlfre, 

 we beg li-ave to otier nn illuslrntion of tlie parti- 

 cular position jo5t montioncil. The subject taken 

 tor illustration, is chosen, not by any means be- 

 cause it is one ol'tiie most important to niiriculture, 

 «nd the fouHnonweallh''s interests, but, because it 

 is one wliich now excites niucii curiosity, and is 

 one on which there is as yet amono; us but little 

 knowledoje, and no practical experience. 



Thousands of the cultivators of Viro-inia have 

 been recently and violently excited by the specu- 

 lating mania which has raised the price of mul- 

 berry twiiis to more than their weight in silver, 

 tind design nextyeartocommence the cultivation of 

 the mulberry tree, as larcely as circumstances per- 

 mit, with a view to profit from the expected and 

 extensive culture ot' silk in this country. Many 

 of these persons are directed by sound views, find 

 <lesign to begin and prosecute a regular, and, as 

 we fully believe, when understood, a profitable bu- 

 siness; Many others, it is feared, are impelled 

 merely by a wild and groundless spirit of specu- 

 lation, in sales of plants. But whatever may be 

 the motives, and whether the wise or the unwise 

 may preponderate, and whatever may be the 

 amount of ultimate profit from the new business 

 of silk culture, this is certain, that many thousands 

 of dollars, perhaps hundreds of thonsatids, will be 

 risked, and wasted, in untried experiments and 

 processes, of which all engaged are entirely igno- 

 rant ; and it will follow, of course, even "though 

 the final results may be profitable to individuals, 

 and highly valuable to the slate, still, that a large 

 proportion of all the first enorntous outlay of ex- 

 pense, will be sacrificed and lost, because of the 

 inexperience and ignorance of the adventurers. 

 Now, if (he state had paid the expense of the 

 first experiment, and had spared no pains and cost 

 to have the trial fiiirly and flilly made, by putting 

 to work the best knowledge and skill in the busi- 

 ness, with the best means to operate with, then 

 this expenditure would have served to prevent a 

 hundred Ibid greater by individuals, and have 

 turned to profit all that will now run to loss. If 

 a mulberry nursery and cocoonry had been estab- 

 lished at the public expense, upon the best known 

 plan, and making trial of every supposed improve- 

 ment, then the problem of the amount of (products 

 and of profits would have been already placed be- 

 yond question. Such an establishment would also 

 have furnished the best possible school of practical 

 instruction in the business. Every indiviclual who 

 was inclined to commence it, would visit it, and 

 see, not the mere first trials of novices, but all the 

 processes, and the general procedure, of the best 

 and oldest establishments of Europe, as well as 

 trials of every newly proposed improvement. 

 The income of the cocoonry, perhaps, would have 

 paid the greater part of the expense — possibly the 

 whole ; but even if the excess of expenditure over 

 income had been .^10,000, it would still have ope- 

 rated as a great pecuniary gain to the whole com- 

 monwealth, as well as "to the numerous indivi- 

 dual adventurers. And though this subject, taken 

 ibr illustration, is a novel and peculiarly stronff 

 case of General ignorance, ^reat risks, and con- 

 sequently great losses, which the state miirht have 

 prevented at little cost, and to great ultimate pro- 

 fit, yet the like application might be made to va- 

 VoL. VI.-88 



rious separate and important branches of agricul- 

 tural industry, as well as to general instruction 

 and did'usion o.'' knowledge on the whole subject. 



If it may be permitted to pursue this illustration 

 still (arilier, it may be adirmcd, that if such a silk 

 business and school had been established in Vir- 

 ginia three years ago, among the other lights de- 

 rived, the peculiar value of the morus multicaufis, 

 or Chinese mulberry, would have been fiilly as- 

 certained, and its culture generally difiused 

 throughout the state ; and consequently the great 

 enhancement of its market price, and the mad spe- 

 culations founded thereon, either would never 

 have existed, or, if so enhanced, the sales would 

 have brought millions of dollars to the stale, for 

 products which cost almost nothing, instead of 

 draining a vast amount I'rom this state to cuhiva- 

 tors abroad. 



So farj as to the need for agricultural instruction 

 in general, and its value to all who will prdfit by 

 its being provided. But even if all (his be fully 

 admitted, there will then still be opposed the ob- 

 jection of demagogues and popularity-seekers, 

 " that it is unjust to tax the whole population, Cot 

 (he benefit of a part." Though this miserable 

 substitute for argument is brought to oppose every 

 new proposition (or beneficial improvement, it 

 never raises its head in the same cause after being' 

 once successfully resisted. In (ruth, there is 

 scarcely a legislative act of any kind, or tax or re- 

 quisition, which may not as much be said to be a 

 charge to the many for (he use or benefit, or de- 

 mand, of a few, as would be pecuniary grants (or 

 the improvement of agriculture in an agricultural 

 community. The complaint is as absurd and as 

 groundless, as if an individual complained of the 

 injustice of his beinn; taxed to support criminal 

 justice, because he was neither a judge to be ho- 

 nored and paid, nor a felon to be hung. But of all 

 such charges of injustice, that against agricultural 

 aids xvould have (he least color. The agricultural 

 interest in Virginia is so extended as almost (o be 

 identified with (he community in general — and it 

 is certain, that the former cannot possibly' be be- 

 nefited, except to (he benefit of the whole com- 

 monweahh. The {ew, who have no direct or iin- 

 media{e interest in agriculture, are indirectly and 

 remotely, but yet considerably interested ; and 

 any burden imposed on them in common with all 

 other citizens, ibr improving agricultural products, 

 would in a far greater degree improve their inter- 

 est in afjriculture, indirect or remote as it may be. 



It still might be contended, (at least by court- 

 yard and muster-ground orators, and office- 

 seekers,) that some agriculturists would derive alt 

 the benefits, while others would merely share in 

 bearing the cost ol the system. This could scarcely 

 happen upon a proper system of instruction, ex- 

 cept to those who would blindly and obstinately 

 continue to reject all light and knowledge ; and 

 lor such cases it would be waste of all efibrt to at- 

 tempt to furnish either aid or remedy. 



Next, let us consider the peculiar deficiency and 

 want of agricultural education or instruction. 



Agriculture, as a science, has been less investi- 

 gated by competent inquirers, and is less under- 

 stood, than any others in general use, and deemed 

 important. Ai- an art, it stands still lower ; as the 

 necessary processes, even when judiciously plan- 

 ned and directed, are never all executed properly 

 on the farm of the most 'AlHhl cultivator ; and in 



