1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



5G7 



To Mrs. Jane Randolph, for the second 



best do. 2 



The Committee think it proper to add in relation 

 to the award of the premiums ibr butter, that other 

 ladies exhibited very excellent specimens of that 

 article, highly creditable to their domestic econo- 

 my and skill, between which and those to which 

 the premiums were awarded, they had some diffi- 

 culty in deciding. 



The Committee of the Agricultural Society of 

 Albemarle, on die subject of an agricultural con- 

 vention, report the following preamble and reso- 

 lutions for the consideration of the society. 



Other classes congregating in towns and cities 

 for the purpose of pursuing their employments 

 with more advantage, easily unite on any subject 

 involving their common interest: whilst agricul- 

 turists, residing in separate habitations — scattered 

 through the country for the pursuit of individual 

 interest, are with difficulty brought together, for 

 consultation on the general good. To this cir- 

 cumstance no doubt may be attributed the fact, 

 that in ancient times liberty and a republican form 

 of government were confined to cities. The 

 moderns, by the introduction of representation, 

 have not only obviated this difficulty, but from the 

 superior virtue of the tillers of the earth, given to 

 liberty an extent and stability heretofore un- 

 known. 



This principle of delegated authority has been 

 not only adopted in matters of government, but it 

 is now every day's practice for those interested in 

 any subject to depute some of their members to 

 meet others similarly situated, to consult for the 

 good of their class, and devise and recommend 

 measures for their adoption. 



Agriculture should certainly avail herself ol 

 this improvement to keep pace with the progress of 

 society; and to make such regulations as may fa- 

 vor the general communication of knowledge and 

 the acquisition of improvements from abroad, in 

 the vegetable and animal kingdoms. 



But perhaps the most important subject that 

 could attract the attention of such a meeting, 

 would be the suggesting and soliciting such legis- 

 lation as the interests of tillage and husbandry" re- 

 quire. It may be objected to this that our legisla- 

 ture being elected by the body of the people, a 

 majority of whom are farmers would have the in- 

 terests of their constituents at heart. Truly, they 

 all wish to serve their constituents — but unfortu- 

 nately so many are lawyers and politicians, look- 

 ing forward to ulterior promotion, that but few 

 know what the real interests of agriculture require. 

 As evidence of this, witness the number of peti- 

 tions sent in every year on the subject of enclo- 

 sures, inspections, roads, &c. on which they fail to 

 legislate at all, or do so in so bungling a manner 

 as to increase the evil they meant to remedy. One 

 great error of this legislation on local petitions is 

 that they only hear one side and see one view of 

 the question; whereas a convention of farmers 

 from all parts of the state would see that the inter- 

 ests of none was sacrificed. 



Amongst the numerous subjects which would 

 command the attention of such a body, would pro- 

 bably be the establishment of a professorship of 

 agriculture. It. seems peculiarly hard that those 

 who have mainly contributed to establish and sup- 

 port the best literary and scientific institution in 



the country, should be themselves excluded from 

 its walls. And one of the great misfortunes is, 

 that a large portion of the lands of the state fall 

 into the hands of young men, entirely unacquaint- 

 ed with their management; which is not the case 

 in other employments — (or there must be evidence 

 of knowledge in his profession before the lawyer 

 can get a brie! — the physician a patient — or even 

 the blacksmith a horse to shoe: whilst the young 

 heir comes to the possession of lands and negroes 

 whether qualified or not. 



Resolved, That the Agricultural Society of Al- 

 bemarle proposes to all the other agricultural soci- 

 eties and counties in the state of Virginia, to send 

 delegates to a convention to be held in the city of 

 Richmond, on the second Monday of January 

 next, to consult upon, devise and recommend such 

 measures as they may deem proper for the pro- 

 motion of the interests of agriculture. 



Resolved, That this society elect five delegates 

 to unite with such others as may meet for the pur- 

 pose of forming said convention. 



Resolved, That copies of the foregoing pream- 

 ble and resolutions be furnished to the Virginia 

 Advocate, Jeflersonian Republican and Farmers' 

 Register for publication, and that they and all 

 other papers in the state are requested to insert the 

 same. 



w. ii. Meriwether, Chairman. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE FLORIDA AGRICULTU- 

 RAL SOCIETY. 



1. At an adjourned meeting of this institution, 

 held at the Capitol, in the city of Tallahassee on 

 the 11th instant. 



2. Achille Murat, Esq., the chairman pro tern 

 having made known to the society the recent death 

 of their late acting secretary, Oscar White, Esq., 

 Farquhar Macrae, Esq., nominated Edward 

 Chandler as a proper person to act as secretary of 

 this society at its present meeting; who having 

 assented thereto, was accordingly appointed. 



3. On motion of F. Macrae, it was 

 Resolved, That the "Florida Agricultural So- 

 ciety" deeply regret the death of their late acting 

 secretary, Oscar White, deceased. 



4. Resolved, That sympathising in the afflic- 

 tions of his bereaved widow and other relatives, 

 the society respectfully tender them their condo- 

 lence. 



5. Resolved, That this tribute of respect to the 

 memory of our lamented secretary, be communi- 

 cated through the secretary to his relatives, and be 

 published in the Floridian. 



6. Mr. Macrae, chairman of the committee of 

 direction, appointed at the last meeting to draft a 

 constitution for this society, reported a constitution 

 to this meeting, which, with some amendment, 

 was unanimously adopted. 



7. On motion of the same gentleman, seconded 

 by the Hon. Thomas Randall, the society then 

 proceeded to elect its officers by ballot, and on 

 counting the votes, the following named gentle- 

 men were found to have been elected, viz : 



1. John Parkhill, President of the Society. 



2. Farquhar Macrae, Corresponding Secretary. 



3. Edward Chandler, Recording Secretary. 



4. Richard C. Parish, Treasurer. 



On motion of Jud^e Randall, the election o< 



