iS36.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



283 



gree of public solicitude. Indeed, it seems impos- 

 t^ible, but, that, every mind endued with reflection 

 and patriotism, must participalc in lhi« solicitude; 

 and, especially, when the wretched condition ol' 

 our husbandry is compared with its intrinsic im- 

 portance to every other interest, and witiitheilc- 

 clining power and glory o(" the commonwealth! 

 Why is it that such armies of our citizens semi- 

 annually abandon the land of their nativity and 

 all its hallowed recollections — carrying with them 

 that mass of intelligence, wealth and enterprise 

 which subdues the wilderness and makes it blos- 

 som as the rose? Is it not because of the impove- 

 rishment of Virginia, and the neglected and hum- 

 ble condition of her agriculture? Is there a land 

 on earth witli a finer climate, or more natural ad- 

 vanta<res and resources, or with a soil more sus- 

 ceptible of the highest state of improvement? All 

 our sta])le;? are of the first importance; and, when 

 cultivated on rich lands that have never been ex- 

 hausted, or, that have been highly improved by 

 the skilful use of artificial means, yield a profit 

 even greater than is derived from the most Jcrtile 

 soils of thewc.=;t, except, perhaps, the cotton and 

 sugar lands. This may be doubted by man}"; but, 

 ol its truth, I am thoroughly convinced by the re- 

 sults of actual observation. I am inclined to the 

 opinion, that, if two farmers, with precisely equal, 

 but ample, means, were to commence the same 

 time on equal quantities of land; the one in the 

 richest woodland of the tccst, the other in any fa- 

 vorable and improvable part of Virginia, and were 

 to live for twenty years at the same expense, hoard- 

 ing the balance of their incomes, tiie Virginian 

 would have the most money at the end of the time; 

 provided he adopted the most improved system of 

 ameliorating his soil and cultivating his crops, &c. 

 His land would be continually improving, and 

 would not, in that lime, have reached the highest 

 state susceptible of improvcmsnt; though its pro- 

 duction in quantify (which is rather improbable) 

 might equal, if not exceed that of the other. The 

 dilTerence in the prices of his marketable articles 

 and of his necessary purchases would swell the 

 surplus of the Virginian- Would not; the cost of 

 moving and making settlements on the new lands 

 of the west, if wisely expended in improving those 

 abandoned, make the latter, in most cases, most 

 valuable and desirable? However, it has been 

 '•testified'' by the best and wisest man that ever 

 lived, -'that a prophet hath no honor in his own 

 country;" and eighteen centuries prove the truth of 

 the remark. How many migrate under the influ- 

 ence of this fact, it is unnecessary to enquire; for, 

 multitudes leave us with no other than a pecunia- 

 ry object, leaving behind an ample and unoccupied 

 arena for all their means and enterprise, if they 

 were only contented, and would believe so. 



But, what hope is there of arresting this flood- 

 tide of depletion, unless the Legislature shall, at 

 once, take agriculture under its protection, elevate 

 it to the honor of a place along side of the most fa- 

 vored arts and sciences? One half of the sum an- 

 nually wasted by them in listening to the vain and 

 unfruitful oratorical displays of the young lawyers 

 among them, would fully meet the expenses of a 

 professorship and pattern farm. But the execution 

 of this, and the adoption of such other measures 

 as may, upon reflection, seem calculated to instruct 

 lis in the best modes of culture and management, 

 eoukl not involve an expense worthy of a momenfs 



consideration by those to be benefited by them- 

 II" file fear of incurring the displeasure of the peo- 

 ple prevented our delegates fi-om "taking the re- 

 sponsibility"' last winter, they have now time to 

 agitate the subject among their constituents, and 

 collect their sentiments. And I invoke j'our aid, 

 Mr. Editor, and that of every other friend of the 

 good cause in the State, in rotisingthe public mind 

 to a proper consideration of this subject, in all its 

 interesting aspects. I assure you I feel no interest 

 whatever about it, beyond that which every other 

 citizen who loves Virginia ought to feel. It con- 

 cerns us all, no matter oi' what calling; whether 

 land -owner or not. 



The legislative authority of almost every State 

 in Christendom has been exerted directly in pro- 

 moting agriculture: and why should Virginia stand, 

 a solitary exception; and that too, when her hus- 

 bandly, in all its departments, is comparatively, so 

 far in the back ground? Most of our law-makers 

 are, themselves, infcrcslcd in the subject; but no 

 feeling of disinterestedness or mawkish sensitive- 

 ness about providing for their oion interests ought 

 to restrain them; since that interest is common 

 with that of their constituents. Tlie fear of cen- 

 sure for expending a fiew dollars in so good a cause 

 is unworthy of any man who has been honored 

 with the confidence of the people. Is there a man 

 among us so contemptibly mercenary as to refuse 

 to contribute a few cents, (say one or two cents 

 per head on the population of the .Slate,) to place 

 the primary interest of the Commonwealth on a 

 footing of greater respectability and advancing im- 

 provement? 



If it be asked, what can the Legislature do7 I 

 answer, comply with the request of the memorial 

 of the convention.* Let them look into the laws 

 of other countries as well as those of our sister 

 States — collect all their measures in aid of hus- 

 handr}'— examine into the results of them — and 

 adopt such as may be thought to be suited to our 

 wants and circumstances. Nor would it be una- 

 vailing, respectfiilly to weigh the merits of every 

 plan that may be suggested, and expend a small 

 sum in testing the practicability and utility of tlie 

 best of them. If I had access to the necessary 

 books and documents, I would, cheerfully, lay be- 

 fore your readers, an abstract of what has been 

 done elsewhere. Perhaps some of your corres- 

 pondents may be more fortunate in this respect 

 than myself; and can spare the time to do it. 

 Many persons would like to see such a statement, 

 and i't might have some effect in stimulating both 

 the public mind and the movements of the Legis- 

 lature. I do not know that the ])ublic libraries ai 

 the seat of government and our literary institutions 

 have been, or have not been, enriched by the 

 books and documents containing this information. 

 Il' they have not been, it is a reprehensible omission 

 that ought to be supplied at once. 



But,U has been asked, what superior claim the 

 University has over the other institutions, to a 

 professorship of agriculture and a pattern or ex- 

 jierimental farm? The answer is so obvious, that 

 the question plainlv indicates an improper jealousy 

 of that valuable institution. Is not the University 



♦V.'ould it not be well for the Farmers' Register to 

 re-publish the simple propositions or requests, as set 

 forth towards the close of the memorial alluded to? See 

 Far. Reg.-vol iii, pajte 625, February No. 



