THE FARMERS' CABINET, 



DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 



Vol. I. 



Pliiladelpliia, February 15, 1S37. 



Wo. 15. 



Tlie luiportaiice of Agriculture. 



BY AGRICOLA. 



The want of a due estimation of the pur- 

 suits of Agriculture, is, in many countries, a 

 grand impediment to its progress. Where 

 the cultivation of the soil is regarded with 

 contempt, or as beneath the attention of men 

 of standing and education, it will be en- 

 trusted to the management of persons of nar- 

 row capitals and still narrower minds. Such 

 prejudices operate in various places. In al- 

 most every part of the United States they are 

 brtunately rapidly dissipating, and agricul- 

 ural pursuits are viewed, as they should be, 

 is the basis of our strength and prosperity, 

 md therefore, worthy the attention of tlie 

 vise and good. — Many of our best citizens, 

 vho were distinguished in the field and in 

 le cabinet, are now to be found on their 

 arms, devoting their time and attention to the 

 iccupations of husbandry, as the surest means 

 ' gaining an honorable subsistence and of 

 oing good to their country, by thus encour- 

 ging and patronizing this first of arts. 

 An absurd idea, however, yet too generally 

 revails, that young men, and many of those 

 ?ho have fine landed estates, must of neces- 

 ity study and pursue some public profession, 

 le pursuits of agriculture being too low and 

 lean to engage their talents and attention. 

 Agriculture, when skilfully pursued, is 

 ilculated to call into action every noble and 

 iproved faculty of the mind, and is capable 

 being aided by the most interesting branch- 

 I of the sciences; and in the late improve- 

 ents which it has undergone, it has been 

 own that some of its most important princi- 

 es are derived from, and may be illustrated 

 chemical doctrines. The objection, there- 

 e, that young men would have no employ- 

 8nt for their talents and learning, were they 

 Vol. I.— P 



to engage in the pursuits of agriculture, is 

 entirely groundless; 



I consider the insensibility to the magni- 

 tude of the subject, to be the greatest obstacle 

 in the way of advancement, which agricul- 

 ture has to encounter. — The first preparatory 

 step towards its improvement, is to satisfy the 

 minds, not only of farmers, but of the com- 

 munity at large, that it is an object of primary 

 importance; and not attainable in perfection, 

 by mere farmers. If this be not accomplished, 

 efforts to introduce any thing like system, or 

 principle, will be arduous indeed. 



A farmer should be considered, by himself, 

 as well as by all other members of the com- 

 munity, as one placed in a situation to per- 

 form the most beneficial services to the pub- 

 lic, by exercising a calling in which all other 

 citizens are peculiarly interested. He may- 

 be, personally, no better or worse than others ; 

 but the art in which he is engaged, is the 

 most essential, of all others, to the general 

 welfare; an art which should be encouraged 

 and supported by all manner of citizens. Ag- 

 riculture having been not only the first of 

 Arts, in priority of time, but the first in the 

 estimation of the wisest and greatest men in 

 every age, should ever be deemed the first 

 object, both of public and private attention. 

 Power, especially that delegated by the peo- 

 ple, should extend its arm, and open its hand, 

 for its aid and protection. Wealth should 

 unlock its coffers for its encouragement; sci- 

 ence and every mental acquirement should 

 be liberally bestowed, when instruction is re- 

 quired, as it always has been, by the tillers 

 of the earth; whose occupation in a great de- 

 gree, secludes them from opportunities of 

 gaining scientific knowledge, and a capacity 

 for philosophic research. Commerce should 

 yield to the support of Agriculture, a share 



