v^.- 



VoL. xm. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., JULY, 1852. 



No. VII. 



SUGGESTIONS AX>DRESSED TO STATE AND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL 



SOCIETIES. 



Next in importance to tl.e organization of efficient State and County Agricultural Soci- 

 eties, IS then- union on just an<l liberal terms, in a way that will bring the strength of 

 the whole to bear on the advancement of agriculture in a concentrated form. Hitherto 

 the friends of improvement have so divided and sub-divided their moral force and dilu- 

 ted what little enthusiasm e.xists in behalf of agricultural education, that both have 

 signally failed to realize the wishes mid hopes of those that believe in human proo-ress 

 Other means, and more extended combinations must be brought into requisition, before 

 the twenty-five millions ot souls in this great Republic can be made to appreciate the 

 dignity and importance of scientific agriculture. It is folly to expect a steam engine of 

 ten-horse power to do the work that can only be performed by one of ten time^ that 

 orce. Loca Societies for the promotion of agriculture are confessedly valuable • but let 

 them unite their present comparatively inefficient efibrts, and vast results may speedily 

 be achieved now wholly unattainable. It was the federal union of the tliirtet^i isolated 

 colonies that created eighteen new State sovereignties and five Territories under the 

 American flag. It would be easy to name thirteen State Agricultural Societies that 

 now suffer from the weakness of colonial isolation and dependence, which, if united 

 would help each other, and thereby command all the assistance from popular symi^ath^ 

 and legislation that agriculture deserves. ^ l . 



Will State and County Societies combine to strengthen themselves, under any name 

 01 form ? This is just now the grand question in the current history of rural affairs in 

 this country^ _ In some States and Counties, and we trust in a majority, public intelli- 

 gence IS sufficiently advanced for a general and cordial co-operative movement. By and 

 be ween all such Societies let there be no more repulsion, but a speedy and hopeful 

 union to promote a common cause. In prosecuting the most destructive wars, the 

 science of cj.mbmations has been carried to great lengths; and in modern times, vi^to. v 

 has rarely failed to perch on the banner of the army whose combinations were tlie most 

 perfect. Caii no science, nor patriotism, nor the love of honorable distinction, bring out 

 into the field of improved husbandry the millions of tarmers in the Unite.l States t A 

 short war usually costs many millions of dollars and many valuable lives, and military 

 glory has ever been the most popular in the world. To the friends of peace this lesson 

 teaches the wonderful power of combinations, and suggests the propriety of having 

 banners and music at cattle shows and fairs, to render them more attractive to those 

 who are governed mainly by the outward senses. Take mankind precisely as they are 

 and then convert them into subscribers to agricultural journals, into members of rm-al 

 associations for mutual instruction and improvement, and into earnest co-laborers in the 



