1837] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



729 



have the happiest effect, especialljnf sound morals 

 were maJe the basis ol" it, in another all-important 

 matter — one, indeed, without which no nation can 

 ever prosper to any thintr lil<e the extent of which 

 it is susceptible. This etlect would be, thoroughly 

 to convince all the various legitimate tnules, pro- 

 fiissions and calliniz;s, in civilized lile, that they are 

 bound together by ties ol' interest and amity which 

 nothing could ever burst asunder, but the most 

 reckless, irresistable despotism, or their own utter 

 ignorance of their mutual relations and absolute 

 de|)endence upon each other, goaded on to per- 

 petrate reciprocal injuries by a degree of stupid 

 selfishness that would disperse a community even 

 of brute beasts. Thus to educate the people of 

 our beloved state, would be the noblest, the most 

 god-like work ever yet achieved in this or any 

 other country; for it would effectually secure both 

 her social and political happiness against every 

 hostile inHuence. The demagogue — that greatest 

 curse of every regular government — could no lon- 

 ger exist in such a moral atmosphere; for his daily 

 food consists of the jealousies and animosities 

 which he is able to excite between the difltjrent 

 classes of society; and all the authors and abettors 

 of misrule would have to troop after or go with 

 him, abhorred and execrated by every patriot in 

 the community. The union of true knowledge, 

 virtue, and love of country would soon be consum- 

 mated; sell-love and social, would both co-o|)erate 

 for the general good; and we might, then, confi- 

 dently trust, that our free institutions would stand 

 as long as the world endures. 



The next, among the remedies within our own 

 power, that I will take the liberty to suggest, is one 

 which I feel assured would give new life to our de- 

 clining cause, and would soon make Virginia a 

 land to be sought, rather than abandoned; for no 

 state in the union has more natural advantages, 

 nor has any one in our whole confederacy stronger 

 inducements to render them available to the utmost 

 practicable extent. Her salvation, in liict, as an 

 independent state, depends upon it. The plan al- 

 luded to is, the establishment of county agricul- 

 tural societies. It would not be advisable. I think, 

 to have them so large as to give premiums, the po- 

 licy of which is very questionable. Indeed, the 

 practice, as generally managed, is decidedly per- 

 nicious; lor the premiums are bestowed, in most 

 cases, without the least regard to the cost of the 

 rewarded article. This causes more or less mis- 

 application of labor in preparing it, while it encour- 

 ages extravagance instead ot economy, in the use 

 of means to gain the reward, and thereby tentls 

 directly to defeat the chief purposes which agricul- 

 tural societies were instituted to promote: these 

 are, to increase agricultural profits — not only by 

 augmenting the productiveness of our lands, but 

 by diminishinsT the costs of production as far as is 

 compatible with the first object. It seems best, 

 therefore, that county societies, if established, 

 should confine themselv^es to collecting and report- 

 ing all the lacts relative to the improvements of 

 husbandry, within their respective limits, which 

 they might deem worthy of public attention; and 

 that they should make iheircommunications, either 

 to some agricultural paper, or to a board of agricul- 

 ture, should we ever be fortunate enough to obtain 

 one. By such a body they might be still farther con- 

 densed for publication, and would, in a short time, 

 difJuse throughout our community, more informa- 

 VoL. IV— 92 



tion relative to all the branches of husbandry, than 

 has been disseminated among us, tioin the com- 

 mencement of American independence to the pre- 

 sent (lav. The numerous advantages ol' such a 

 |)ractice are so perliictly nianilest and demonstra- 

 ble, that I will not insult the good sense of my ag- 

 ricultural brethren by the slightest attiiupt to jjoint 

 them out. I will only exhort and entreat them to 

 make the cdbrt, at our next April elections, to es- 

 tablish these county agricultural societies, and to 

 make this the chief business ol" the day, instead 

 of s|)ending it, as usual, in angry disputations, 

 about the next set of game cocks we shall send to 

 Richmond to fight our political party battles. 



The rest ot' my reci|)es I shall throw into the 

 form of precepts; the laithiLd observance o( Which, 

 although generally neglected, is quite as essential 

 in making good, successful agriculturists, as obe- 

 dience to moral and religious precepts is, to make 

 good, moral and religious men. Here they Ibl- 

 lovv. 



From year to year, at every season, provide 

 most carefully lor the health and comfort of your 

 slaves in food, clothing and habitations; ever re- 

 membering, that in all these particulars humanity 

 and economy go hand in hand. 



Give no impracticable commands, nor any that 

 will endanger health, limb or liici; but never sufli^r 

 what you do give to be disobeyed with impunity. 



Always proportion your punishments, with the 

 strictest justice, to the ofl'ences they are designed 

 10 correct; but never inflict them when angry, nor 

 ever use whipping, until all other means of correc- 

 tion have failed. 



To effect your purposes, use encouragements 

 and revv'ards rather than coercion, and never Ibr- 

 get that as slaves difier in temper and disposition 

 quite as much as their masters, they require dif- 

 ferent treatment to render them as serviceable as 

 they may he. 



Utterly reject the too common opinion that slaves 

 have no gratitude; for quite ^s many and as deeply 

 interesting instances of it may be adduced, as 

 among the whites, after making due allowance tor 

 the difference of moral instruction between the 

 two races. 



Never scold, nor use the language or tone of an 

 angry despot, but let your directions or orders al- 

 ways be perleclly plain, concise, calm, and de- 

 cisive. 



Always assign to each hand the kind of work 

 bei^jre you, which he or she can do best: no labor 

 will then be lost by improper distribution. 



J)o ever}^ part of your work exactly at the time 

 it should be done to make it most beneficial: then 

 no portion of your business will interfere with 

 any other, for there will be no procrastination, and 

 consequently no over haste, no attempt at the im- 

 possibility of fully making up for lost time. 



Always provide, if practicable, in -doors work for 

 rainy or snowy weather. 



Never work with a tool or implement in bad or- 

 der; for more labor will be thrown away by it, in 

 a ihw hours, than the tojl or implement is worth. 

 Therefore, keep enough extras always in good or- 

 der to prevent any delay in waiting for repairs. 



Always feed your horses, mules, or oxen, with 

 ground and chopped food, as a less quantity thus 

 prepared will keep them in far better condition, and 

 consequently enable them to pay, by their extra al- 

 bor, much more than the extra cost of such prepa- 

 ration. 



