1S48, 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
239 
A »ISCO«JSKSE OS 
We are indebted to Dr. Wm. Darlington, for aco» 
fey of an address delivered by him at a meeting of the 
citizens of Oxford and vicinity, Chester county, Penn., 
assembled for the purpose of forming an agricultural 
society. 
The principal objects of the speaker were to demon¬ 
strate the usefulness of associated labor and intelli¬ 
gence, and to show the necessity of a knowledge of the 
principles which are involved in the practice of agricul¬ 
ture. His observations on these points are given with 
much force, and we think the following extracts will 
be read with interest and advantage ; 
“ Man, is by nature, a gregarious animal,—and evi¬ 
dently intended for the performance of mutual good of¬ 
fices. Even in his rudest condition, he soon learns the 
importance of co-operation with his fellows in produc¬ 
ing desired results ; and as he advances in civilization 
and refinement, he discovers that the benefits to be de¬ 
rived from combined skill and energy are in a direct ra¬ 
tio with his progress in improvement. The develop¬ 
ments of Science not only excite a salutary emulation 
among individuals,—but they also show how much' more 
may be accomplished by a concentration of effort-—by a 
skillful union, and concert, of individual talent and en¬ 
ergy. Hence the resort to Societies, for the promotion 
of desirable objects. By a judicious combination of 
their several means, and capacities, in the mode best 
suited to render them all available, men have accom¬ 
plished purposes which, individually, they could never 
hope to perform. 
“ Associated efforts having been found thus valuable, 
in all great works of Art, requiring skill and force— 
and in the prosecution of researches after Scientific 
Truth,—the inquiry is naturally suggested, why the 
important business of Agriculture may not, also, be be¬ 
nefited by a resort to similar expedients. Is there no 
sort of knowledge involved in successful Agriculture, 
which may be reciprocated, with good effect, among 
the members of a Society—or promoted by a generous 
co-operation? Is there no scientific or practical skill 
requisite, in the amelioration of soils—the culture of 
plants—or the management of stock—which may be 
advantageously imparted by the experienced, for the 
benefit of young beginners? If there are truths in 
Nature, which farmers are interested to know—or pro¬ 
cesses in Art, wherein dexterity and economy are desira¬ 
ble,—can any good reason be assigned why the culti¬ 
vators of the soil should not associate, to secure to 
themselves those advantages? It may, perhaps, be al¬ 
leged,—for the unreflecting do often make such ran¬ 
dom allegations,—that Agriculture is essentially a 
practical Profession; and therefore has little occasion 
for artistieal skill, or scientific accomplishments. I 
am prepared to admit all that can be fairly urged in 
behalf of sound experience, and plain practical common 
sense—not only in Agriculture, but—in all human pur¬ 
suits. I grant that the cultivation of the soil is emi¬ 
nently a matter-of-fact business. It is true, moreover, 
that the veriest clod-poll in the land may pursue the 
beaten track of his annual labors with tolerable suc¬ 
cess,^—and may gather in his crops with little more 
knowledge, of the objects around him, than is possess¬ 
ed by the cattle he drives : But I can never believe 
that true knowledge is injurious to the operatives, or to 
the interests, of any profession, or business ;—nor can 
I be persuaded that boorish ignorance is the proper con¬ 
dition and character of a thorough-bred Agriculturist. 
Most assuredly, it is not the appropriate character of 
a&ricu&vuiue:. 
an American Farmer. While I not only agree, but 
would insist, that a sound practical knowledge of their 
profession should be the primary object of the cultiva¬ 
tors of the soil,—I must, at the same time, contend for 
the feasibility and necessity—in the existing state of 
society, and under Institutions like ours—of an ade¬ 
quate acquaintance with the laws of nature, and with 
the properties and true character of the objects imme¬ 
diately concerned in Agriculture. That acquaintance, 
of course, should be based on correct scientific princi¬ 
ples,—so as to be always available when applied to 
the useful purposes of life. I hold it, indeed, to be es¬ 
sential to the safety and duration of this Republic, that 
our Yeomanry should keep pace with the march of ge¬ 
neral intelligence. As they value their just rights, and 
would cherish the attributes of Freemen, they must 
take care that their attainments never lag behind the 
age in which they live,—nor they, themselves, become 
unfit to mingle, and to struggle, with the master spir¬ 
its who, for good or for evil, are ever seeking to direct 
the course and control the progress of communities.— 
Agriculturists being a majority of this nation, it is per¬ 
fectly obvious that they must be either the intelligent 
regulators of its glorious career,—or the blind instru¬ 
ments of its destiny in the hands of artful Demagogues ; 
and consequently they will be held responsible for the 
fate of the Republic, by their remotest posterity.— 
Ought they not, then, to employ every means, and ex¬ 
ert every nerve, to qualify themselves for the high du¬ 
ties thus devolved upon them ? 
“There is nothing unreasonable, nor extraordinary, 
in the acquirements thus indicated as appropriate and 
indispensable to the American Farmer. In a nation 
fitted for Freedom—or which hopes to continue free- 
such attainments are enjoined upon all classes and de- ~~ 
scriptions of the People. Where men stand unfettered 
on the platform of equal rights, it is justly expected of 
every one, that he shall qualify himself to meet all the 
responsibilities belonging to his station in society : and 
this is eminently true of the particular business to which 
he is devoted. The remark is as correct as it is point¬ 
ed and forcible, that “ where knowledge is a duty, ig¬ 
norance is a crime.” No man should be held excusable 
for neglecting the opportunity to inform himself of that 
which it is his interest and his duty to know. Profes¬ 
sional men, so termed, are bound to be familiar with 
the entire history, and with every department, of their 
several callings. The Jurist must make himself ac¬ 
quainted wiih the intellectual processes whence our 
present rule of action has been deduced,—in order that 
he may correctly apply that rule to all cases of difficulty 
between man and man. The Physician is required to 
know the structure of the human body, and to under¬ 
stand the laws of the animal economy,—so that he may 
avail himself of that knowledge, when called upon to 
relieve the various “ ills that flesh is hair to :” And 
the Divine , also—whose sacred office it is to minister 
to our spiritual wants,—to expound the objects of our 
probationary existence here, and “ vindicate the ways 
of God to man,”—even he is expected to furnish “ a 
reason for the faith that is in him.” Artists and ope¬ 
ratives of every description, who would adorn their se¬ 
veral pursuits, find it necessary to understand the the¬ 
ory, or principles, involved in their manipulations,—as 
well as to become expert in the practical details.— 
Such being the unquestionable fact, in reference to all 
other vocations,—it may well be demanded, why the 
business of Agriculture —-itself a comprehensive system 
