SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
237 
AGRICULTUKAIi LECTURES IN GEORGIA. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — Some time since — in 
March or about 1st of April — 1 made a request of the 
planters of Georgia, and not having seen it, as yet, in 
print, I try again to renew it, and earnestly ask of you 
either its publication or such a notice as will bring the mat- 
ter before the citizens of Georgia. 
It is known to every reader of the CultivatGr, that Dr. 
Terrel, a benefactor, made a donation to the University, 
and that Dr. Daniel Lee, one of the Editors, was invited 
to take the Chair, and that he has done so. 
That Dr. Lee is eminently qualified to enlighten the 
planters of Georgia, as well as the residue of us South, is 
fully shown through the columns of the Culiivaior, yet, 
being invited to the Professorship by the intelligent Board 
of Trustees, is no small recommendation to public confi- 
dence. 
Dr. Lee is engaged only a portion of this time as Pro- 
fessor, and if he is w’illing and you, the people would call 
him out, he certainly can do far more general good. 
I would propose that he be invited to deliver lectures 
through the length and breadth of the State, at every 
county site at least, as also at any point w'here an Agri- 
cultural Society is in being. The State should appropri- 
ate a sufiicient amount to pay expenses of travel, board, 
chemical apparatus, and a fair salary for services, which 
in addition to present salary, would enable Dr. Lee to 
live, not from his private nreans, but at the cost of those he 
seiwes. The laborer being “ worthy of his hire.” 
It seems to me that Georgia is losing a great advantage 
which could be secured at a trifling cost. 
The advantage I refer to is, noc alone the information 
that Dr. Lee could give, but also in collecting of much 
material to aid him in making his lectures in the Univer- 
sity more adapted to the wants and use of every portion 
of the State ; in stimulating many citizens to an exertion, 
or an increased one; to the constituting of many Agricul- 
tural Societies and Clubs; and collecting many valuable 
specimens for developing the agriculture of the State. 
Really it seems to me that Dr. Lee could vastly increase 
his usefulness to the cause by such a course, and ! am 
surprised that the matter has not long since been broach- 
ed. Last May, v/hen passing through Georgia, I nam.ed 
this to a few as I journeyed, and the objector has yet to be 
met. 
We of the South can be profited by an intelligent agent 
taking a tour through the entire South, examining the 
tools, seed, frame buildings, mode of culture, stock and a 
thousand things, to be reported through State publications, 
so that the infomiation would be public property. Give 
the means of procuring a small supply of such seed as he 
would deem advisaole to try, as well as drawing of im- 
provements, frame buildings, &c. 
It might be extended to a trip acro.^:s the water and there 
to collect such information as would benefit the agricul- 
turist. 
One or two labor-saving implements alone would pay 
all the cost to the State of Georgia, even if no other good 
be done. It appears to me that ihegreat. the leading Agri- 
cultural State, might do all this. What is three or five 
thousand dollars per year to Georgia, in comparison with 
the great gam I Send Dr. Lee acioss the water and pub- 
lish his reports, adding only 50 cents a vol. on cost of pub- 
lication, and agriculturists will pay all cost. A little pub- 
lic spirit on the part of the Georgia Society, will add to 
her means and utility. Georgians will please pardon any 
apparent meddling You, my fellow citizens are doing 
great things, 1 only hope to aid by every suggestion 
M. W.P. 
Alississippi, 1857. 
Remarks.— D r. Philips has our best thanks for the 
above friendly suggestions. The high price of corn, bacon, 
and other provisions, as well as their general scarcity at 
the South, would seem to indicate a serious defect in our 
present farm economy. Plain, practical lectures, point- 
ing out these defects, and stating how they may be reme- 
dies, addressed to agriculturists assembled at courts, 
could hardly fail of leading many to adopt abetter system 
of husbandry. Explanations may be given where one 
talks face to face, and thus remove objections and difficul- 
ties, which in writing for the press is comparatively im- 
practicable. Men like to ask questions, and bring par- 
ticular facts in their personal experience to the consider- 
ation of some one v/ho has studied and read more on the 
subject than they have ; and a social visit and lecture from 
one entitled to their confidence would often enable them 
to make important improvements. They may have valu- 
able resources for enriching all their arable lands, but are 
in doubt how best to use the fertilizers at their command. 
In a word, careful investigation is needed for the advance- 
ment of the truly vital interest of the South. We will not 
here undertake to indicate Low sadly this Interest must 
suffer, if much longer neglected. Deeply have we pon- 
dered that system of tillage and plantation economy 
which prevails generally, and its future influence on the 
destinies of the Planting States. It is a momentous theme, 
lightly as many consider it: for the soil we now scourge 
v.’ill one day refuse us both bread and meat, unless we 
treat it better. A general reform is our only hope to save 
the “Sunny South” from positive ruin. To promote a 
change for the better, the w’riter will visit many counties 
before the close of the present year, and appeal to the 
people in behalf of that domestic policy which will make, 
if adopted, the South the garden of America. God has 
given us all needful elements ; and we have only to use 
i.hem wisely to achieve noble and honorable results. Some- 
thing must be done ; and if the humble writer can awaken 
no sympathy, and shall fail in his labors, he could hardly 
tail in a better cause. L. 
NEGRO HOUSES-— SUNDAY LABOR, &c. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — “Their houses are 
too often left to the negroes themselves, to build in their 
own time, perhaps at night, or during the Sabbath, which 
"•asily explains their careless manner of construction.” 
This extract is taken from the article of Dr. John M. 
burner, in the June number of the Southern Cultivator, 
iud I very much regret that a Southern man will use such 
unguarded expressions in a Southern agricultural journal, 
md at a time, too, when the “ negvo-worshippers at the 
Xorth ” are tryirsg to move heaven and earth against the 
South, and will take every advantage possible, fair or un- 
tair. If ihe above extract should, perchance, meet the eye 
)f Greeley, Beecher&Co., what a lamentable howl would 
J 3 raised for the poor “gentlemen of color” in the South, 
vho were compelled build their own houses at night, or 
on the Sabbath ! — thus being deprived not only of sleep, 
nut, also, of rest and worship on the Sabbath ! ! “ Bleed- 
mg Kansas” would, for the time, be forgotten, and all 
ves turned to the “down- trodden Africans” of the South. 
V'hnt holy horror would convulse their black (republican) 
hearts! 
out is the extract referred to founded in factl Pardon 
me if I should say, in all candor and gooS feeling, 1 think 
