216 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



Mr. Sirother coincided in the view, that agri- 

 culiure was the most important interest in the 

 commonwealth ; yet, he contended that legisla- 

 tion had frequenliy been had indirectly for its be- 

 nefit. What was the Geological Surve}'- intended 

 lor, if not to benefit the interests ol' agriculture 7 

 That survey was carried on at great expense. 

 Its object was to develope the agricultural re- 

 sources of the state. Year alter year, we had 

 lool<ed for something to grow out of it, and still 

 the only (iact that had been developed was that 

 some oyster shells had been discovered on the 

 Blue Ridge — a fiict no doubt very interesting to 

 the philosopher, but of no practical value to the 

 farmer. The gentleman li-om JefFersou (Mr. 

 Kennedy) had referred to the flourishing condi- 

 tion of Maryland and New York, and had attri- 

 buted it to stale encouragement of agriculture. 

 Now he (Mr. S.) explained it thus: every man 

 there had a direct interest in the soil (which was 

 less in extent than ours) and is thereby induced 

 to till it with more care. Here, a large portion 

 of our labor has no permanent interest in the soil, 

 and is therefore reckless as to the mode of cul- 

 tivation. As to the allusioij of the gentleman 

 from Rockbridge (Mr. Leyburn) to his morus 

 multicaulis speculations, he confessed he had 

 suffered a little ; yet he did not give full credence 

 to the fallacy at the time so prevalent. He did 

 not believe in the influence, which, it had been 

 asserted, would come from the Board of Agricul- 

 ture. He believed it would be as insufficient as 

 the grand Geological Survey, from which so 

 much was promised. 



Mr. Taylor, of Loudoun, said, he had not in- 

 tended to trouble the House with any remarks of 

 his in opposition to the bill now under considera- 

 tion ; but many members near him expressed 

 surprise that he, coming from a county distin- 

 guished for its success in agricultural pursuits, 

 should be found in opposition to this bill. He felt 

 it his duty to that great interest to oppose the bill 

 now under consideration. He had been raised a 

 farmer — a practical farmer, not a book farmer. In 

 his opinion, it required no science and no reports 

 from a Board of Agriculture to teach men how 

 to handle the plough, the axe and maul. The 

 best farmers in the world, Mr. T. said, were the 

 plain people of Pennsylvania, who were in the 

 constant habit of doing llieir own work. 



Mr. Kincheloe took groui.d against the bill. 

 He said the proceedings now had, in relation to 

 the present bill, reminded him of the fact that 

 there once existed a Board of Agriculture in tlie 

 state. When that Board was established, there 

 was no doubt the same display of eloquence in 

 Lis behalf as now, and the same promises of large 

 benefits that would result from its operation. 

 That Board and its history might be cited as 

 a case in point why the House should not sanc- 

 tion the continuance of the present. It was 

 created with ten members, who received pay and 

 mileage. It was continued for some years, until 

 it was perceived that it did not answer the pur- 

 poses for which it was intended, when it was 

 abolished. Thus, the people lost about ^50,000 

 in the experiment, before their eyes were opened. 

 He (Mr. K.) was opposed to the bill, because he 

 considered it would be of no practical utility or 

 importance ; yet, whilst he did opj.o-e the mea- 

 sure, he declared himself to be a friend of agri- 



culture, as the foundation and moving cause of 

 every thing else. 



Blr. Clendenin protested against the pas- 

 sage of the bill. It would cost 6 or $600 now, 

 and yearly additions would be made to the ex- 

 penses of the board. He therefore moved the in- 

 definite postponement of the bill, and called for 

 the ayes and noes on the motion. 



Mr. Rives regarded the provisions of the bill, 

 not in the light of a loan granted to agriculture, 

 but as a right which that great and controlling 

 interest might demand. Considerations of a 

 wholly different nature from those which in- 

 fluenced the conduct of many gentlemen, should 

 determine his course. He denied the dignity 

 and consistency of the course proposed to be 

 adopted in relation to this measure. Last winter 

 the bill was, afier a discussion, passed. Gentle- 

 men had said, that it passed upon an understand- 

 ing, that the members of the board were to re- 

 ceive no compensation. Had they looked to the 

 evidence before they made the assertion? The 

 gentleman from Spottsylvania, said it passed only 

 on that condition. As to compensation, Mr. R. 

 thought it was merely a matter which had been 

 omitted in the bill establishing the board. The 

 members had met and deliberated. Gentlemen 

 declared they had done nothing. True — but, 

 asked Mr. 11., had they not taken incipient steps 

 for obtaining a consummation which would re- 

 dound to the honor and interest of the whole 

 commonwealth 1 



Mr. R. then spoke of the impropriety and in- 

 consistency of the course proposed to be adopted, 

 by the ryder of the gentleman from Rappahan- 

 nock. It was proposed to tell the members " you 

 have done nothing — you have been of no service 

 — still, we will pay and discharge you." Was 

 it wise, dignified, or prudent to say this to those 

 gentlemen ; to destroy the board, and yet pay 

 them a ihw dollars and cents'? As honorable 

 and high-minded men, would they receive the 

 compensation tendered under such circumstances? 

 Mr. R. asked gentlemen to pause before they 

 abolished this board, and before they came to the 

 conclusion that it could do no good. 



Mr. Mcllhaney said, he was unused to pub- 

 lic speaking, but was sincerely devoted to the 

 agricultural interest of the state. No man in the 

 house excelled him in the zeal which he felt, and 

 was ever ready to manifest, by his practice, for 

 the bo7ie and sinew of his country. He was em- 

 phatically a farmer in all his notions and feelings. 

 He had been partly brought up to the plough. 

 With all the care and attention of which he was 

 capable, he had listened to the arguments and 

 views of those who had advocated this measure. 

 He had seen gentlemen of the bar, rise and theo- 

 rise on farming with all their strength. Now, he 

 could say, as to those gentlemen, that, if they ex- 

 pected their sons to be benefited by the theories 

 of a board of agriculture, they were very much 

 mistaken. 



But, said Mr. M., the House has been told by 

 the gentleman from JefTerson (Mr. Kennedy,) a 

 man who was very near to his heart, that much 

 good had resulted to the cause of agriculture by 

 boards established in other states. He referred 

 to Pennsylvania. He would accompany the gen- 

 tleman in his investigations in that quarter, for he 

 I had visited that state and spent some time there ; 



