THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



15 



particular junctures, elicited and dissemi- 

 nated valuable information. But much 

 the greater number have done nothing, or 

 worse than nothing, for the proper and 

 great object of all such associations — the 

 eliciting and diffusion of agricultural know- 

 ledge. The radical defects of constitution 

 and procedure, which have produced such 

 general inefficiency, it is needless here to 

 point out, and would be improper to illus- 

 trate by citing examples. It is enough 

 that the general fact is undeniably and 

 lamentably true. It cannot be doubted 

 that great benefits would be derived from 

 agricultural societies properly constituted 

 and properly working. But despairing 

 of any such new course being soon com- 

 menced, it is my present design merely to 

 propose much more humble and unpre- 

 tending, and yet more efficient means for 

 reaching the same desired ends. Useful, ■ 

 convenient, and also cheap substitutes 

 may be found — conversation meetings of 

 farmers, to be held at stated times and 

 places, but without much of formal or- 

 ganization. That such meetings are ex- 

 tremely interesting and attractive, as well 

 as highly instructive, has been fully proved 

 in practice in England and in Massachu- 

 setts. Those in Boston were held weekly 

 during the session of the Legislature, when 

 other business necessarily brought together 

 there many of the best farmers from all 

 parts of the State. The meetings had 

 no permanent organization. The then 

 able agricultural surveyor (the Reverend 

 Henry Colman) presided at the meetings, 

 merely to preserve order and the rules of 

 debate. The meetings were open to all, 

 whether as mere auditors, or as sharers 

 in the discussion, to elicit or to furnish in- 

 formation. At the close of each session, 

 the subject for the next was agreed upon, 

 and notice of it published, so that every 

 neighboring farmer had time to attend, 

 who might especially desire to hear that 

 subject discussed. All that would be 

 needed to complete the operation of such 

 meetings, if begun jn Virginia, would be 

 the cost of the services of a competent 

 reporter of the matter furnished in the dis- 

 cussion, and of the printing of such re- 

 ports. In Boston the publishers of several 



different papers (political as well as others) 

 were glad, for their own gain, both to re- 

 port and print the discussions of these 

 meetings. 



Richmond, especially during the session 

 of the Legislature, would be the best place 

 for commencing such conversation meet- 

 ings. But there is not a county, or scarcely 

 a neighborhood, in which such meetings 

 might not be held to great advantage. — 

 Hundreds of farmers would in this man- 

 ner freely and fully tell their experience 

 and opinions, of whom perhaps not one 

 could be prevailed upon to write them. — 

 And thus, with no more expense than ne- 

 cessary to take notes of and report the 

 proceedings, and to publish proper selec- 

 tions, the results of the researches and 

 expeiience of every farmer in Virginia 

 might be open to the use and instruction 

 of every other. 



If it be not presuming too far, Messrs. 

 Editors, I ask of you and jour city bre- 

 thren of all parties to aid this scheme (if 

 approved) by your recommendation and 

 influence. Though, at this time, it may 

 be deemed a sacrifice for any newspaper 

 to withhold as much space from the poli-' 

 tical discussion as will admit any article 

 on agriculture, I am confident that the 

 paper which could obtain, and would pub- 

 lish such reports of agricultural discus- 

 sions, would therein provide (for all coun- 

 try readers at least) matter more accepta- 

 ble than of any other kind. 



If this plan should find enough favor 

 for support, let any five or six farmers, or 

 friends of agricultural improvement, who 

 can meet together at any hour in Rich- 

 mond, appoint a time and private place 

 for the first meeting, and invite generally 

 to attend it all who may be inclined to 

 aid in the labors. To make sure of be- 

 ginning well, the participation in the first 

 proceedings of some few neighboring far- 

 mers should be secured by special appli- 

 cation. A first meeting might be obtained 

 within two weeks after the published no- 

 tice, and weekly thereafter, if desired so 

 often. 



A Countryman. 

 Richmond) January, 1847. 



