THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



339 



We do not desire exuberant harvests to fatten 

 men, as mere animals. The value of man is 

 developed by kindling the spark ol' divinity wiihin 

 him. It is computed that there are 150,000 child- 

 ren in the state ; and of (his number only 30,000 

 are receiving a tolerable education. la not this 

 view enough to make the patriot's hair eland 

 erect ! 



Our political institutions vest political power in 

 the hands of the majority ; if that majority should 

 become uoeducaled and ignorant, thfy will ol 

 course lose all knowledge ot the principles of our 

 government, and all desire lor just and equal laws ; 

 and, just as sure as God rules the heavens, and 

 punishes men lor the neglect ol' duty, in the long 

 run our liberties will perish by misguided igno- 

 rance. If we do not make the education ol the 

 rising generation an affair of state, our descend- 

 ants, at no distant day, will, in the first place, be 

 plundered of their property, through the Ibrms of 

 th-e ballot box, at the instigation of agrarian 

 demagogues ; and next, they will take shelter in 

 the arms of despotism, as a protection from the 

 violence of mobs. It is difficult to convince some 

 men that (he intelligence of the people ought to 

 be considered public property, and the only shield 

 of our possessions. They Ctinnot readily see the 

 deep interest they have in the education of other 

 people's children. They do not reflect that they 

 have the same interest in the virtue and intelli- 

 gence of the voters, upon whose voice at the bal- 

 lot box depends the existence of (he laws and 

 consdtytion ; that they have in the virtue and 

 intelligetice of the judge who has to decide upon 

 their title to their houses and lands, in court. 



The lesson taught us by the fathers of our in- 

 stitutions, that these institutions have no other 

 ibundation than the virtue and intelligence of the 

 people, is not an idle saying. There is no dodg- 

 ing the question. The instruction of youth must 

 be made an affair of state, or the American expe- 

 riment will turn out to be a splendid failure. 



But again, we do not desire fields waving with 

 rich products lor the mere gratification of animal 

 appetite. The end and aim of all the efforts ol 

 man is happiness; and happiness ia certainly 

 more connected with (he good cuUivation of the 

 «arth than any other occupation. Man, as he 

 ■came from the hands of his Maker, was placed 

 in a garden adorned with every fruit and flower, 

 because these, above all created things, were the 

 ■elements of that pleasure most agreeable to a 

 pure mind. And now, where are (he retreats ol 

 happiness in (his world, comparable to well ar- 

 ranged houses, clean yards, and well cultivated 

 gardens'? Look abroad, and wherever you see 

 shackling fences, burry fields, ducks and geese in 

 the springs, hogs rooting up to (he doors, and 

 cattle depredating upon corn hid in the weeds, 

 you will find the men in grog-shops, and the child- 

 ren without echool-housee, and their mothers in 

 oaisery. On the contrary, wherever you see high- 

 ly cultivated fields, a yard of green sod, orchards 

 <rf' choice fruit, and gardens of select flowers, you 

 will find intelhgence, virtue and happiness. 



We therefore regard agriculture, not only as 

 ihe great primary interest of man, in relation to 

 the supply of his wants, but as the source of his 

 most elevated pleasures, and as the only sure 

 basis of his liberties and civilization. 

 I have satisfied myself, by much obeervaiion 



and reflection, of the truth of the following state- 

 ments : 



1. That at least two-thirds of our arable land 

 is aonually becoming poorer* by unskilful hus- 

 bandry. 



2. That it is practicable to make our lands 

 annually more fertile. 



3. That both our arable and pasture lands can 

 be made to produce twice as much as they have 

 done. 



4. That, at inconsiderable expense, (he cattle 

 in our state can be made worth annually upwards 

 of i§4,000.000 more than they have been. 



5. That with the same amount of food, our 

 swine may be annually advanced in price ^2,000,- 

 000. 



6. That there is yet in use among us, in a 

 large part of the state, very imperfect agricultural 

 implements, 



7. That two men, with (he best ploughs, can 

 perform more work in a day, than three with 

 those in common use. 



8. There having been no anal3'eis of our soils there 

 is consequently general ignorance as to (he best 

 modes of enriching our lands by mixing different 

 soils (ogether. 



If these views approximate the truth, it is evi- 

 dent (hat (here is a wide field for the action of 

 government and societies. 



What has been done within a few years, proves 

 what is yet in our power. 



The tax value of (he lands of the state is 

 ^127.122,5L9. No man of observation will doubt 

 that at least half of this value has been added 

 in (he last twenty years by improvement in agri- 

 culture. Inquire of the citizens of Shelby, Hen- 

 ry and Montgomery, and they will tell you (hat 

 the value of their lands has been doubled in the 

 last twenty years, by the example of a lew skilful 

 larmers settling among them. 



There are 490,613 cattle taxed in the state, 

 their average value is but ^5.87, while the ave- 

 rage value of those in three coundes (hat have 

 improved their stock, is ^15. 



The aggregate value of the whole is but 

 $2,882,218 ; but if all the counties had given the 

 same attention to improving the stock as Fayette, 

 Bourbon and Clarke, the aggregate value would 

 have been $7,359,195. 



The experience of the few counties that have 

 given (heir attention to swine, has demonstrated 

 that the improved breeds can be brought to 

 maturity upon half the food required by the old 

 sor(. 



A proper rotation of crops on exhausted fields 

 has restored them (o (heir primitive fertility. 



Is it not an object worthy the attention of law 

 makers, and of good men in all ranks of society, 

 to widen and extend those improvements that 

 have already so enriched a part of our state ; and 

 shown that agriculture, properly understood, is the 

 most lucrative occupation among us! 



If the people will form themselves into socie- 

 ties, and patronize agricultural journals, collect 

 useilil facts and publish the results of their new 

 experiments, and bring (he produc(s of their indus- 

 try into competition at public fairs,— if the legis- 

 lalure will come with (he aid of its influence, and 

 provide an agricultural college with an experimen- 

 tal farm, and give a few hundred dollars annually 

 in the lorm of premiums for (he b«st modes of 



