1837.J 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



737 



live of the happiest effects. In those states, seve- 

 ral of the letjislatures, some years since, took a 

 just view oC the subject, and, by off«>nno: premiums 

 and (Tranting bounties, encouraged tlieir citizens 

 to enirage in tiie culture. Thus animated and en- 

 couragad by the |)arental care of those iegislutive 

 bodies, their agricultural communiiips entered info 

 the culture with becoming spirit, and now present 

 to their brethren of the other states an examt)le 

 worthy alike of their emulation and praise. 

 While the fanners there have seduously set them- 

 selves to work to produce the raw material, mdi- 

 vidual enterprise, and corporations, have been 

 equally busy in building up manulixctories for the 

 liibrication of silk goods, thus affording ample 

 markets for the products of their agriculturists. 

 And from the best information to be obtained by 

 your memorialists, they are led to believe that the 

 silk culture in the section of country to which they 

 have referred, has not only been greatly increased, 

 but has been found to be highly profitable ; and 

 is likely to prove a source of permanent wealth to 

 those engaged in it. It, therefore, appears to your 

 memorialists, that, if, in a climate and soiflike 

 those of New England — the first cold and inhos- 

 pitable — and the latter, naturally much inferior to 

 that of Maryland — the culture of the silk has been 

 found so eminently conducive", to the prosperity of 

 its citizens— surely in this slate, where we are so 

 peculiarly blessed with an auspicious sky, and land, 

 either (generous or kind, every thing is hoped for, 

 provided your honors who are the guardians of 

 the public welfare, will extend a benificent hand 

 in furthering a branch of labor which offers so 

 many inducements to engage in its pursuit. Va- 

 rious authors who have written upon the subject 

 all concur in representing it as lucrative, and no- 

 thing is wanting to urge our citizens to engage in 

 it with spirit, but the countenance and support of 

 the state government. Should your niemorialisis 

 be asked, why should this be necessary — they 

 will answer, that as it is a difficult task for even 

 the most enterprising and foresighted to abandon 

 old habits and customs, and modes of culture, and 

 that It requires a stronger stimulant than prospec- 

 tive gain to induce the agricultural community of 

 Maryland, they fear, to embrace the pursuit of 

 this branch of industry, unless the legislature, by 

 its fostering care, should offer premiums and boun- 

 ties to withdraw them in part li'om the time honor- 

 ed, though profitless occupations of their fathers. 



Influenced by such motives, and actuated b/ 

 kindred principles, with a foresight which is alike 

 honorable to their heads and hearts, the lawgivers 

 of our sister state of New England, have set an 

 example that has already produced a state of 

 things which is as promotive of individual bless- 

 ings, as it is honorable to the pride of those states, 

 and conducive to their wealth. Nor have they 

 been content to stop in the furtherance of thi.s 

 great interest; fiar casting their eyes around, and 

 looking to the future, with the forecast of states- 

 men and patriots, they are there, in all directions, 

 encouraging the culture of the sugar beet, with a 

 view of adding the manufacture of sugar from 

 this root, to the other branches of their industry. 



Beholding these things at a distance, and pla- 

 cing a just estimate upon their intrinsic value — 

 properly appreciating their importance to private 

 as well as public prosperity — your memorialists 

 would be wanting in state pride, and deaf to the 



Vol. IV— 93 



' injunctions of experience, did they not appeal to 

 your patriotism to make an efibrt to rescue the 

 iimie of Maryland and the welliire of her citizens, 

 from the dangers that surround them. 



At a period like the present, when the coffers of 

 the state are lull — when with a laudable and just 

 ambiMon she is generously engaged in promoting 

 great objects of internal improvement — your nie- 

 morialisis cannot believe for a moment, that you 

 will wiihhold your countenance and support Iroin 

 the a<rricultural community — from that community 

 who is at once the pride and strength of Mary- 

 land. And they therefore pray, that your hon- 

 ors will make such appropriations, as will set on 

 loot, 



1st. An agricultural school and pattern ilirm. 

 2dly. x\. general state agricultural society, to be 

 formed by delegates li-oiii county establisiimenls. 

 3dly. County agricultural societies, to be volun- 

 tarily formed. 



4th!y. That the state should grant bounties to 

 those engaging to certain extents in the culture of 

 mulberry, making of silk, and in the culture of 

 the sugar beet, and the manufacture of sugar 

 therefrom — and 



5th!y. That the state should appoint an agent 

 to collect and prepare all available information, 

 relative to the last branch of industry, and Ihat 

 the expense of publication should be borne by the 

 state; which when published, to be circulated 

 gratuitously for the benefit of the people ol" Ma- 

 ryland. 



Another plan suggests itself to your memorial- 

 ists, the which they submit in all due respect to 

 the superior judgment of your honors, leaving it 

 to your wisdom to adopt either, or to li-ame some 

 other suitable plan, calculated to answer the pro- 

 posed end, as to you may seem most fit and pro- 

 per. 



A pattern farm and school for each county, or 

 districts to be laid off by law. At these estab- 

 lishments, the students or apprentices, in addition 

 to the usual avocations of" the farm and school, 

 should manufticture the implements of husbandry 

 for their own use. 



The capital to be raised by subscription to an 

 incorporated joint stock company, by the inhabi- 

 tants of the several counties or districts, which 

 should not exceed one thousand dollars for each 

 thousand white inhabitants, and in no county 

 shoidd the capital exceed thirty thousand dollars. 

 The stockholders, after ten thousand dollars shall 

 have been subscribed in such county, or district, to 

 meet and choose eiglit manasrers, and annually 

 thereafter to make a similar election. The state to 

 choose four managers, makintj in all twelve man- 

 agers to each incorporated company. These man- 

 agers to select a headman or superintendent, and 

 all necessary assistants to carry on the business of 

 the farm — and also to appoint a professor and such 

 assistant tutors as may be required. 



The managers thus to be appointed, should 

 meet monthly, and give such directions and instruc- 

 tions as might be called for by the interests of the 

 instittition. 



At these schools students might be admitted, or 

 apprentices taken, in such numbers as miirht be 

 thought proper, who should reguiarly serve until 

 twenty-one years of age, and be governed by the 

 same obligations and laws as now obtain in cases 

 of other apprentices. 



