NO. 20. 



THE FARMEKS CABINET. 



311 



tiire, nor will they neglect to apply all the 

 powers constitutionally vested in them, to 

 advance the prosperity of the most numerous 

 and the most vahnble class of our citizens. 

 It becomes proper, in the first place, to 

 inquire whether, in view of the present state 

 of agriculture, legislative aid is necessary 

 for its further imjjroveincnt. From our own 

 observation, and information obtained from 

 other sources we are led to believe, that the 

 condition of agriculture in our State, is not 

 what it ought to be. The object of farming 

 ouorht to be secure the greatest returns for 

 labor and capital invested ; not merely the 

 greatest crops, tor a year or two years, but the 

 largest annual returns, compatible with the 

 increasing value and productiveness of the 

 soil. But is this, in tact, the object with a 

 large portion of our farmers? Does nof the 

 contrary appear, manifestily, in many instan- 

 ces 1 Tiieir sole object appears to be to live 

 with the least possible labor, entirely regard- 

 less of the consequences to the land. Their 

 farms are like tiie jrarden of the slufjifard, 

 overrun with useless and noxious plants; and 

 we may pass them by, as almost beyond the 

 hope of amendment. But, do those who have 

 the true object before them, pursue it in a way 

 likely to obtain its accomplishment? Our 

 Commonwealth has great capabilities for agri- 

 culture ; a large amount of fertile soil ; a plea- 

 sant and healthful climate, and settled with 

 a hardy, industrious and enterprising race of 

 men ; yet, how few can tell how much can 

 be slathered from a perfectly cultivated acre? 

 How few understand the secret of obtaining 

 from the soil the greatest amount of its 

 annual productions, without the deterioration 

 of its quality ? Yet good farming requires, 

 that these should never be severed. No man 

 can farm profitably, either to the community 

 or to himself, (supposing him to be the owner 

 of the soil,) who impoverishes his land; and 

 his energies are wasted, who improves land, 

 without obtaining profits in return. Doubtless 

 there is a wide difference in the modes of 

 farming, in different parts of the States, some 

 lands being much better tilled then others; 

 still, it is evident, there is great room for 

 improvemeni in them all. These improvements 

 are indispensably necessary. The facilities 

 of transportation from the fresh and fertile 

 lands of the west, will soon be so great, that 

 our farmers must find rivals where, heretofore, 

 competition has not been thought of; the 

 difl'erence of carriage will be no protection 

 against their abundance, if a slovenly and 

 unproductive mode of farming siiall predomi- 

 nate here. Besides, the strength and wealth 

 of a State consists much in the number and 

 character of its people. Thousands of our 

 best and most intelligent citizens are yearly 

 tempted to go west, who would better stay 



here, under an improved system of agriculture. 

 They take with them the accumulations of 

 fbriner industry and economy, and they bestow 

 their exertions in emhancing tiie prosperity 

 of another State, detracting so much from our 

 own. Are these evils to be borne forever? or 

 till those States shall be so miicli ahead of us, 

 that the tide of emigration shall set back on 

 us, as affording the best theatre for industry, 

 ingenuity and enterprise ? Or until the 

 same system of improvident farming shall 

 have reduced western lands below our own 

 fertility ? We cannot believe that our citi- 

 zens, or Legislature, will carry their neglect 

 or supineness to that extent. We believe 

 that our errors will be corrected: and that 

 means exist and will be applied, to raise our 

 most impoverished fields to more than their 

 pristine fertility. 



But can all this be effected without Legisla- 

 tive interference? The experience of this world 

 does not give an answer in the affirmative. 

 Although individual enterprise and public 

 spirit may do much in particular districts, 

 general improvement has ever been the result 

 of govermental patronage. Individual care 

 and skill have acted as pioneers, by showing 

 what could be done ; and Government has 

 aided in the dissemination of konwledge, and 

 has encouraged its application in pratice. It 

 is unnecessary to give a detailed history of 

 the agricultural colonies of Holland and the 

 Netherlands ; of the boards of agriculture of 

 England and Scotland ; and latterly of France, 

 of some parts of Germany, and of some of the 

 States of this Union. Is it not reasonable 

 that it should be so. It will be recollected, 

 that farming is an art, is as much imitative, 

 as any of the mechanic arts, with this differ- 

 ence against it, that in the mechanic arts, 

 all the materials are of a known quality ; 

 and those, which profess to be alike, are 

 really homogenous. The powers of water, 

 in equal quantities and elevations, are equal 

 all tiie Vt'orld over; and so in most of the arts ; 

 — while the soil of all countries, and of any 

 considerable portions of the same country are 

 so diverse, that similar applications will pro- 

 duce quite contrary results. So much is this 

 the case, that experiments, from any con- 

 siderable distance, are deservedly looked upon 

 with distrust. The whole character of the 

 soil may change in a few rods. As an in- 

 stance, it may be mentioned, that our geolo- 

 gical survey has ascertained, that the great 

 limestone range of the Cumberland valley, 

 divides the borough of Harrisburg. It will be 

 necessary to have a series of experiments 

 conducted, on almost every square mile of 

 our territory, before the powers of our soil 

 can be universally and fully developed. Con- 

 sider these varieties of our soil, as connected 

 with the changes of atmosphere, and varie- 



