THE SOUTHEEN PLANTER, 

Scboua to gttjrfculture, ^ortfcttlture, mitt the p?ousdiott» girts. 



Agriculture is the nursing mother of the 
Arts. — Xenophm . 



Tillage and Pasturage are the two breasts 
of the Stale. — Sully. 



FRANK: G. RUFFIN, Editor. 



P. D. BERNARD, Proprietor. 



Vol. XIII. 



RICHMOND, DECEMBER, 1853. 



No. 12. 



ADDRESS OF JOHN R. EDMUNDS, ESQ.. 

Before the Virginia State Agricultural Society, 
November 3, 1853. 

Mr. President and Gentlemen: 

The Executive Committee have invited me 
to deliver the first annual address on this oc- 
casion. The Constitution of our Society pre- 
scribes the subjects of this address, and limits 
them to practical agriculture or science as 
auxiliary to agriculture. It is to me a source 
of sincere regret, that the task was not de- 
volved upon a more competent person. But 
it was not for me to evade the duties it in- 
volved, nor to shun the responsibility it im- 
posed — to shrink from the post which they 
have assigned, and to display a lukewarm zeal 
in this noble effort to promote the prosperity 
of our State by advancing its agricultural in- 
terest. Impelled by a high sense of profes- 
sional and public duty, and by that considera- 
tion alone, I may justly claim the indulgence 
of the Society for its imperfect discharge. 

The extent of our territory and its unde- 
veloped resources present their difficulties at 
the first view. Our State stretches from the 
Ocean on the East, to the tributaries of the 
Mississippi on the West, embracing the At- 
lantic slope, the intermediate valley, and pass- 
ing the Alleghanies it spreads out upon the 
valleys of the western waters, containing the 
great elements of national wealth in its mi- 
neral treasures, manufacturing power, outlets 
for commerce, diversity of soil, and in its 
capacity for varied agricultural products. It 
combines the leading divisions of agriculture 
in farming, planting and grazing. 

With this extensive territory and variety of 
soils, we are commencing an era of improved 
agriculture. Upon the fertility of the soil de- 
pends oar success — and upon the constituent 
elements of tbe soil rests its fertility. A know- 
ledge of the general origin and composition 
of the soil must form the first foundation on 
which to build. But here science has not 
shed its light upon our pathway. No geolo- 
gical report, with accompanying maps of sur- 
veys of the Slate, has been published in such 
form as to be accessible to the farmers. They 
are not informed in regard to the general for- 
mation and prevailing strata of their own 
counties, nor the probable origin of their soils. 
The soils of the Stale have been but little 
Voi. XIII.-12. 



studied and accurate analyses have not deve- 
loped the causes of sterility in extensive areas, 
embracing large portions of many counties. 

Our soils are formed from the decomposed 
fragments of the rocks on which they lie, or 
of other rocks usually at no great distance. 
They consist very nearly of the same sub- 
stances as the rocks themselves from which 
they are formed; and we may not expect any 
ingredient in large quantity, which the rocks 
themselves did not contain. Geologists have 
given the names of stratified and unstratified 
to the leading and grand divisions of these 
rocks. The rocks of trTe second class differ 
widely in their composition, and will give rise 
to soils partaking of their distinctive charac- 
teristics. Thus, the granite contains within its 
felspar and mica considerable quantities of 
potash and soda, but there is scarcely any 
lime, and no phosphates beyond mere traces. 
Some varieties of granite do contain these 
substances in fair proportions, but for the most 
part, there is very little of either. — [Norton's 
Elements, 302.] Soils formed from their de- 
composition may contain potash of soda, but 
we may with great certainly anticipate a defi- 
ciency of lime and the phosphates. So, in the 
same leading division, some specimens of the 
trap rock contain a proportion of lime, calcu- 
lated as carbonate, equal to 20 per cent, or one- 
fifth of their weight.— [Prof. Johnson, Edin- 
burgh Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, page 
422, 1847-49.] They contain felspar also, from 
which potash is derived — and soils produced 
from their decomposition will be found more 
fertile than those of granitic origin. 

The stratified rocks present the same dif- 
ferences of composition; they occupy various 
positions and inclinations to the earth's sur- 
face, but their relative position to each other 
is always the same in whatever part of the world 
they may be found.— [Norton's Elements, 200.] 
The same differences will pervade the soils 
which exist in the various strata. In this ge- 
neral observation, however, we must except 
those districts where disturbing influences have 
operated to cover the original rocks by trans- * 
ported materials from some other source — by 
which the crumbled fragments of other forma- 
tions have been drifted in vast quantities, by 
some unknown power, and now overlie the 
original rocks. Even in this event, an inspec- 
tion of a district by a practised eye, would 
immediately detect any foreign deposits, and 



3,34 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



determine their character. — [Norton's Ele- 
ments, 206.] 

It is the province of geology to explore the 
structure of the earth's surface, and to map 
the various strata and leading features — mark- 
ing and describing the location and boundaries 
of the different strata — clearly delineating theii 
extent and position, and showing the extent 
and location of the drift formation — giving to 
the farmer a general knowledge of the origin 
and composition of his soil. To this extent 
Prof. Norton says geology may instruct: If a 
farmer "wishes to buy land in a distant re- 
gion, and has no definite knowledge as to its 
character, he may determine its probable qua- 
lity at once from a good geological map. If 
he has cultivated the soil of some particular 
formation, till he has come to like it, and to 
know better how to cultivate it than any other, 
he may, in the same manner, learn where to 
find for himself or for his children, the same 
kind of land, in some other district." [Norton's 
Elements, p. 206.] It furnishes to the farmer 
the chart by which he is to be guided in pro- 
curing analyses of his soils. If he desires 
positive information, when the geological map 
points out the general origin and composition 
of his soil, the chemist by definitive analysis 
supplies this demand. 

The practical value of this information may 
be easily explained. All plants consist of or- 
ganic and inorganic substances— the latter of 
which constitute their ashes; and are derived 
solely from the soil. The soil must contain 
these substances or the plant cannot grow. A 
very fertile soil contains all of them in consi- 
derable quantity. Many soils contain some 
of them in large quantities, and are deficient, 
sometimes destitute of others. Thus soils 
formed from granite may be deficient in lime 
and the phosphates, whilst those formed from 
decayed trap may contain lime abundantly. 
In ignorance of its composition, the farmer 
may apply the very ingredient that abounds 
in his soil — the application may be wasted, 
indeed, it may be injurious, as frequently oc- 
curs, where magnesian limestone is applied 
to lands abounding in magnesia. In closing 
a very valuable paper on the subject, Professor 
Johnston remarks: "The consideration of all 
these facts show how important, in reference 
even to practical purposes, a knowledge of the 
geological structure of a country is, how ne- 
cessary that the general origin and composi- 
tion of the soil should be ascertained, and that, 
neither lime nor any other substance should be ap- 
plied to it,, of which the chemical composition is not 
exactly known— [Ed. Jour. Ag , 1849, p. 430.] 

Whilst all of the inorganic substances of 
plants are important to their growth, lime in 
its various combinations is by far the most 
useful and most extensively applied. One of 
the distinctive features in the soils of this 
State is absence of carbonate of lime in nearly 
all.* Throughout the tide water region, as a 

* Ruffio on Calcareous Manures. 



general fact, there is a deficiency of lime in 
any of its combinations. Wherever this defi- 
ciency occurs it is abundant cause for steri- 
lity. The former President of this Society has 
pointed out this deficiency of lime, and has 
also discovered, that the naturally poor soils 
of that section contain an acid injurious to 
the growth of cultivated crops. The applica- 
tion of marl or lime corrects this acidity and 
supplies the wants of the soil. Before this 
discovery successive generations had toiled 
with enduring perseverance, but unrewarded 
industry. No amount of industry, no display 
of skill could supply the want of that know- 
ledge. The soils could neither be durably nor 
profitably improved by putrescent manures. 
But the application of calcareous manures 
will give to their worst soils a power of re- 
taining putrescent manures, equal to that of 
the best, and will cause more productiveness 
and yield more profit than any other improve- 
ment practicable in lower Virginia. — [Ruffin 
on Cal. Manures, 63, 65] The wants of the 
soil are pointed out — the remedy is applied — 
permanent and profitable improvement fol- 
lows — the resources of the State are deve- 
loped — the wealth of the citizen increased — 
private interests and public motives concur to 
stimulate the energies of her farmers. These 
vast benefits flow from the announcement of 
a single scientific truth, and the extent of its 
value will scarcely be appreciated by the ex- 
isting generation. 

It is greatly to be regretted, that our infor- 
mation in regaid to the district above tide wa- 
ter is so limited and uncertain. There is no 
geological map to guide our course. Over the 
different parts of this widely extended area 
we have every variety of primary stratified 
rocks, producing soils of every degree of fer- 
tility. Many counties are covered by gneiss, 
and the soils produced from them are light 
colored, deficient in lime, magnesia r &c. In 
many others, sandstones are the leading for- 
mations, and the soils formed from them are 
the most sterile perhaps to be found in the 
State. 

After crossing the Blue Ridge, we reach the 
limestone formation, which occupies the entire 
length and most of the breadth of the Valley — 
producing soils generally fertile, some of them 
eminently so. Successive strata of sandstone, 
limestone and slate are found in proceeding 
westward from the Valley, terminating in the 
great coal formation of the West. By far the 
greater part of these rich limestone soils are 
destitute of the carbonate of lime, but are sup- 
plied with lime in the foim of silicate of 
lime — [Professor Gilham.] 

There is strong reason for believine that a 
deficiency of lime in any of its combinations 
is the chief cause of sterility in the naturally 
poor soils of all those districts, and that an 
increased supply is needed in the more fertile 
soils. For the primary rocks in which quartz, 
mica and felspar predominate, the sandstones, 
mica slates, and clay slates, are generally poor 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



355 



in lime. The less vigorous vegetation of the 
grasses, and clover, the prevalence of pine, 
broom grass and poverty grass are generally 
a sufficient indication of the want of lime in 
a soil. Still, the few experiments with lime 
have not been of a conclusive or satisfactory 
character. If applied without analysis to as- 
certain the composition of the lime, or upon 
soils without a knowledge of their origin, they 
were certainly empirical; from which no safe 
conclusion can be drawn. 

Those striking benefits which have followed 
the application of lime in the tide water dis- 
trict, may be expected on all of the naturally 
poor soils of other sections. It was the re- 
mark of Dr. Anderson, an eminent practical 
chemist of Scotland, that he had never met 
with a poor soil in rts natural state, which was 
not benefited in a very great degree by calca- 
reous matter, when administered in proper 
quantities. Experience, he says, has proved 
that by this one operation, such poor land may 
be raised in money value eight times, or from 
five shillings to forty shillings per acre of an- 
nual rent— [Professor Johnston, Ed. Gluarterlv 
Journal, 1847-49, page 526.] The surface of 
whole districts even, is sometimes doubled or 
tripled in value by the use of lime alone — 
barren sandy soils often admit of profitable 
cultivation after lime has been added.— [Prof. 
Johnston, Edinburgh Gluar. Journal, 1847-49, 
p. 526] In the larger portion of the Atlantic 
slope the leading strata and prevailing flora 
would indicate the necessity for lime; and, 
wherever this deficiency exists, abundant ob- 
servation and experience prove, that it must 
be supplied as the basis of permanent im- 
provement and profitable agriculture. With 
the lights before us, we are compelled to state 
the case hypothetically, and to deduce conclu- 
sions from analogy. Science has not yet de- 
lineated these areas, and agriculture is still 
misled by isolated and conflictingexperiments. 

The members of this Society have assumed 
the high and noble position of public bene- 
factors. They have commenced the laudable 
task of improving the agriculture of the State, 
developing her resources, diffusing scientific 
and practical information with an energy that 
must command the admiration and respect of 
every citizen. Let me urge upon the Society 
that the information shall be founded upon 
correct geological maps and accurate chemi- 
cal analyses. Our public improvements are 
penetrating the limestone formations in almost 
every direction, preparing to furnish the sup- 
ply, as soon as the farmer has learned upon 
what soils lirne may be profitably applied. 

I cannot more strongly illustrate the impor- 
tance of this branch of the subject, than by 
some reference to the Agricultural Chemistry 
Association of Scotland.— [Edinburgh Journal 
of Agriculture, 1845-47, page 254, &c] This 
ation numbered nearone thousand mem- 
bers, composed of the most intelligent farmers 
and many of the most distinguished men of 
science. Its chief object was to afford far- 
12m 



mers analyses at a cheap rate— upon the ac- 
curacy of which they could rely — of soils, 
manures and other substances — to carry on 
investigations bearing on the science and ge- 
neral interests of agriculture— and to diffuse 
information thus collected by public lectures, 
familiar letters and conversations. During 
the first two years of its existence near one 
thousand analyses were made in the labora- 
tory — seventy public lectures were delivered 
by Professor Johnston, in different districts of 
Scotland, to audiences composed chiefly of 
farmers. Many conversational discussions 
were held, and many letters transmitted to dif- 
ferent sections, accompanied by advice of a 
practical character, which the analyses were 
fitted to suggest, or his own observation of the 
agriculture of different districts rendered va- 
luable. He was aided in his laboratory by 
several assistants, and in the field by many 
accurate geological surveys— the composition 
of the marls, limes, manures, crops and soils 
was determined by analyses — an intelligent 
body of farmers gave their aid in accurate and 
well conducted experiments; and their united 
efforts led to important results in the judicious 
improvement of their soils, and in the profita- 
ble returns of agriculture. They have ele- 
vated agriculture into that position amongst 
the sciences, in which rational conclusions 
may be drawn from well conducted experi- 
ments: and such, I trust, will soon be the po- 
sition which the agriculture of our own State 
shall occupy, by means of the efforts of this 
Society. 

A knowledge of the origin and composition 
of the soil of those inorganic substances which 
constitute the ashes of plants, and the compo- 
sition of the various manures, are all-impor- 
tant to success. But the organic elements of 
plants— oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and nitro- 
gen— must, also, claim attention. The sources 
from which plants derive their oxygen and 
hydrogen are not of practical value to the far- 
mer, as they constitute water, and as oxygen 
is supplied from so many sources. Carbon 
and nitrogen are important elements, and the 
sources from which plants derive their supply 
must be carefully considered. 

The carbon constitutes nearly one-half by 
weight of all dry vegetable substances. This 
leading substance of all plants is derived from 
carbonic acid, in much the largest proportion 
from the atmosphere which surrounds them, 
and by assimilation through their leaves. The 
roots of the plants may furnish a questionable, 
but at any rate, a small proportion.— [Somer- 
ville's Physical Geography, 298; Liebig.] The 
atmosphere which surrounds their leaves is 
the great source from which carbon is sup- 
plied—from which nearly one-half in weight 
of all cultivated crops is derived. Yet the at- 
mosphere contains only one-thousandth of it s 
weight of carbonic acid. For (hi* small sup- 
ply there is a constant struggle, by all vegeta- 
ble creation. It is necessary to the growth of 
plants, and they will not flourish in an atmos- 



356 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



phere where the proportion is much reduced. 
It is rapidly absorbed by forests, as well as 
growing crops, duick growing plants, such 
as grape vines, melons, Indian corn, &c, when 
in lull growth, will absorb as it passes, nearly 
all the carbonic acid from quite a swift current 
of air, so that only slight traces of it can after- 
wards be found. — [Norton's Elements, p. 31.] 
Crops are more flourishing when the uniform 
proportion, existing in the atmosphere under 
ordinary circumstances, is in that body of air 
immediately surrounding their leaves. They 
can no more feed upon the carbonic acid in 
the air above, than they can derive benefit 
from the manure which has never been hauled 
from the farm-pen. Hence they thrive better 
in air that is in motion, and frequently re- 
newed, than in calms.— [Boussingault, 42.] 
The free access of carbonic acid to their leaves 
promotes their growth, increases their vigor, 
and enriches their secretions. — [Farmers' En- 
cyclopaedia, 522.] Whatever impedes the free 
circulation of the atmosphere, or exhausts its 
carbonic acid in its progress to the growing 
crops, always produces injurious effects upon 
the cultivated plants. 

It has been observed in Europe, that the 
crops always yield an inferior produce when 
surrounded by thick plan tations of timber trees, 
not from the effects of shading, but from their 
exhausting power upon the carbonic acid of 
the air. — [Farmers' Encyclopaedia, Cuthbert 
Johnson.:] This is the observed effect, even 
when so large a proportion of the country is 
open, and when the same density of forests 
does not occur as prevails with tis. Upon 
many farms there is inexcusable carelessness 
and neglect in the dense growth of old field 
pines in the arable fields, neglected hedge 
rows, ditch and creek banks, sometimes a few 
acres of native forest and irregular outlines 
in the clearings. These must not be regarded 
as merely negligent, but as positively inju- 
rious — not only as presenting a slovenly ap- 
pearance, rendering the cultivation and enclo- 
sure of the fields more expensive and labo- 
rious, but as diminishing the products of the 
cultivated surface. The old field pine is par- 
ticularly liable to this objection. The rapidity 
of its growth, even upon the poorest soils, 
the number of its leaves show its exhausting 
powers upon the atmosphere. The farmer 
should remember that his crop can thrive no 
better in an atmosphere deprived of iis car- 
bonic acid, than in a soil exhausted of its fer- 
tility. If he wishes a striking illustration, let 
him sow alternate strips of clover with plas- 
ter; or of wheat with guano, and leave narrow 
strips for trial. The plastered clover and the 
guanoed wheat will soon overtop the unaided 
portions, exhaust the air of its carbonic acid 
in passing, and by its greater luxuriance ac- 
tually injure the unaided strips. The experi- 
ment will not present simply a striking con- 
trast — nor injury from shading— but a dimi- 
nished crop 1 , from mere proximity to a more 
uxuriant growth. 



The injurious effects of these patches of 
pines may be impressed by another statement. 
In four thousand pounds of the atmosphere, 
only four pounds of carbonic acid are inter- 
mixed—or rather more than one pound of car- 
bon — sufficient to form about two pounds of 
dry pine. If, then, we assume the correctness 
of that theory, which asserts the assimilation 
of the entire carbon through the leaves of the 
plants, near four thousand pounds of air must 
have been entirely deprived of its carbonic 
acid to form two pounds of dry pine — or a 
still larger quantity of air partially exhausted. 
Under such circumstances, a gentle current of 
air reaches the borders of the cultivated crops, 
after passing through these patches, of dense 
pines, to supply that food to the growing crop 
which is to make near one-half of its weight. 
It is true that the inequalities of the earth's 
surface, the varying currents of air, and the 
known property of these gases to intermingle 
and pervade each other will again restore the 
equilibrium, but extensive injury may first en- 
sue. One of the first objects to which the at- 
tention of the farmer should be turned, is the 
removal of all such nuisances in his culti- 
vated fields — leaving nothing but the neces- 
sary shade trees for ornament, or for protec- 
tion to his cattle. 

The next organic element of plants is nitro- 
gen. Of this substance the cultivated plants 
contain small and variable proportions, seldom 
reaching as high as four per cent. One hun- 
dred pounds in the dry state will generally 
contain about fifty pounds of carbon and about 
two pounds of nitrogen. The proportions are 
used merely for illustration, and not for spe- 
cific information. Small as the relative quan- 
tity of nitrogen is, it forms a most important 
element in plants and manures. It constitutes 
the nutritious principle of plants— that ingre- 
dient which imparls flesh and muscle to ani- 
mals. An eminent author asserts, as the re- 
sult of analysis and observation, that the nu- 
tritious powers of plants are in proportion to 
the quantity of nitrogen they contain.— [Bous- 
singault, 387.] This quantity is increased by 
the supply furnished through the soil on which 
they grow; hence it becomes a most important 
subject for our examination. 

Whilst it plays so prominent a part in the 
nutritious principle of food, it is at the same 
time the eminently enriching quality of all or- 
ganic manures, 270.— [Boussingault.] It forms 
the chief fertilizing substance in the guanos, 
nitrates and compounds of ammonia; in fact, 
it is the proportion of nitrogen which fixes the 
comparative value of different manures. It 
forms four-fifths of the entire atmosphere, con- 
stantly surrounding the plants, and presenting 
an inexhaustible supply— but generally una- 
vailing in its simple form. 

Plants receive their nitrogen through their 
roots, sometimes from the nitrates, but chiefly 
in the form of ammonia; (Liebig, 70,) the for- 
mation of these compounds then becomes the 
subject of inquiry, as the enriching quality ol 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



357 



the manures depends upon the quantity they i 
contain. Liberal manuring is the basis of all I 
agriculture. It is scarcely necessary to say, ! 
that the farmer must rely upon the produce of 
his own fields and of his animals for the means ; 
of maintaining the fertility of his lands, and 
that all other manures which he can obtain 
must be regarded as subsidiary to this main ; 
source of supply. The materials must be col- ', 
lected and applied with method, system and 
judgment, and with special regard to the pre- 
servation of the compounds of nitrogen, and [ 
of those inorganic substances found in the 
ashes of the plants. But if negligence and 
waste characterize the operations of the farmer 
in - the use of those materials, there can be no 
justification for the purchase of guano or other 
special manures to remedy his improvidence. 
In regard to the farm-yard there are two 
great sources of waste — the drenching effects 
of rain and the heating of manures. The 
most of the compounds of nitrogen, and the 
greater parts of the saline ingredients of ma- 
nures are soluble. Successive washings leave 
little more than the woody fibre of the ma- 
nure, containing scarcely any fertility. Water 
should never be permitted to run from a farm- 
pen; the quantity of the materials and the 
position of the yard should carefully guard 
against such waste. The extent of the farm- 
pen and the quantity of materials collected 
must be a source of no satisfaction, if the fer- 
tilizing ingredients have been washed out by 
successive rains. 

The other source of waste is too rapid fer- 
mentation, usually called heating of manures. 
Ammonia is a volatile alkali which is disen- 
gaged from all organic manures by rapid fer- 
mentation. A single example will be suffi- 
cient for illustration. Fresh stable manure in 
the dry state contains near three per cent, of 
nitrogen. After heating in a thick stratum, 
it lost nine-tenths of its weight and contained 
no more than one per cent, of nitrogen, when 
reduced todryness.— [Boussingault, 285.] This 
degree of heating and extent of loss are rarely 
permitted, and the extreme case is quoted only 
as a warning against any degree of rapid fer- 
mentation, in which ammonia is lost. The 
spreading of plaster, marl and ashes between 
the different layers of the materials of the 
farm-pen, will, to some extent, aid in fixing 
the ammonia and improve the quality of the 
manure. Before hauling out, the heap should 
be turned once or twice to mix the ingredients 
more intimately and produce a more uniform 
decomposition. 

The slow and gradual decomposition of ma- 
nure heaps, containing ashes and calcareous 
earths, not only retainall of the ammonia and 
'Uric acid which are formed from the mate- 
■ls placed in compost, but an additional 
antity is nroduced by a union between the 
itneaXS or the manure heap, with the free 
.Tj of the atmosphere. In composts thus 
/Ormed 4 , and frequently turned, after prolong- 
ed decomposition, the quantity of. nitrogen is 



found to be greater in the ammonia and nitric 
acid than was contained in the whole of the 
substances first placed in compost. [Edinburg 
Quarterly Journal Ag., 1847-49, 582; Prof. 
Johnston, Bousingault, 250.] To produce these 
results, the presence of alkaline or calcareous 
carbonates is necessary; and the mere heap- 
ing of the materials of the farm-pen is not 
sufficient. [Boussingault, 249.] As these com- 
pounds of nitrogen constitute the chief ferti- 
lizing ingredient of putrescent manures, the 
conditions necessary to their formation should 
exist in the compost heap, and all the means 
of increasing their quantity, should be care- 
fully adopted. 

In pointing out the important requisites in 
the preparation of farm-pen manures, I do not 
wish to be understood as recommending the 
use of all the resources of the farm in that 
mode. The farm-pen, to some extent, is in- 
dispensable. There must be sufficient mate- 
rials collected to absorb and retain the ma- 
nures, when any portion of the cattle are 
penned. Further than this I do not regard 
the accumulation of vegetable substances eco- 
nomical or judicious. 

Among some farmers, there is a prevalent 
impression that the process of digestion by 
the cattle adds to the fertilizing ingredients of 
the farm-pen — in other words, makes the ma- 
terials of the farm-pen richer. This impres- 
sion must be removed at once by the statement 
that nitrogen constitutes both the nutiitious 
principles of food, and the chief fertilizing 
ingredient of the manures. That portion of 
the nitrogen which is abstracted in the forma- 
tion of flesh, and which is exhaled from the 
animal, is so much withdrawn from the ferti- 
lity of the manures — to which must be added 
that portion of the phosphates which forms 
the bones. A ton of wheat straw, then, must 
be regarded as containing a larger amount of 
enriching elements before being fed to cattle, 
than after the process of digestion. 

There is always a large surplus of straw 
and other materials not needed for farm-pens; 
and the best disposition of this is to haul it 
directly to the land you desire to manure, and 
to spread it broadcast. It is much lighter in 
hauling when dry, and can be hauled in more 
convenient seasons. In the process of decay 
no fertilizing principle is given off to the air; 
for it is asserted on high authority, as the re- 
sult of experiment, that a substance contain- 
ing nitrogen, all of whose parts are in contact 
with the air, in the process of decomposition, 
never contributes nitrogen to the confined at- 
mosphere in which it is placed. [Boussingault, 
242.] But on the contrary, a portion of the 
hydrogen evolved in putrefaction unites with 
the nitrogen of the atmosphere surrounding it, 
and forms ammonia. The absorbent powers 
of the soil and of the organic substances are 
sufficient to retain the ammonia thus formed, 
until consumed by the growing crop. 

The production of ammonia and nitrio acid 
from the nitrogen of the atmosphere by the 



35S 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



decay of organic matter in the soil, is unhesi- 
tatingly asserted by Professor Johnston— even 
when the decomposing substance is purely car- 
bonaceous. [Ed.auar.Jour. Ag., 1849, p. 584.] 
It is unnecessary to give the abstruse laws of 
chemistry upon which these results rest; but 
to assume the conclusion as correct, that when 
decomposition of organic matter occurs in 
contact with air, a small and variable propor- 
tion of ammonia and nitric acid are produced 
at the expense of the free nitrogen of the at- 
mosphere. [Ibid.; see also Boussingault, 312; 
Mulder, as quoted in Edinb'g Jour. Ag., 1847, 
p. 47.] In this connection he also states, "in 
proportion as the presence of lime promotes 
this decay of vegetable and other organic mat- 
ter in the soil, in the same proportion does it 
promote the production of ammonia and nitric 
acid at the expense of the free nitrogen of the 
atmosDhere; and this may be regarded as one 
of the'valuable and constant purposes served 
by the presence of calcareous matter in the 
soil." And, "lime influences in an unknown 
degree the nitrogen of the atmosphere to be- 
come fixed in larger proportion in the soil, in 
the form of nitric acid and ammonia than 
would otherwise be the case; and this it does, 
both by the greater amount of decay or oxida- 
tion, which it brings about in a given time, 
and by the kinds of compounds, which, under 
its influence, the organic matter is persuaded 
to form. 

I have thought proper to impress upon the 
Society the fact, that the decomposition of 
vegetable substances may be as judiciously 
conducted in the soil, or on its surface, as in 
the farm-pen— and that there is really no gain 
from the laborious process of hauling in straw 
to be drenched with rain and partially fer- 
mented, to be hauled out with great additional 
weight and labor. Even unrotted pine leaves, 
as raked up from the woods— though on acid 
soils they produce injurious effects— on soils 
which have been rendered calcareous, "pro- 
duce only and always beneficial results; and 
that is the best as well as the cheapest mode 
of their application."— [Ruflin's Essay on Cal. 
Manures, p. 72] These researches of dis- 
tinguished chemists are in accordance with 
the observations of intelligent farmers; and I 
know of nothing within the range of well con- 
ducted experiments that contradict them. It 
has been long known, that no benefit was de- 
rived from ploughing undersummer cow-pens: 
it is explained by the fact that the absorbent 
powers of the soil can retain the ammo- 
nia, and that further decomposition increases 
it from the air. The observed effects of lop- 
dressin" may receive the same solution; as 
also the shallow covering of manures. The 
striking effects produced by covering young 
clover "with straw, weeds or other vegetable 
substances— producing results in the growth 
and luxuriance of the clover far surpassing 
the apparent fertility imparted by the cover- 
s—may be explained by the same reasoning. 
Indeed, the ultimate products of decay and pu- 



trefaction, whether occurring in the farm-pen 
or in the soil, are carbonic acid, water and am- 
monia. [Liebig, 105.] Thequantityandquality 
of the organic matter will be the measure of 
fertility imparted to the soil in its ultimate de- 
composition. The greatest return may not be 
received in the first crop, but the maximum of 
improvement to the land, and the most suc- 
cessful cropping for a series of years will 
follow. 

It may be proper also to state that the de* 
composition of the straw, &c, furnishes a con- 
stant supply of carbonic acid to the leaves 
and roots of growing plants, which must not 
be regarded as trivial or insignificant. For 
four tons of perfectly drv vegetable matter 
will yield nearly one-fourth as much carbonic 
acid as exists in the whole atmosphere over an 
acre of land. It is constantly rising through 
their leaves and furnishing an additional sup- 
ply of ibod. It also acts in combination with 
wateras a solvent upon the mineral ingredients 
of the soil, and by this means furnishes an in- 
creased supply of the inorganic elements of 
food to plants. The power of water charged 
with carbonic acid to dissolve the important 
minerals was tested by the Professors Rogers, 
late of our University. By their experiments, 
the specimens digested in carbonic acid water 
frequently furnished a sufficient amount of the 
dissolved mineral to admit of quantitative an- 
alysis — reaching in some instances from i to 
1 per cent, of the whole mass. [Edinbg. Gluar. 
Jour. 1847. J 

The other means of fixing the nitrogen of 
the atmosphere is by a proper rotation of crops. 
It appears to be a well established fact, that 
certain plants possess the power of assimilat- 
ing and fixing the nitrogen of the air, either 
directly through their roots, or by inducing 
the formation of a compound of nitrogen which 
is appropriated. Among these plants the clo- 
vers, peas, beans, and all pod bearing or legu- 
minous plants, are the principal. [Boussin- 
gault.] The more frequently they come into 
the rotation, the greater will be the relative 
assimilation of nitrogen, and the. consequent 
supply of ammonia to the soil. Direct analy- 
sis has settled the fact that where those planis 
come into the rotation, the amount of nitrogen 
contained in the crops, greatly exceeds that 
applied to the soil in the whole of the manures, 
showing an excess per acre, of from thirty to 
one hundred pounds of nitrogen. [Boussin- 
gault.] This valuable property of this class 
of plants distinguishes them as the best ame- 
liorating crops in any rotation. It is due to 
that distinctive power of feeding upon the ni- 
trogen of the atmosphere, and preparing it for 
the food of the cereal, or other marketable 
crops in the rotation. This class of plants 
must not be regarded as the means of retain- 
ing in the soil what it previously possessed ; 
but as making a large addition to its fertility 
through this power of supplying nitrogen; and 
to this must be attributed one of the great be- 
nefits derived from the usual field system, 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



359 



"where two clover crops intervene in the five | 
years. 

I have now, Mr. President, shown the inex- 
haustible supply of organic food lor plants 
within the atmosphere which surrounds us — a 
supply which is constantly kept up by com- 
bustion, the decay of organic matter and the ! 
respiration of animals — producing an eternal 
circulation of maiter between the earth and 
air, by those unchanging laws, which an all 
wise Creator has ordained. YVhilst combus- I 
tion, respiration and decay tend constantly to j 
render the air impure and unhealthy by con- ' 
suming its oxygen and increasing its carbonic 
acid, vegetable life is continually absorbing > 
the carbonic acid and throwing back pure 
oxygen. And so, upon the nitrogen of the 
atmosphere by means more obscure, but still 
as certain and invariable, tlie uniform relation 
is preserved between the air and earth by 
means of the vegetable creation. The earth 
must produce its vegetation to purify the air | 
for the health of man. The winds will sow ' 
noxious seed, if the industry of man does not 
scatter those that are valuable. If you do not 
sow grasses for slock, the earth will produce 
its weeds for vermin. The material world 
has its unchanging laws, and amongst these it 
is plainly written that a living vegetation must 
spring up to purify the air, in exact proportion 
as combustion, respiration and decay proceed. 
Under the direction of intelligent industry this 
living vegetation furnishes the food for ani- 
mals and men. The air can supply nutri- 
tious crops as easily as it can noxious weeds. 
Man has his obligations and duties to perform 
in respect to the material world — made after 
the likeness of his Creator, with the linea- 
ments of divinity traced upon him, and a 
living soul breathed wiihin him, he is sent 
forth to subdue the earth and to have dominion 
over every living thing; not with folded hands 
and in slothful idleness, but in the sweat of 
his face shall he eat his bread, until he returns 
unto the earth. If like the sluggard he folds 
his hands, thistles and briars will spring up 
around him, and poverty and want will come 
as an armed man. It was not promised to 
the slothful, that bounteous crops should crown 
his sloth, but that thistles and briars, the pests 
of the vegetable creation, should be the min- 
istering agents to purify the air which he con- 
taminated. 

That element of the air which is the nutri- 
tious principle of food is also the ingredient 
of fertility to the soil. We have already seen, 
that the clover crop has the peculiar power, 
with the leguminous plants, of assimilating 
the nitrogen of the air. A good clover crop 
on every field should be a paramount object 
with the farmer. A considerable outlay may 
he justified to bring the land into such condi- 
tiofl that it will produce it. A large propor- 
tion of the materials for manuring may be 
profitably applied to aid it. Special manures 
may be safely purchased to effect this object. 
When the land has been so far improved as 



to secure a good stand of clover, plaster is the 
specific manure for that crop. There are some 
soils upon which plaster produces no effect. 
It is stated in Coleman's European Agricul- 
ture, (273) that in all England, he had not 
been able to find a well attested example of 
its being applied with any benefit whatever. 
Some soils, marls and limestones, contain it 
in sufficient quantity to render its application 
unnecessary— and the mere application of 
marl or lime may decompose some sulphate 
in the soil and furnish a sufficient supply. Its 
general effect is to double the crop of clover; 
and I cannot more strongly impress upon far- 
mers its great value in producing this result, 
than by quoting from an eminent French au- 
thor. Direct analysis shows, where the clover 
crop is increased one ton by the intervention 
of plaster, there is a gain of over one hundred 
pounds, of ammonia, and this gain is caused 
solely by the application of plaster.— [Bous- 
singault, 325] This is more than sufficient 
to supply a large wheat crop. The plaster 
has no direct action upon wheat, and it is only 
through the medium of the clover that its be- 
neficial influence is exerted. 

The quantity of plaster applied to the acre 
in many parts of Europe, varies from 1£ cwt. 
to 16 cwt., or three-quarters of a ton per acre. — 
[Boussingault, 320.J It is stated that in a mo- 
derately manured soil, as all the world knows, 
plaster shows no sensible improvement; and 
that it is to throw away both money and trou- 
ble to put plaster upon an unkindly and impo- 
verished bottom. — [Boussingault, 326 ] 1 am 
not informed of any trials with plaster in such 
quantities in this State as prevails in European 
practice. But in many respects the observed 
effects of the application differ on the two con- 
tinents. Our soils have not been sufficiently 
studied, nor has our observation been suffi- 
ciently collected and compared, to account for 
the conflicting results. The effect of plaster 
is certainly much greater as organic matter 
accumulates in the soil, and more invariable 
in its benefits; yet 1 have frequently seen very 
remarkable benefits from its use on land so 
far exhausted that it would not produce ten 
bushels of corn per acre. The effects of plas- 
ter are as stiking upon corn and tobacco as 
upon the clover, and its benefits seem to in- 
crease in proportion to the quantity of unrotted 
liiter applied to the soil, and the longer inter- 
vals between the hoe crops. Many of the 
failures in the use of plaster may have been 
caused by a want of organic maiter in ihe soil, 
and where the system heretofore pursued in 
the State has been one so exhausting, it may 
be proper to guard the farmer against an er- 
roneous conclusion as to the value of plaster 
from a single failure. Wherever it succeeds, 
I regard it in connection with clover, by far 
the most economical and valuable fertilizer; 
and that one of the chief benefits of all other 
applications to our land, is to bring the soil 
into that condition, which will enable plaster 
and clover to act efficiently. A good clover 



360 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



crop contains, with the exception of silica, all 
of the organic and inorganic elements of a 
large wheat crop in excess. When this is 
secured, the farmer has laid the foundation for 
good wheat crops and for successful improve- 
ment. 

The Society will perceive, that I am urging 
a course of practice, which has in view the 
accumulation of organic matter in the soil in 
ihe speediest practicable time. No observing 
farmer, who has looked to the course of cul- 
ture in this State from its first settlement, can 
be ignorant of the great loss of organic matter 
that has ensued. Successive crops of tobacco 
on the virgin soil, frequent repetition of the 
corn crops, followed by wheat or oats, shallow 
ploughings, excessive grazing, with no inter- 
vening ameliorating crops, characterize the 
outline of our destructive system. We look 
back to the past, not to express vain regrets, 
but to gather instruction. Our purpose here 
is not to scatter reproaches, but to sow the 
seed of knowledge, to stimulate by encourage- 
ment, and to promise to the intelligent appli- 
cation of labor and industry the full fruition 
of success. 

The vegetable matter in the soil tends to 
retain the soluble saline matter and to keep it 
trom being washed away; the presence in con- 
siderable quantity becomes desirable when we 
wish to maintain a soil in a high stale of fer- 
tility. The lands may be ploughed much 
deeper, and the injurious effects of heavy rains 
to a considerable degree obviated. The most 
of the fertilizing elements are soluble — many 
of them highly so. Now, the quantity of wa- 
ter that falls on one acre of land, is one hundred 
rons for every inch in depth, or three thousand 
ions for thirty inches, the usual annual fall 
of water. The solvent power of water, and 
the annual average quantity which falls, are 
sufficiently certain for practical purposes. The 
injury resulting to the land will depend upon 
its condition, if the land be protected by grasses, 
the flowing of water over it produces only be- 
neficial effects. Such is the whole theory of 
irrigation— where in practice the water of 
streams is turned upon the meadows and made 
to overflow them for several weeks, then turned 
off for a few days and again turned upon them 
for two or three weeks, and this alternate 
flooding and drying continued for several 
months, the effect does not depend upon the 
sediment deposited by the water, though se- 
diment increases the effect, water, without 
any perceptible sediment, may be successfully 
used — nor does the success depend upon the 
want of water, for irrigation is practised in 
England and Scotland, in the months of De- 
cember and January, when the soil is saturated 
with water. The conditions for success are 
that the land be thoroughly drained and the 
water be kept flowing and not be permitted to 
stagnate. — [Low's Practical Agriculture, 574.] 
The running of water over lands protected by 
grasses, whether from streams or showers, 
must be regarded as benefical. 



It is when land is cultivated, containing but 
little vegetable matter, ploughed shallow or 
left unprotected by clovers and grasses, that 
heavy rains may be feared. As you deepen 
the soil and increase the quantity of vegetable 
matter, less and less injury results, until you 
reach the extent of modern improvements in 
the practice of subsoiling and tile draining. 
Then we are informed when the land is tho- 
roughly drained and subsoiled, so that the rain 
sinks where it falls and makes its way through 
near three feet of soil before it escapes, it is a 
question whether, in ordinary circumstances, 
it will carry away much more than it brings 
with it from the air. — [Ed. Gluar. Jour. Ag. 
1849, 592, Prof. Johnston.] If the quantity 
which it carried into the tile drains was appre- 
ciable, analysis would defect the quantity and 
solve the doubt; and such a question would 
never have been stated as matter of doubt by 
so distinguished a chemist as Prof. Johnson. 
This furnishes a striking illustration of the 
absorbent powers of the soil, of the organic 
matter contained in it. Whatever fertilizing 
ingredients the rain water may dissolve, when 
it sinks into the tile drains, the soil has ab- 
sorbed them so completely as to leave it doubt- 
ful, whether the water carries away more than 
fell from the clouds. What stronger evidence 
can be furnished in favor of thorough draining 
and deep ploughing'? The manure applied on 
such a soil becomes fixed and permanent, until 
consumed by successive crops. 

The land should be gradually broken deeper 
with the turning plough as its fertility in- 
creases. In stiff clay soils early fall or winter 
ploughing is advisable, in order to obtain the 
pulverizing influence of frosts and freezes. 
To expose the greatest amount of surface to 
the action of the air, the furrow slice should 
incline as near as practicable at an angle of 
45 degrees — and to procure this inclination the 
depth cut should be two-thirds of the width — 
or in the proportion of eight inches deep to 
twelve wide. — [Low's Practical Agriculture, 
p. 218.] If the furrow be too wide for its depth, 
it will lie too flat and overlap; and if too deep 
for its width, it will be too near vertical, and 
will fall back into the furrow. Absolute ac- 
curacy cannot be practically attained; but an 
experienced ploughman will soon learn to 
gauge his plough when the correct principles 
are understood. In ploughing matches, the 
"English are exact and positive in prescribing 
the depth of the ploughing and the width of 
the furrow-slice, even to half an inch, and in- 
sist upon a uniform width throughout the 
whole." — [Colman's European Agriculture, 
vol. 1, p. 457.] This is one of the great ope- 
rations of husbandry, upon which success 
mainly depends; and that practical accuracy 
which has been attained, should be held up 
as a standard for imitation. 

The careful preparation of land by plough- 
ing and harrowing is far more important in a 
sparse population, where labor is high, than a 
dense population, where it is cheap. With us 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



3G1 



labor is high, and agricultural products com- 
paratively cheap. The horse can be more 
cheaply fed, and may be more extensively 
and judiciously used, HencC all of those di- 
rections for thorough preparation of the land 
by the plough and harrow, so strongly pressed 
by intelligent farmers in dense populations 
apply with far greater force amongst us. And 
to the same extent in favor of using those ma- 
chines for labor-saving, which have rendered 
so conspicuous the inventive genius of our 
mechanics. 

In extensive regions of the State the soil 
has become so much exhausted by scourging 
cultivation, that improvement from the re- 
sources of the farm is slow and discouraging, 
even under the direction of experience and 
judgment. The disappointment of sanguine 
hopes often chills the enthusiasm of young 
men, and disgusts them with the efforts at im- 
provement. The foundation for more rapid 
improvement maybe judiciously laid in the use 
of guano and other special manures. They 
are powerful auxiliaries to the materials of the 
farm in its rapid improvement. Though not 
permanent improvers, of themselves, they fur- 
nish the materials in straw and clover for con- 
tinued improvement. When used for the pur- 
pose of improvement, very light grazing ought 
to follow until the land is so far supplied with 
organic matter as to bear the loss by grazing. 
The use of special manures is always more 
beneficial in connection with manures of the 
farm.— [Norton's Elements, 107. Transac- 
tions of the Highland Agricultural Society, 
1848-49; " Special Manures."] The effect of 
special manures is to cause a heavy produc- 
tion, without supplying all the ingredients 
which the crops need, and unless ameliorating 
crops occur, or vegetable litter be supplied, 
exhaustion of the land will follow their con- 
tinued use. Many special manures frequently 
yield as heavy and as profitable returns as 
guano: the nitrates of potash and soda— the 
compounds of ammonia — sulphate of soda — 
and those substances in combination with va- 
rious manures. A series of very carefully 
conducted experiments with a large number 
of special manures, embracing the guanos, 
will be found detailed in the Transactions of 
the Highland Agricultural Society, 1848-49. 
They recommend the use of all as top dress- 
ings to the grain crops about the middle of the 
spring. I bring them to the notice of the So- 
ciety as the farmers generally have been un- 
able to procure gtiano in time for use in sow- 
ing their wheat; and there is every reason to 
believe that a spring top dressing is as valua- 
ble an application as any other. 

In addition to the value of guano as an aux- 
iliary in the improvement of the land, it may be 
profitably used on all lands of moderate fer- 
tility. At least, such is the result of my ob- 
servation and experience. It hastens the ma- 
turity of the wheal and tobacco crop, and this 
may be regarded as one of its valuable quali- 
ties. When applied to tobacco, it produces a 



marked improvement on the wheat crop that 
follows — very little inferior to the direct ap- 
plication to the wheat. 

There are large areas of the State peculiarly 
adapted to the crop of tobacco — this has been 
generally regarded as an exhausting crop; and 
this may be the usual consequence, but is not 
the necessary effect. A crop of one thousand 
pounds of leaf tobacco, which may be re- 
garded as a fair crop from one acre, contains 
only a pound and a half of the phosphate of 
lime, seven of malate of lime, about two of 
the compounds of potash, and no magnesia. — 
[Boussingault, 166.] A wheat crop from an 
acre, contains in the grain alone, twelve pounds 
of phosphoric acid, one of lime, four of mag- 
nesia and seven of potash and soda. — [Bous- 
singault, 366.] The wheat crop exhausts far 
more for the soil than the tobacco crop, but of 
a different class of ingredients — and hence it 
succeeds so admirably in following tobacco. 

It is stated in Thaer's Principles of Agri- 
culture, as the result of general observation, 
that four loads of dung per acre will place the 
land in the same situation as before the crop. 
That, "the four loads of dung form the chief 
item of expenditure that must be laid to the 
tobacco crop; and for this reason the culture 
of tobacco is most practiced in those places 
where dung can be obtained at a low price." 
Even for this small amount of manure no mag- 
nesia, and only a small proportion of the phos- 
phates are consumed. This is the result of 
observation in those portions of Europe where 
tobacco is cultivated, and where manures are 
systematically collected and have an exact 
marketable value. It is obvious, then, that 
neither general observation nor analysis would 
indicate this as an exhausting crop; and where 
exhaustion follows its culture, it may be traced 
to neglect, or injudicious over-cropping by the 
planter. It is not a crop that is incompatible 
with rapid improvement nor profitable agricul- 
ture; and extensive districts of the State are 
better adapted to its cultivation than to any 
other crop — those formations which contain 
potash, but are deficient in lime, magnesia and 
the phosphates— and where the distance from 
the limestone formations render improvement 
by lime too expensive. Plaster produces a 
most striking effect upon the growth of the 
plant, though it contains no sulphate of lime, 
and a very inconsiderable amount of sulphate 
of potash. The benefits of the application are 
beyond doubt; the mode of its operation is 
uncertain. The production of tobacco may 
be greatly extended by the use of unrotted 
leaves, ashes and guano— without employing 
the manuring products of cultivated crops — 
and as it furnishes no materials for manure, it 
might properly be thrown upon other sources 
to supply its wants. 

No particular rotation of crops can be re- 
commended as suitable to a State so exten- 
sive, with soil and productions so diversified — 
the extended rotations of continental Europe 
being wholly unsuited to the sparsity of our 



362 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



population, and the distance from market. 
We are confined to fewer staple crops for mar- 
ket, and more frequent repetition of the clo- 
vers and grasses for improvers. The usual 
five field system, of one hoe crop, two wheat, 
and two clover crops, forms one of the best 
rotations, and is as scourging as can be judi- 
ciously practised on any, except soils of high 
fertility. This is objectionable in the too fre- 
quent repetition of wheat and clover. Jt has 
been observed in the best wheat countries that 
the growth of particular classes of weeds, and 
the multiplication of parasitic plants, as rust, 
mildew and smut are favored by too frequent 
alternations of the same, or nearly allied plants. 
This effect is said to be still more remarkable 
in the case of insects. Some are proper to 
peculiar species of plants, and when the crops 
are not varied, it is often found that a de- 
structive multiplication of these species takes 
place.— [Low's Practical Agriculture.] The 
southern border of our State is near the south- 
ern boundary of successful wheat culture, and 
may consequently be more liable to the disas- 
ters peculiar to the crop — to those insects and 
parasitic plants which prove so destructive. 
It is worthy of experiment whether the wheat 
crops should not succeed each other at longer 
intervals, by adopting a more extended rota- 
tion. Though we are too far south for the 
safest and most successful wheat culture, the 
wheat of a southern climate is more valuable. 
The wheat of northern latitudes contains from 
16 to 20 per cent, of water, whilst that of warm 
countries has only from 8 to 10 per cent. — 
[Boussingault, 173.] It is the small propor- 
tion of water which ensures its keeping well, 
and gives command of more extended and va- 
rious markets for shipment. 

The selecting of seed and frequent changes 
are of great benefit. New varieties of well 
selected seed brought from other sections of 
the State, or from other States, are almost in- 
variably more productive when first intro- 
duced. In a climate not very favorable to the 
full maturity and perfection of the wheat, fre- 
quent changes from a distance are advisable 
It has been observed that the minor varieties 
of any species of wheat are not permanent in 
their character, though under conditions, they 
will remain unchanged for an indefinite pe- 
riod. Under other circumstances, however, 
they degenerate, and hence particular kinds 
that were once valued, have now ceased to be 
so. — [Low's Practical Agriculture, 334] 

Many portions of the State are admirably 
adapted to grazing and feeding stock; and 
there is scarcely any portion of it in which a 
surplus cannot be profitably raised. Under the 
most unfavorable circumstances in the plant- 
ing region where tobacco is the chief staple, 
and requires so much time and attention, the 
surplus products of the farm mav be profitably 
fed. In respect to the raising of hogs, I have 
seen it fairly tested by a planter in my own 
section of the State. He raised over forty-five 
thousand pounds of pork, nett, for successive 



years, being more than one thousand pounds 
for each laborer, and without any diminution 
j of his crops. It is well known, that corn is 
I unrivalled in its quality for fattening, as com- 
| pared with the cultivated grains, containing 
by recent analysis near ten per cent, of fatty 
matter. [Norton's Elements, 131] lis pro- 
duction may be pushed to almost any extent 
by an improved agriculture and judicious feed- 
ing and grazing; and at the usual range of 
prices between corn and pork in the country, 
it is more profitable to feed than to sell— be- 
sides it furnishes large resources in feeding 
for the improvement of the land. It is a con- 
tinual reproach that hogs are driven from other 
| States and sold in this. No justification can 
; be plead on the score of economy or profit, in 
the sale of agricultural products to purchase 
j meat. Indeed there is something surpassingly 
[ ridiculous in the very suggestion that a strictly 
agricultural community should purchase its 
meat from another Stale. 

It is true, we do not possess the humid cli- 
mate of England and Scotland, nor have such 
frequent showers of rain, and cannot therefore 
graze so heavily nor support so large a num- 
ber of live stock: yet the cutting of two tons 
I of clover from an acre annually, is a good 
crop in any country. Whenever this can be 
done, the most improved breeds of stock may 
be introduced. One of the striking faults 
in our agriculture is the cultivation of too 
large a surface. A larger portion should be 
laid down to grass and devoted to grazing. It 
is difficult to break through fixed prejudices 
and habitudes of thought, to remove the con- 
viction that grazing impoverishes land. In all 
of the older cultivated countries it is one of 
the well established means of improvement. 
"Lands after cropping maybe laid down to 
grass and grazed with constantly increasing 
fertility, butif suffered to become full of weeds, 
the improvement is slow, if perceptible at all." 
[Low. Prac. Ag.] This is the leading distinc- 
tion between cultivated grasses and weeds, 
and should be remembered. Those plants 
which are nutritious to animals are fertilizing 
to lands; and in almost that exact relation; 
for they derive their nutritious principles and 
fertilizing powers from the proportion of nitro- 
gen they contain. Beginning with the strictest 
leguminous plants and clovers, and descending 
through the grasses to the weeds, the relation 
between the nutritive and fertilizing powers, 
is sufficiently well established for practical 
purposes. 

Whilst this State is eminently agricultural, 
we should not look upon Agriculture as sepa- 
rate and distinct from other great branches of 
industry. It is not upon that foundation alone 
that national prosperity is built; but jointly and 
inseparably upon its commerce and its manu- 
factures. These leading branches of industry 
constitute the triune embodiment of a State's 
prosperity, not separate and antagonistic, but 
one and indivisible. 
The progress of Agriculture in this State 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



363 



has been much, retarded by a want of free in- 
tercourse among her farmers, and the collec- 
tion of their united experience. Isolated as 
they have been, their experience and informa- 
tion depart with them. An Agricultural So- 
ciety consolidates this experience and trans- 
mits it to future generations with constantly 
increasing knowledge. Such are the vast ad- 
vantages arising from the collected informa- 
tion of scientific and professional men, that 
they have expanded from, counties to States, 
from States to nations, and from nations to 
continents. Europe and America consult to- 
gether over the winds and currents of the 
ocean, that commerce may more cheaply and 
expeditiously interchange the products of agri- 
culture and manufactures. And as a result 
of the exhibition of the industry of nations, 
American ingenuity in the construction of the 
reaper, bids fair to prove victorious over the 
cheap labor of Europe on their own harvest 
fields. 

Another cause for the slow progress of our 
Agriculture will be found in the fact, that Vir- 
ginia has contributed to the service of the Re- 
public, from the first struggles for indepen- 
dence, many of her most distinguished sons. 
They devoted their intellect, energy and pa- 
triotism to the service of our common country. 
^Nor can we repine at this when we behold the 
result of their labors; when we look over the 
vast extent of country contained within the 
limits of the confederacy — stretching from 
ocean to ocean — embracing an area unsur- 
passed in fertility, unrivalled in the value and 
variety of its productions — when we look to 
its agriculture, commerce and manufactures — 
its universities, colleges and common schools 
—its rail roads and canals, binding together 
distant portions of the confederacy, uniting 
them in interest, consolidating them in power 
— when we see its rapid strides to the highest 
position among the nations of the earth— with- 
in the lifetime of a single man — for the Repub- 
lic is not yet so old as many of its citizens — 
commanding respect, not by standing armies, 
nor by its navy; but by the successful devel- 
opment of its mighty resources, the inherent 
patriotism of its people, the great principle of 
popular freedom which it represents, and by 
Lhe historic lustre which surrounds the names 
of its early heroes and statesmen. In its early 
struggles, in its onward progress, on every 
page of its history, the names of Virginia's 
sons will be found — beginning with his, whom 
veneration and affection have united in call- 
ing the father of his country ! They devoted 
to the service of our common country that 
ardeDt patriotism, those mighty intellects and 
that enduring fortitude, which in the service 
of their own State might have raised her to 
the height of material and physical power. 
But who is there so sordid, that he would ex- 
change the glories of the past, for the material 
power of the present— who would barter the 
historic glory of her sons, for any amount of 
taxable property or any simple enumeration 



of inhabitants'? They achieved for themselves 
undying fame, that immortality which history 
can give — their works live after them— and 
the world gazes in amazement upon the fruits 
of their toil — in the onward march, the un- 
checked progress of the great Republic. Vir- 
ginia gave, not only her sons, but an empire 
to the common country— and out of that has 
been carved a State, that has already surpass- 
ed her in population and wealth. We may 
look back upon her noble deeds and her mu- 
nificence with a glow of pride and a holy 
desire to emulate; but let not her glory rest 
in the history of the past, nor her sons igno- 
bly repose upon the monuments of her former 
greatness. 

There is abundant reason to stimulate our 
utmost energies, to rouse our noblest feelings. 
Our own colleges are now flourishing, and our 
University is fulfilling the anticipations of its 
great projector in his last and noblest gift to 
the State. Extensive and thorough education 
will soon meet the demands for its exercise, 
and be brought to bear upon the great interests 
of the State. Providence has furnished a fer- 
tile soil, a genial climate, countless wealth in 
the undeveloped mineral resources of the grow- 
ing west, a noble bay, harbors and roads, na- 
vigable rivers and unsurpassed water powers. 
Look upon her varied agricultural resources, 
upon her lime, plaster, iron, coal — look upon 
the market gardens of the tide-water region, 
and stretch your eyes to the great water shed 
jof the trans-alleghany, until you reach the 
banks of the beautiful Ohio, the tributaries of 
lhe mighty Mississippi, and tell me in what 
department of industry, in what field of enter- 
prise you cannot engage? What fields for 
agriculture, what outlets for commerce, what 
materials and power for manufactures present 
themselves to our vision, invite our selection. 
Others have laid the foundations of her fame 
in heroic deeds and in devoted patriotism. 
Upon the present generation devolves the duty 
of advancing her prosperily and her power. 
Thatin thedevelopmentof hermaterial power, 
fanaticism shall find an impassable barrier, and 
our peculiar institutions shall find not only 
security, but a cessation from disturbance. 
That proprietory rights shall repose on physi- 
cal power, when the shield of the constitution 
fails to protect. That the State which held so 
conspicuous a station in the birth of constitu- 
tional, civil and religious liberty, shall possess 
the vital energy and physical power to give 
protection and perpetuity to those great prin- 
ciples—that her future position shall not be a 
reproach to her former achievements, and so, 
within the broad limits of her borders, the fact 
shall be illustrated that there is nothing incom- 
patible with her eminent success and durable 
prosperity. By all the memories of the past, 
and all the hopes of a glorious future, let us 
develop those resources that the physical and 
material greatness of the Old Dominion shall 
be commensurate with her ancient renown 
and her historic glory. 



364 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



For the Southern Planter. 
LIMING AND BRINING WHEAT. 

Mr. Editor, — In a late number of your valu- 
able paper I noticed a communication, relative 
to liming- and brining wheat in order to pre- 
vent smut, signed Thomas Meaux. I have 
been in the habit of using both lime and brine 
for the last twelve or fifteen years with per- 
fect success, not having suffered during that 
period from smut in the slightest degree. In 
the fall of ; 5l, I seeded several varieties of 
wheat, viz. half-bearded white, early purple 
straw, Zimmerman and Woodrin, not using 
either lime or brine with either variety — in the 
harvest of '52, the half-bearded white wheat 
was very materially injured by smut, amount- 
ing to at least one-fourth of the crop; the other 
varieties were entirely exempt. 

In the fall of '52, I soaked the whole of my 
seed wheat in a solution of blue stone, per- 
mitting the wheat to remain from eight to 
twelve hours in the blue stone, then rolling it 
in lime, in order to test perfectly the merits of 
the blue stone. I seeded a portion of the half- 
bearded white wheat that was much injured 
by smut, also, twenty bushels of Zimmerman 
wheat obtained from a neighbor that was af- 
fected by smut, and in the harvest of '53, though 
a portion of each variety suffered from joint 
worm, I am happy to inform you that no part 
of my crop was in the slightest degree affected 
by smut. In the solution, I ajlowed a pound 
of blue stone to five bushels of wheat. From 
the little experience I have, I am decidedly of 
the opinion, that the blue stone wash is a valu- 
able and effectual remedy against smut, as 
some of my neighbors, seeding the same vari- 
eties of wheat, neglecting to use the remedy, 
suffered a good deal from the disease of which 
my crop was exempt. The blue stone which 
I was then, and am now using, can be obtained 
at the drug stores of either Fredericksburg or 
Richmond for ten or twelve cents per pound; 
and I would strongly advise all farmers to test 
the matter for themselves, feeling confident 
they will be satisfied with the result. 

W. C. J. ROTHROCK. 

Rod: Spring, Spollsylvania, Va. 



From the New England Cultivator. 
GOOD MILCH COWS. 

A writer in the Middletown, Connecticut, 
Sentinel and Witness, urges upon the citi- 
zens and farmers of that vicinity, the ne- 
cessity of forming an association for the 
improvement of the breed of milch cows — 
a branch of improvement to which but lit- 
tle attention, has, as yet, been paid in this 
country. 

The great object of the principal breed- 



ers of cattle in England, has been to pro- 
duce animals of fine form and symmetry, 
which will mature early, and fatten at the 
least expense, with little or no regard to 
the milking properties of the females. 

From herds bred for this purpose, most 
of our expensive importations have been 
made. 

The results have proved in the highest 
degree, beneficial so far as the production 
of beef is concerned; and in greater or 
less degree in the milking properties of our 
native cattle. 

But we want a breed of uniform good 
milkers; and we know of no field, which 
affords a better prospect of a fair reward, 
than the breeding of such a race; any in- 
dividual or association which would under- 
take the work, would deserve the praise of 
the country. 
The writer above alluded to, says: 
"But we cannot ask any one to take 
shares in this, or any other project where 
money iswanted, without meeting the ques- 
tion, 'Will it pay?' The answer may be 
gathered from what follows: 
"A good cow, to be" worthy of the name, 
should yield, on an average, for the first 
100 days after calving, 7| quarts at a 
mess, or 15 quarts per day, amounting 
to - - - - 1500 

For the next 100 days, she should 

average 5 qts. at a mess, - 1000 

For the succeeding 100 days, she 
should average 4 qts. at a mess, S00 

Total number of qts. - 3300 

Giving her a respite of 65 days before 

calving. 3300 qts. of milk, at 3 cts. 

per quart, is very near 

" The cost of keeping may be reck- 
oned as follows: 

For pasturage, the season, - $12 
2 tons hay, 26 

S00 lbs. corn meal or its equivalent, 12—50 

Leaving a balance of - $50 

or one hundred per cent, on the cost of 
keeping, to pay for attention and expenses, 
without estimating the value of her calf, 
or the manure she may make. If the bu- 
siness be done on a liberal scale, we think 
there is a chance for some profit. A cow 
that will do this may be called good. 

" It is common for persons keeping cows 
to say, they will give ten to twelve quarts 
at a mess; but this is not always true — for 
not one in ten of the cows in Middlesex 
county, so far as the writer's knowledge 
extends, will average so much, for three 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



365 



successive months, with common feed. 
True, there are some instances of much 
greater yield, but the quality is not the 
best. 

[i A gentleman of undoubted veracity, 
living within a mile or two of the city, as- 
sured me, a few days since, that one of his 
cows gave fifty-six pounds, (I think it was) 
equal to twenty-seven or twenty-eight 
quarts daily. Her milk, however, was in- 
ferior to that from his other cows. 

' : Such cows are rare; but it is from the 
rarest and the best that a preserve — if I 
may use the word — of cows lor breeding 
and for the dairy should be selected." 
■ 



HOW TO USE ELDERBERRIES. 

The following recipes arrived last fall — too 
late in the season to be of service, as the fruit 
had disappeared from market. We, therefore, 
reserved the article, and doubt not it will now 
be acceptable to the readers. — Ohio Cultivator. 

Mrs. Bateham: — Having served an appren- 
ticeship of three years in the art of cooking, 
I suppose it will be conceded that I know 
something about it, and seeing Aunt Fanny's 
taste for elderberry pie called in question by 
one of your correspondents, I, therefore, take 
the liberty of sending you our method of using 
them. I know some who say they cannot eat 
them; the reason of this is, they do not know 
how to prepare them. When cooked by these 
recipes, they relish them very much. 

It is strange that when there is a scarcity of 
fruit, as there was last year, people will lament 
the lack of fruit, when behold the fence cor- 
ners are filled with these valuable bushes, bend- 
ing down and overloaded with ripe delicious 
fruit that all goes to waste. You need never 
to be at a loss for fruit to make pies, for it 
grows spontaneously. If I ever plant an or- 
chard I intend to plant a goodly number of 
elderbashes,forI think if they were cultivated 
they would be much larger. Now you that 
have enterprise, and are planting out fruit trees 
of all descriptions, just be wise and take a bit 
of advice from Cousin John, and while you 
are planting your orchard, set out a number 
of elder fruit trees. Remember other fruit is 
liable to fail, while this is a never-failing fruit. 

Elderberry Pie. — Prepare the crust as for 
apple pie — put the under crust on the platter 
and pour in the fruit till half an inch deep, 
then sprinkle two spoonfuls of flour and two 
of sugar over them, and pour on a tea-cupful 
of sour cream. Put on the upper crust and 
bake thoroughly, and you will have a most 
delicious pie; the best, according to my taste, 
that can be prepared, and so say nearly all 
•who taste them. A little nutmeg and loaf su- 
gar grated over the pie when first taken from 
the oven, improves it. 



Dried Elder Fruit. — This fruit is very 
easily dried by spreading in pans under the 
stove or in the oven, and will make as good 
pies as though fresh* if they are soaked a few 
minutes in hot water before using. Some of 
our neighbors dry them by the bushel, for 
winter use. 

Elderberry Dumplings. — Make the crust 
as usual and put in the berries as you would 
other fruit. Boil them fast till the crust is 
done, then take them up and eat with a dip of 
white sugar and sour cream, and you will 
confess they are delicious. 

Elderberry Jelly. — Take berries that are 
fully ripe and remove all unsound ones, pour 
a little water over them and press the juice 
out through a strong cloth. Put equal quan- 
tities of juice and molasses iDto the preserving 
kettle and boil to the consistency of very thick 
molasses, stirring in three or four drops of le- 
mon oil to the gallon. Put it up in stone or 
glass jars, and if to keep for the following 
summer, fit the covers air-tight by using blad- 
der, or white of egg on paper, or sealing them, 
and put them in a cool place, and they will 
keep good as long as you wish. 

Elderberry Preserves. — These can be 
made by the same recipes as other fruit, and 
are the most healthy of any preserves I know 
of. 

Elderberry Wine. — Press out the juice as 
you would for jelly, and let it stand till it fer- 
ments, then add a quart of sugar and a few 
drops of cinnamon oil to the gallon, and bottle 
it for use, and you will have an excellent qua- 
lity of wine. 

Elderberries for Medicine. — This fruit 
when cooked is an excellent diet in cases of 
the flux. A brother and sister of mine who 
were severely attacked with this disease last 
year, were entirely cured by this, without the 
aid of medicine. 
So much for elder fruit. 

Ml. Auburn, Shelby county, Indiana. 



COMPARATIVE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF 
AN ACRE OF CABBAGE WITH OTHER 
CROPS. 

The cabbage has lately been chemically 
examined, in consequence of the failure of 
the potato with a view to its substitution 
for that root. It is found to be richer in 
muscle forming than any other crop ice 
grow. It contains more fibrin or gluten, 
of which substance the muscles are made, 
and hence is richer in the material essen- 
tial to the health, growth and strength of 
an animal; wheat contains about 12 per 
cent, of it; beans 25 per cent.; but dried 
cabbage contains from 20 to 40 per cent, 
of this all-important material, of which the 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



principal mass of the animal structure is 
built. 

An acre of good land will produce 40 
tons of cabbage; one acre of 20 tons of 
drum-head cabbage will yield 1500 lbs. of 
gluten; one acre of Swedes turnips will 
produce about 30 tons, which will yield 
1000 lbs. of gluten; one acre of 25 bushels 
of beans, will yield 400 lbs. of gluten; one 
acre of 25 bushels of wheat will yield 200 
pounds of gluten; one acre of 12 tons of 
potatoes, will yield 550 pounds of gluten. 
Such is the variation in our general crops, 
as to the amount of this gluten, this special 
kind of nourishment, this muscle-sustaining 
principle, which accounts for the preference 
given by experienced farmers to the cab- 
bage as food for stock and milch cows, al- 
though the crop impoverishes the land, 
which requires much manure to restore it 
to former fertility. — Mark Lane Express. 




THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



RICHMOND, DECEMBER, 1853. 



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THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

Pressing official engagements prevented our 
noticing the State Fair in our last issue, which 
ought, by rights, to have been out on the day 
the Fair commenced; and now, when a month 
has elapsed, it may seem too late to do it. 
For many things it may be, but these have 
had their day, and no doubt full justice in the 
papers, both of the city and country. We 
shall speak of it, therefore, more generally. 

The Fair was an era in the history of Vir- 
ginia agriculture, and, when it is remembered 
that the Executive Committee had, as a whole, 
not the slightest experience in such matters, 
and that only two of them had ever officiated 
at even so small an affair as a county exhibi- 
tion, its success may be considered wonderful. 
That there were defects, both of arrangement 
and execution, amounting in some instances 
to apparent neglect, there can be no doubt. 
But they should be ascribed rather to the no- 
velty of the whole thing than to the negli- 
gence of officers or agents, or the carelessness 
of committees. All did their whole duty, as 
far as they understood it, and, without fee or 
reward, strove for the success of the Fair. 
For instance, it will hardly be credited at the 
North that some sixteen marshals, gentlemen 
of standing, selected from various parts of the 
State, devoted their whole time, some of them 
both night and day, for four days, to the ar- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



367 



rangement of animals and articles, the pre- 
servation of order and the protection of the 
property on the ground, without charge. Yet 
such is the fact, and still more creditable if it 
is considered that some of ihem, as Colonel 
Haskins of Richmond, and others, had not 
even the honor of beiDg seen by the crowd, 
but worked silently and unknown. 

It will be observed, in another place, that 
Richmond contributed not less than ten thou- 
sand dollars towards this Fair, in grounds, 
buildings and police expenses; and we are 
happy to know that, in a mere business point 
of view, she lost nothing by it. But, in fact, 
her object was higher than to fill her coffers 
by the pageant. Her enlightened Council 
sought to break down that barrier which has 
heretofore separated, her from the country, and 
to give as well as receive the benefits of closer 
intimacy. This object she has gained; but 
she has done more. She has demonstrated 
that no man need go north of Virginia for any 
thing he may want, whether it be an article 
of merchandise or manufacture, and that we 
may at once begin to assert our independence 
without the least danger of inconvenience or 
fear of loss. Nor, in the pursuit of this object 
has she begrudged a fair rivalry. Soaring 
above the narrow views of monopoly, she 
united with the Society in inviting competition 
in all things from all quarters, and whilst her 
money was expended as freely for her rivals 
as for herself, her hospitality, both public and 
private, was not stinted to the strangers that 
overflowed her hotels and thronged her streets. 
The result was what might have been expect- 
ed, though few did expect it, and Richmond, 
casting her bread upon the waters, in the true 
spirit of wise munificence, has the honor of 
having enabled the State Agricultural Society 
to begin a revolution in the public mind of 
Virginia. Confidence in her resources, in 
whatever department of art or industry, now 
animates all breasts, and buoyant hope has 
taken the place of flat despair. All honor, 
then, to Richmond. 

But other interests had also to be consulted. 
Strenuous efforts, ceaselessly made, had failed J 
to add members to the Society, and without 
thern nothing could be done. The public spirit 
of J. Ravenscroft Jones had, it is true, given 
a brief impulse to the movement, but the mass | 



to be aroused was too large, and the body of 
the farmers had not shaken off their lethargy. 
In this crisis the rail roads of the State, with 
one exception, came to the aid of the Society 
with a liberality which, as our friends of the 
Dispatch said, proved that corporations had 
souls — with a liberality which was neither 
asked nor expected — and offered to bring peo- 
ple to Richmond for nothing if they would 
only consent to give two dollars to the Society. 
It were unjust and uncandid to deny that to 
this, much more than to enthusiasm in the 
cause, was due the vast concourse which filled 
our show grounds. Thousands embraced the 
offer, and for several days the cars were 
crowded almost to suffocation. Ouce assem- 
bled, and in sight of so much to look at — so 
much to astonish them — so much to rejoice 
at and be proud of, it is no wonder that the 
feelings, both of the farmer and the townsman, 
at once mounted to the pitch of excitement 
and enthusiasm. 

The Executive Committee, looking upon 
exhibitions as only part of the benefits that 
the Society was capable of rendering, had in 
their report recommended, in addition to their 
present executive machinery, the creation of 
two offices, one that of Secretary, charged 
with organizing the Society and executing its 
functions under their direction; the other, a 
scientific department, which should embrace 
within its sphere of action an investigation of 
the laws of chemistry and geology in their 
bearing upon agricultural pursuits, and, as far 
as practicable, an application of tbem to those 
pursuits. But the means were wanting. The 
Legislature had turned a deaf, or, at best, a 
heedless, ear to suggestions made to them as 
to the proper endowment of the Society, and 
it was poor in all but zeal. But, taking ad- 
vantage of the feeling that prevailed, an ap- 
peal was now made to the Society to give the 
funds, either by personal subscription to any 
amount the respective donors might see fit to 
bestow, or by a pledge of their counties or 
towns for such sums as they thought they 
ought, or could be made, to raise. The appeal 
was not made in vain — merchant vied with 
farmer — town with country, until, in two 
nights, responsible men had paid or pledged 
the sum of forty-five thousand dollars. This 
was a creditable performance to whatever 



368 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



cause it may be attributed. For it may well I Tide Water and Southern Piedmont. To the 



be pardoned, even if patriotism and public 
spirit had nothing to do with it, and no higher 
motive than ostentation be assigned to this 
very remarkable largess, that one man was 
unwilling to yield publicly to another in so 
useful a sacrifice, or that one county was not 
permitted to appear backward and niggardly 
in the presence of her profuse sisters. 

Except in a few special cases, the money 
will all be paid in six months. In fact, it was 
raised in many counties at their succeeding 
courts, as in Albemarle, Caroline and Notto- 
way, and perhaps others — and the Virginia 
State Agricultural Society now stands upon 
its legs. 

As a first step they have selected a Secre- 
tary, and they are now preparing to take the 
second. Let us hope that both may prosper 
and lead the way to extended usefulness, and 
let us bespeak for the Executive Committee, 
in their new and arduous duties, the aid and 
the indulgence which a liberal public should 
ever extend to disinterested effort. 

On the specialties of the Exhibition we 
have neither room nor inclination to dilate. 
Comparisons are odious, and to single out par- 
ticular subjects of praise when all deserve 
commendation, might offend more than it 
would please. In point of horses the Fair 
was excellent, except that, in our judgment, 
there was not a first rate saddle horse, either 
gelding or stallion, on the ground — or rather, 
we should say, if there was, we did not see 
him. In point of sheep, of all breeds, and 
especially of South Downs, the exhibition 
was equally good. In the matter of hogs it 
was also good. In cattle, though there were 
some few splendid specimens, the exhibition, 
though vastly superior to what we expected, 
was, on the whole, inferior. This was attri- 
butable partly to the desire of many to fill up, 
as any thing was thought better than a tenant- 
less stall, but more to the fact, that the great 
cattle regions of the State, the South-west and 
the North-west, the Valley and the great coun- 
ties of Fauquier and Loudoun, are not yet ac- 
cessible by rail road, and their premium ani- 
mals were not present. Another year, and all 
these places will have echoed to the whistle 
of the locomotive, and then we shall have an 
.array from them that will open the eyes of 



gentlemen from other States, who, like Mr. 
Ramsay M'Henry of Maryland, sent their 
animals to help us out, we cannot sufficiently 
express our thanks. Of the implements and 
the ornaments, the fruits, the flowers, the nee- 
dle-work and the numerous miscellanies that 
graced the exhibition, we cannot speak at 
length, and, therefore, say nothing more than 
that each and all of them surpassed all ex- 
pectation. 

But what, beyond all these, most delighted 
us was the appearance of the people, both 
men and women. It has always been a pecu- 
liarity of the more settled parts of the South, 
that they "put not their faith in" raiment. 
With a frankness and simplicity of manners 
springing from that self-respect which pro- 
ceeds from the inner man, they array the outer 
in garbs which sometimes touch the verge of 
negligence. They feel too well assured of 
their proper standing to attempt to secure it 
by dress, or to maintain it by haughtiness or 
reserve. These traits were preeminent on this 
occasion. Decently appareled, dignified in 
their bearing, bland and kind and cordial Old 
Virginia was indelibly stamped on eveiy manly 
brow, whilst woman's presence lent its-attrac- 
tions to the scene, and her tenderer graces 
welled out from her open heart in smiles and 
beaming looks of joy. 

It was, perhaps, in allusion to this, as much 
as to the general excellence of the display, 
that Mr. Rives said, that in all he had seen— 
and he had seen much, both at home and 
abroad— he had never beheld such a spectacle 
as Richmond presented on the first of Novem- 
ber. We hope he may be spared to witness 
many like it; and that many more than we 
had this year will annually come to swell the 
throng, to invigorate their energies and renew 
their devotion to Virginia, amid so much that 
is calculated to stir their strongest emotions. 
It is related of the late Benj. Watkins Leigh, 
who hugged his country even closer than his 
prejudices, that on one occasion, when some 
one was dilating on the superiority of another 
State, he interrupted the collocutor with the 
curt remark, that if any gentleman knew of 
a State better than Virginia he would thank 
him to keep the information to himself, as he, 
at least, had no disposition to acquire it. The 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



369 



deling which prompted the remark was nar- 
row, perhaps, but intense, exclusive but ar- 
dent, and reminds one of the patriotism of 
"stout old Samuel Johnson," who had never 
crossed the British channel. Shall we hesitate 
to admit that we always sympathized in the 
feeling, and that it has deepened since the late 
Exhibition. 

As equally characteristic of the people we 
must not fail to remind our readers that order 
presided over the whole proceedings. Not a 
jar disturbed the general harmony — not one 
shout of revelry or word of quarrel— all was 
sobriety and harmony, quiet, comity and good 
humor: the very pick-pockets behaved like 
gentlemen. 

One thing that occurred attracted but little 
attention, and will not attract much here at 
home; yet if known abroad it will appear 
very remarkable: the first premium for good 
ploughing was awarded to a negro over several 
white competitors. "Mann Randolph, a slave, 
the property of Richard Sampson," as the 
award styled him, made the best furrow — 
driving four mules without lines, and made 
forty dollars for himself and not for his mas- 
ter by this meritorious feat. How many white 
men at the North would have permitted him 
to enter the lists at all ! and how many judges, 
if he had, would have done him justice ! How 
many negroes are there at the North who have 
attained to the rank and dignity of plough- 
men! What an answer does this simple fact 
furnish to those who libel us! How illustra- 
tive of the kindness which the master feels for 
the slave, and of the negro's confidence in the 
white man's justice! 

But we close this hurried and imperfect 
sketch with a word of encouragement and ad- 
vice to the farmers of the country. From 
them have sprung the great men of Virginia. 
They have sired Presidents, and brought up 
the Pendletons, the Wythes, the Marshalls 
and the Roanes. They have ruled the politi- 
cal destinies of this great Republic. How 
happens it that they have done so little for the 
land"? 

Shall we offend if we tell them that it is 
owing to want of energy, of enterprise and of 
intellect aimed in that particular direction 1 ? 
The time has been when, in many parts of 
Virginia, it was almost useless to work land, 



for it did not pay. Then indifference might 
have been excused by those who reflected that 
there was nothing so deadening as despair. 
But that time is past. Lime, and marl, and 
gnano, rail roads, and plank roads and canals, 
better implements, better processes and better 
knowledge have paved the way to wealth, and 
our State should teem with the varied products 
of the soil. It is the object and the purpose 
of the Agricultural Society to make it do so. 
Who doubts the ability if there be the will 
and the energy? or who will believe that the 
man who has sense to get to Congress by dili- 
gent perusal of a single newspaper can fail to 
become a respectable farmer? or that the man 
who prizes the reputation of a hustings politi- 
cian is dead to the better fame of an intelligent 
tiller of the soil? 

We seek to advance the agriculture of Vir- 
ginia, and seize the moment of upward ten- 
dency for the work. Farmers, will you second 
it with the active energies of mind and body, 
that you may again exult in the fame and 
power of Virginia, assured that 

"The poor rude world 
Hath not her fellow." 



PREMIUMS FOR THE PLANTER. 

It is the habit with a good many of the edi- 
tors of agricultural journals to offer premiums 
for the largest number of subscribers sent in 
by a given time. It is a very good custom 
and we propose to improve upon it. 

North of us, and to the South, for what we 
know, every paper is discontinued at the end 
of the year, unless the subscriber pays for it 
in advance. This custom will not answer in 
Virginia. Mr Botts tried it and it failed. It 
gave dissatisfaction and diminished the sub- 
scription list. In fact, to tell the truth, it was 
a good excuse with many to discontinue the 
paper. 

Now to get our money, and at the same 
time to extend the circulation of the Planter, 
we propose to offer premiums to those persons 
who shall send us the largest number of sub- 
scribers by a given time, each collection to 
count as a new subscription— for instance, if 
a gentleman obtains twenty-five new names 
and collects five dollars from one man, two 
dollars from another, and one dollar from a 



370 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



third, then he will be credited as if he had 
obtained thirty-three subscribers. His account 
will stand 25+54-2-4-1=33. 

The subjects of these premiums are stock 
of improved breed. We have purchased of 
Gen. Bernard Peyton of Albemarle, the very 
superior thorough bred Devon calf that was 
seen and admired by so many at the late Fair. 
We gave fifty dollars for him. We have also 
obtained from Mr. Colston of Albemarle, a 
buck of the South Down stock, seven-eighths 
pure imported South Down, one-eighth Bake- 
well, and we gave twenty -five dollars for him. 
We have also obtained of Mr. Lewis D. Cren- 
shaw of Richmond, a pig by his uncommonly 
fine Delaware hog, that took forty dollars in 
premiums at the Fair, (he being estimated to 
be the best boar of his own class and of any 
other breed,) out of a very superior Chester 
sow; and from Dr. John R. Woods of Albe- 
marle, a sow pig out of his sow that also took 
the first premium in her class. This will 
make a pair of pigs that can be bred together 
without any fear of injuring the progeny. 
They will be worth, about twelve dollars and 
fifty cents. 

We consider the Devon the best breed in 
the world for the yoke, and equal to any for 
butter. We think them also the best cattle 
for ninety-nine hundredths of cismontane Vir- 
ginia. We think the best mutton breed of 
sheep in the world is the South Down, or a 
large infusion of that blood, and we deem that 
sheep also particularly suited to the same re- 
gion. It is, in fact, the Devon among sheep. | 
It is true, we think the Merino (or Saxon, ; 
which is only a variety of Merino,) a better 
sheep for the average Virginia farmers, for | 
several reasons— but they are small, and sell 
cheap, and we do not propose a ram of that ! 
blood, though we are willing to put a ram and 
ewe of that flock in place of the South Down, 
and will select them from a flock of our own 
of pure blood. The hogs will do for any 
country. 

Now it will strike every one that these ani- 
mals will be cheap enough to any one, who will 
take the trouble to get subscribers and make 
collections for the Planter, at twice the value 
of such. And we propose to rate them in that 
way. We, therefore, now give notice — 

1st. That to any individual who shall send 



us the largest number of subscribers— not less 
than 100— the cash paid at the time the sub- 
scription list is sent — each collection of one 
dollar to count as a subscription, pro tanto — 
the fine Devon bull calf, Farmington, men- 
tioned above. 

2d. To any individual who shall send us 
the next largest number — not less than 50 — 
with like condition as above, the South Down 
ram, or a ram and ewe of the Saxon and Me- 
rino breed, as may be preferred. 

3d. To the one who shall send us the next 
largest number — not less than 25 — with like 
condition as above, the pair of pigs. 

The premiums to be awarded in the April 
issue of the Planter, and the animals to be 
delivered at the drawer's risk and charges at 
the Shadwell Depot, in Albemarle, as to all 
stock but the boar pig, which will be sent on 
the same terms from Richmond. 

This is an experiment which costs us $87 50. 
If it succeeds we shall hope to be able to offer 
still more numerous and equally appropriate 
inducements every year hereafter. 

Persons meaning to compete for these pre- 
miums can get a list of the indebted subscribers 
for any county or section they may wish, on 
application, by letter, to P. D. Bernard, Rich- 
mond. 



SECRETARY TO THE STATE AGRCTJL- 
TURAL SOCIETY. 

It is a little singular that when this Society 
wanted friends among the newspapers of the 
city of Richmond, it was very difficult to get 
them, and that now, when it is not in such 
straits, some of them volunteer their good of- 
fices, their advice and their censure, and have 
come to lake a very lively interest in matters 
which but a short time since attracted none of 
their regard. For instance, certain papers- 
some of whom have since made the amende 
honorable— assailed the appointment of Se- 
cretary by the Executive Committee as a 
slight upon one gentleman and an act of fa- 
voritism to another. It is not necessary to 
say that these gentlemen did not know what 
they were talking about. But it is due to both 
sides to say that the office was altogether un- 
solicited, and was accepted with much hesita- 
tion by the appointee with the distinct mutual 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



371 



understanding that either party might instantly 
dissolve the connection. 

The Richmond Whig made two mistakes 
in asserting that the present holder could not 
keep an office in Richmond, and that it was a 
sinecure in his hands. As to the last, though 
perhaps there is no better judge of a sinecure 
than the friend who made the charge, yet we 
must demur to his decision. Taking his pay 
for Ms services as the standard, we should be 
very happy for that gentleman himself to as- 
sess our rate of compensation; and taking 
into account his bill, already presented, we 
will wager that he himself has up to this time 
made more clear money out of the Society 
than we have. As to the first, it is proper to 
say that there will be an office, so soon as the 
Society obtains rooms for the purpose, always 
open to the public, either by the Secretary or 
his clerk. Whether the services to be ren- 
dered shall be worth $1500 is for others to say, 
but it is not very kind, though doubtless well 
meant, either to the Secretary or the Society, 
for a gentleman, who cannot know their na- 
ture or their value, to depreciate them in ad- 
vance. When they are not performed satis- 
factorily to either, the incumbent will resign 
the trust. Meanwhile let us say to the sub- 
scribers to the Southern Planter that he con- 
ceives the office, if it suits him to retain it, 
will strengthen his editorial hand. When it 
ceases to do that we shall prefer the Planter. 
So much in justice to all parties. 



THE MAINE LIQ.UOR LAW. 

One of our subscribers sends an answer to 
the late communication 'of Mr. Hargave, in 
which he introduced the Maine Liquor Law. 
We inserted that part of Mr. Hargrave's arti- 
cle with great reluctance, because we appre- 
hended a reply which would open the whole 
subject, and make the Planter the medium of 
argument, and, possibly, of vituperation, upon 
a matter with which, as an agricultural paper, 
it can have nothing to do. We hope, there- 
fore, that the friend who sends us the reply in 
question, if we state the fact, that he and many 
others are at all times ready to meet any oppo- 
nent upon any theatre, will excuse us from 
opening our columns to the crowds that would 
fill them so long as the subject is agitated. 



We can assure both sides that whilst the views 
of the Editor of this paper are unalterably 
fixed upon the temperance question, he would 
be the very last man, he hopes, to permit the 
paper itself to do injustice to the views, mo- 
tives, or policy of either party. 



PENNY POST. 



We have received a brief Prospectus of the 
Penny Post, a new daily and weekly paper, 
neutral in politics, to be published in Rich- 
mond by Hugh R. Pleasants, V. E. Shepherd 
and James Pleasants. Of course it will be 
a good paper — and we wish it all possible 
success. 



We are very happy to learn that at Amelia 
Court House, on Thursday, the 24th day of 
November, "between the hours of 11, A. M. 
and 4, P. M." sixty-five men came forward and 
subscribed thirteen hundred dollars in life 
memberships. We thought Albemarle had 
done well to raise her thousand dollars in one 
day; but when we consider that Amelia has 
only half a delegate to our two, which makes 
her only one-fourth our representative size, 
why, "the Court give up" — Albemarle must 
hide her diminished head. 



VIRGINIA STATE AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

Proceedings of the Executive Committee. 

At a meeting of the Executive Commit- 
tee of the Virginia State Agricultural So- 
ciety, at the Exchange Hotel, on Saturday 
evening the 29th Octoher, 1853: Present, 
Philip St. Geo. Cocke, President, Harvie, 
Booth, Irby, Overton and Williams: 

The Recording Secretary presented a 
letter from Thomas T. Giles, Esq., Secre- 
tary, communicating the following resolu- 
tions of the Committee on City Grounds: 

Richmond, Oct. 29, 1853. 
Whereas, in compliance with the instruc- 
tions of the Council of the City of Rich- 
mond, the Committee on City Grounds 
have caused the square near the western 
limits of the city to be enclosed and fitted 
up according to the plan approved by the 
said Council, for the accommodation of the 



372 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



State Agricultural Society at its ensuing 
Fair: therefore, 

Resolved, That the said grounds be now 
surrendered to the Executive Committee 
of the State Agricultural Society, to be 
held and used by them for the purposes of 
the said Fair, and as long as the said So- 
ciety may desire to retain them for that 
purpose; and that the Superintendent of 
City Grounds deliver the keys of the said 
square to the Chief Marshal or other pro- 
per officer of the Agricultural Society. 

Resolved, That the Superintendent of 
City Grounds report himself with ten of 
the hands in his employment to the Chief 
Marshal of the State Agricultural Society, 
and that under the direction of the said 
Marshal he cause such repairs and other 
work to be done on the grounds as may be 
necessary during the continuance of the 
Fair. 

LCopy: TesteJ Tho. T. Giles, 

Sec'y Com. City Grounds. 
Resolved, That the Executive Commit- 
tee now proceed to supply vacancies in 
the committees appointed to award pre- 
miums at the Exhibition to commence on 
the first proximo, and that in case of the 
absence of any member on the day of their 
meeting, each of the committeesof award is 
authorized to fill vacancies in its own body. 
If there be a full committee of those ori- 
ginally appointed present, then the new 
appointments to be null and void. 

The Committee then examined the lists 
of judges with the view to supply vacan- 
cies known to exist, and added the follow- 
ing new appointments on the several fol- 
lowing committees, viz: 

ON EXPERIMENTS. 

B. Johnson Barbour of Orange. 
Branch 2d — On Essays or Written Com- 
munications — David Chalmers of Halifax. 

CATTLE. 

Short Horns, ^c— Gen. R. T. Preston. 

Devons and Alderneys — Ro. J. Dunn of 
Chesterfield. 

Natives and Grades — E. J. Amiss of 
Montgomery. 

Working Oxen — Jas. R. Kent of Mont- 
gomery. 

Fat Cattle— J. T. Sawyer of Wythe. 

SHEEP. 

Fine and Middle Wools — C. L. Crockett 
of Wythe, William Old of Powhatan, R. 
E. Scott of Fauquier, Mr. Patterson of 
Bedford. 

Long Wools — Wm. Old of Powhatan, 
Rev. J. S. Armistead of Cumberland. 



Natives, tf-c. — Nathaniel Alexander of 
Mecklenburg, Wm. Meredith of Brunswick. 

Imported — A. B. Nichols of Bedford, J. 
S. Hardaway of Amelia. 

PREMIUM ANIMALS. 

Travis H. Eppes of Nottoway, John F. 
Wiley of Amelia. 

POULTRY. 

J. Maury Garland of Richmond, W. M. 
Bagley of Lunenburg. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

1st Class — Dr. Thomas R. Blandy of 
Nottoway, William Gilmer of Albemarle. 

4th Class— Thos. L. Preston of Wash- 
ington, Jas. Harding of Richmond, Wm. 
D. Simms of Henrico, Wm. E. Meadeiof 
Amelia. 

5th Class — A. Stevenson of Albemarle. 

AGRICULTURAL STEAM ENGINE. 

John A. Jeter of Richmond, Uriah Wells 
of Petersburg, Wm. J. Watkins of Char- 
lotte. 

MOST EXTENSIVE COLLECTION, &C. 

Corbin Warwick of Richmond. 

PLOUGHING AND PLOUGHING MATCH. 

R. W. N. Noland. 

FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES. 

Nathan Ward of Nottoway, Dr. Hen- 
derson of Cumberland, Jesse L. Maury of 
Albemarle, William Sayre of Norfolk. 

VEGETABLES. 

Th. W. Sydnor of Nottoway, Thomas 
S. Pleasants of Petersburg, Wifliam H. 
Betts of Henrico, Algernon S. Slorrs of 
Henrico, Nathaniel Matthews of Henrico. 

HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES. 

Sam'l C. Anderson of Prince Edward. 

FAMILY FLOUR. 

B. W. Finney of Powhatan, Hugh Nel- 
son of Petersburg, B. F. Hannan of Pe- 
tersburg. 

MANUFACTURED TOBACCO. 

Thomas F. Eppes of Nottoway. 

DISCRETIONARY PREMIUMS. 

W. C. Rives of Albemarle, E. G. Leigh 
of Amelia, Dr. A. A. Campbell of Notto- 
way, John A. Scott of Prince Edward, 
James Bosher of Richmond, Richard E. 
G. Adams of Lunenburg. 

The President presented and read the 
annual report of the proceedings of the Ex- 
ecutive Committee, which was approved, 
adopted and ordered to be presented to the 
Society. 

Resolved, That the badges designed to 
designate the members of the Society be 
distributed gratuitously. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



373 



Monday, October 31, 1853. 

The Executive Committee met, pursu- 
ant to adjournment. Present, P. St. Geo. 
Cocke, President; E. Ruffin, Sr., Harvie, 
Booth, Irby, Overton, Boulware, Newton, 
Peyton and Williams. 

The President reported to this meeting 
the following minute of the proceedings 
of a portion of the Executive Committee, 
held this morning: 

Resolved, That Madam Sontag having 
in very handsome terms, and in the most 
liberal spirit, presented to the Virginia 
State Agricultural Society the sum of one 
hundred dollars, to be awarded as a pre- 
mium to the successful competitor at the 
Ploughing Match — the Committee accept 
the offer; and invite Madam Sontag to at- 
tend the Ploughing Match on Thursday 
next, on the Society's grounds. 

Resolved, That the order of proceedings 
heretofore published be amended in the 
following particulars, viz: 

1. That Dr. Maupin be requested to ad- 
dress the Society to-morrow night, (Tues- 
day.) on the relations of Physical Science 
to Agriculture. 

2. That B. Johnson Barbour, Esq. be 
requested to address the Society on the 
show grounds on Wednesday at 1 1 o'clock, 
and that the ploughing match and trial of 
ploughs be postponed until half past 12 
o'clock on that day. 

3. That Gen. Wm. H. Richardson be a 
committee to arrange with Mr. Brown the 
time and place for the delivery of a lecture 
on the subject of Wool-growing, and pro- 
vide suitable accommodations for the ex- 
hibition of hie specimens and illustrations. 

4. That John Tyler, Esq., Ex-President 
of the United States, be requested to deli- 
ver a valedictory address on Friday, near 
the close of the Society's proceedings, on 
the show grounds. 

5. That the Society will transact neces- 
sary business every night before entering 
upon the conversational discussions pro- 
vided for in the order of proceedings here- 
tofore published. 

Resolved, That the Committee on the 
Ploughing Match be instructed to distri- 
bute in premiums for the best ploughing, 
the generous donation of one hundred dol- 
lars, made for that purpose by Madam 
Sontag. 

Wednesday, Nov. 3d, 1853. 
At a meeting of the Executive Commit- 
tee, held this morning, the following com- 



munication from the Common Council of 
the city of Petersburg was read: 

Common Council of the City of} 
Petersburg, Nov. 1, 1853. 
Mr. Geo. W. Boiling offered the follow- 
ing resolutions, which were unanimously 
adopted: 

1. Resolved, That this Council hereby 
tender to the Virginia State Agricultural 
Society the use of the Poplar Lawn in this 
City for their next annual meeting. 

2. Resolved, That the Council will make 
a suitable appropriation for the accommo- 
dation of the Fair at Poplar Lawn — a 
place well adapted for such an exhibition 
as to space, location, and an ample supply 
of the best water. 

3. Resolved, That the Mayor communi- 
cate the foregoing resolutions to the Exe- 
cutive Committee of the Agricultural So- 
ciety. 

Whereupon the Committee adopted the 
following resolution: 

Resolved, That the President inform the 
Common Council of the City of Peters- 
burg, that the period has not yet arrived 
for determining the time or place of the 
next annual meeting of the Society, and 
that they are duly sensible of their obliga- 
tions to the Common Council, for their po- 
lite offer of suitable ground for the next 
exhibition, and at the proper time will give 
it due consideration. 

And then the Committee adjourned. 
Chas. B. Williams, Rec. Sechj. 

ANNUAL MEETING OP THE VIRGINIA 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

The Virginia State Agricultural Society 
held its second annual meeting in Metropoli- 
tan Hall in the city of Richmond on Monday 
evening, the 3lst of October, 1853. 

The President, Philip St. Geo. Cocke, Esq., 
after a few prefatory remarks, read the annual 
report of the labors of the Executive Com- 
mittee since the last meeting of the Society, 
which is as follows: 

The Executive Committee of the Vir- 
ginia State Agricultural Society submit 
the following report: 

At the last annual meetiDg of the So- 
ciety it was officially reported that the 
whole number of members then constitut- 
ing the Society was 339, and that the funds 
in the hands of the Treasurer amounted to 
$268. 

In this feeble condition of the Society 
your Committee entered upon their duties. 

Without numbers and without means 



374 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



the Society could scarcely be said to have 
more than a nominal existence. It, there- 
fore, became the obvious and imperative 
duty of your Committee in the first place, 
to exert their best efforts to augment those 
main elements of the Society's existence 
and future usefulness. 

As a first step, your Committee resolved 
at their first monthly meeting, to call a 
meeting of the Society to be held in the 
city of Richmond on the 10th of March, 
and in order to secure the attendance of 
as large a number of persons as possible, I 
a circular letter was prepared and widely j 
distributed through the State, earnestly 
appealing to the farmers and planters to 
unite with the Society, to attend the pro- J 
posed meeting, and to exert themselves in 
interesting others in the cause of agricul- 1 
tural association and improvement. 

The meeting took place according to j 
appointment, and, although not very nu- 
merously attended, was animated by a zeal J 
and enthusiasm that had never before been 
equalled on similar occasions. The utmost 
harmony prevailed, and the most effective 
measures were unanimously adopted, to 
advance the great objects of the Society. 

The proceedings of that meeting being 
a matter of record, we shall not here recite 
them, but only state, what no where else 
appears in your published proceedings, 
viz. that about $1800 was subscribed, paid 
or pledged, to the Society at that meeting, 
and, what was far better than all else, a 
spirit evinced that strongly indicated the 
most favorable state of the public mind, 
and which encouraged your Committee to 
believe that could they bring their efforts 
to bear steadily upon the public mind, the 
cause of the Society would thenceforth 
steadily and rapidly gain on the public 
favor and support. 

But the meeting being over, it was quite 
manifest, notwithstanding the enthusiasm 
of the moment, that all would again re- 
lapse into apathy and inaction, and an- 
other year revolve and still leave the So- 
ciety without numbers and without means, 
unless measures could be promptly adopted 
to keep the public mind directed to the 
subject, and which, at the same time, would 
be effective in enlisting members, and add- 
ing to the pecuniary resources of the So- 
ciety; in other words, to follow up the pre- 
sent success. 

Time and again had experiments been 
made in Virginia to establish associated 
effort in behalf of agricultural improve- 
ment, and the uniform course had been to 



hold meetings or conventions — to adopt 
resolutions — make and publish speeches — 
circulate addresses — adjourn, and leave 
the cause to go on of itself, as if its ulti- 
mate progress were inevitable, and in pro- 
portion to the impetus imparted by a single 
effort. But as there is no such thing as 
perpetual motion in physics, so there is an 
analogous friction in all matters of asso- 
ciation — affairs will not proceed of them- 
selves, however well devised and success- 
fully initiated, any more than a ball will 
continue its motion from a single impact. 
To carry on the analogy it may be said 
that the Society had set its ball in motion, 
and the question for your Committee to 
solve was, how to keep up, and even to in- 
crease that motion'? 

Effort! effort! perpetually made and ju- 
diciously applied, was obviously the only 
moving principle or cause. 

But there was no organization by means 
of which your Committee could exert such 
further effort to reach, and to move the 
public mind. It was, therefore, necessary 
to supply this defect in the Society's or- 
ganization of its executive department — 
as far as it was within the power of your 
Committee to do so; and, accordingly, they 
determined to appoint one or more agents, 
whose duty it should be to visit the cities, 
towns and counties — to enlist members and 
life members — collect subscriptions — to 
awaken an interest in the Society where 
none existed — or to keep alive and to in- 
crease such interest, wherever it was ma- 
nifested. 

At first it appeared difficult to find an 
agent, possessing the requisite intelligence, 
tact and zeal, to perform in the best man- 
ner the laborious and important (vitally 
important) duties of that office. 

Fortunately, however, for the Society, 
Gen. William H. Richardson, Ex-Secre- 
tary of the Commonwealth, animated by 
a rare and patriotic zeal in the cause of 
agricultural improvement in his native 
State, in whose service, in other capaci- 
ties,he had already worn away,unrequited, 
the best years of his life, was yet willing 
to sacrifice still more in her service, and 
to undertake the difficult and disagreeable 
labors of an agency for the Society. — 
Deeming it highly important to secure the 
services of so zealous and able an agent, 
the President did not hesitate to employ 
him as soon as he ascertained it was prac- 
ticable to do so, and to authorize him to 
enter upon his labors, not doubting that 
this act would be fully ratified by the Com- 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



375 



mitlee, which, in fact, was promptly done 
at their next succeeding meeting. 

Gen. Richardson was further authorized 
by the Committee, to appoint one or more 
assistant agents, and instructed to canvass 
the cities, towns and country, and over as 
large a portion of the State as possible. 
This labor he has performed, aided by his 
son, William H. Richardson, Jr., in a man- 
ner most advantageous to the Society, as 
well as satisfactory to your Committee. 
This officer will make report of his own 
labors in detail, which renders it unneces- 
sary to say more here in this connection. 

As another means of advancing the in- 
terest of the Society, your Committee en- 
deavored to enlist the potent agency of the 
newspaper press, and have the pleasure of 
stating that they have received the most 
important aid from that quarter. 

As the result of these various instru- 
mentalities your Committee have now the 
satisfaction to report that since the last 
annual meeting, in December, the number 
of members has been increased from 
339 to at least 4000, and the funds in the 
hands of the Treasurer from $268 to about 
S8000. 

Having devised and put in motion, as 
above indicated, the machinery necessary 
to secure the "material means," your Com- 
mittee next turned their attention to carry- 
ing out the resolution adopted at the meet- 
ing in March last, to the effect that the 
Society would hold its first exhibition and 
fair during the ensuing fall. It will be 
perceived by reference to the proceedings 
of the meeting just referred to, that the 
resolution for holding an exhibition was 
adopted, in connection with another reso- 
lution, instructing the Committee "to treat ] 
with the Council of the City of Richmond 
for the procurement of suitable grounds 
for the exhibition, and for such other aid 
a3 the city would furnish." 

At as early a period, therefore, as prac- 
ticable, your Committee sought, and rea- 
dily obtained, a conference with some of 
the members of the City Council, and in 
accordance with the instructions of the 
Society, invited the Council to give their 
aid by providing the necessary grounds 
and fixtures for the exhibition. This pro- 
position was promptly met and liberally 
responded to by a vote of the City Coun- 
cil, ordering the handsome lot, now in 
charge of your Committee, to be set aside 
for their use, and appropriating $6000, to 
be expended in erecting the necessary 
structures, in conformity to a well digested 



plan, design and estimate furnished by the 
Committee. 

Subsequently, upon the suggestion of 
your Chief Marshal, Col. Tompkins, that 
much expense would be unavoidably in- 
curred in the administration of the impor- 
tant departments of police, order and ar- 
rangements during the exhibition and fair, 
the Council promptly put at his disposal 
$1000. And it is further due to the libe- 
rality of the Council, to state that their 
first appropriation of $6000, falling consi- 
derably short of accomplishing the requi- 
site fixtures on the grounds, they did not 
falter in the work, but went on to execute 
the designs of your Committee until the 
aggregate of their expenditures cannot 
have fallen far short, if any, of the sum of 
$10,000. 

It is deemed unnecessary to trouble the 
Society with a detailed account of the la- 
bors involved in preparing for this first ex- 
hibition, in designing and executing the 
improvements on the ground, in prescrib- 
ing rules and regulations, in preparing a 
premium list and selecting and appointing 
judges of award, in appointing a corps of 
marshals and organizing a system of po- 
lice, so as to secure the best possible ar- 
rangements and order on the grounds. 
The results of these labors are now before 
the Society, a/id whatever of defect may 
appear in them, it is hoped will be viewed 
with indulgence and attributed to the no- 
velty and real difficulties of the task, rather 
than to any delinquencies on the part of 
your Committee. 

We cannot, however, dismiss this sub- 
ject without directing your particular at- 
tention to the very liberal public spirit and 
the enlightened policy evinced by the City 
Council, in the very handsome provision 
made for the Society's exhibition. 

And further, without acknowledging our 
obligations to Thos. T. Giles, Esq., whose 
zeal and cultivated taste were most use- 
fully exercised in directing the execution 
of the improvements on the grounds; and 
also to Mr. Gill, the skilful and obliging 
City Engineer, who furnished, under ihe 
direction of the Committee, the plans and 
specifications, and superintended the work 
during its progress to completion. 

From the first it was clearly perceived 
that the costly and laborious preparations 
for the Society's exhibition would be made 
to little purpose, should not the rail road 
and other transportation companies lead- 
ing into Richmond, offer all requisite faci- 
lities in the way of transporting persons, 



376 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



stock and articles to and from the city. 
Application was, therefore, made to each 
of those companies, and reasons urged 
upon them for the adoption and exercise 
of a liberal policy in their charges for 
transportation to and from the exhibition. 
We have the satisfaction of reporting, that 
these applications were met in the most 
liberal spirit, and that all of the companies 
without an exception, promptly announced 
by public notice, the remission of all charges 
on animals and articles, going to and re- 
turning from the exhibition; and most of 
them even remitted all charge on the mem- 
bers themselves. 

As all previous applications to the Le- 
gislature for pecuniary aid to the Society, 
had uniformly failed to elicit from that ho- 
norable body, the slightest favorable con- 
sideration, your Committee did not deem 
it expedient to make any further formal 
application. Nevertheless, at the instance 
of a few zealous friends of the Society, a 
bill was originated in the House of Dele- 
gates, the object of which was to appro- 
priate a small amount for the use of the 
Society. But, as usual, this movement 
proved abortive. In this connection, it has 
been thought to be the wiser course to 
urge on the work of augmenting the num- 
bers and influence of the Society, and thus 
to gather strength for an appeal hereafter 
to be made to the Legislature, not by a 
few, but by the people of the State them- 
selves, speaking through a Society strong 
in numbers and influence.. 

It will be for the Society to decide, whe- 
ther, after the present annual meeting, it 
may not be in circumstances to make an- 
other appeal to the Legislature with more 
hope of success. 

The Constitution of the Society, requires 
the Executive Committee to invite gentle- 
men to furnish communications on such 
subjects of practical and scientific agricul- 
ture, as they may deem important; to take 
charge of and distribute or preserve all 
seeds, plants, books, models, &c. which 
may be transmitted to the Society; and 
to take charge of all communications de- 
signed or calculated for publication, and 
as far as they may deem expedient, collect, 
arrange, and publish such matter as they 
shall deem best calculated to promote the 
objects of the Society. 

Your Committee are profoundly sensible 
of the vast importance of the subjects em- 
braced in this clause of the Constitution. 
In fact, the whole machinery of the So- 
ciety, is but a mean3 of effecting the ob- 



jects defined in that clause of the Consti- 
tution. 

And an agricultural society that did not 
contemplate as its highest object, the col- 
lection and diffusion of useful knowledge, 
although it might hold the most splendid 
exhibitions, and overflow with numbers 
and with means, would, nevertheless, be 
nothing more than an expensive, vain and 
empty parade, useless, in fact, in effecting 
any improvement in the theory and prac- 
tice of agriculture. 

To collect and diffuse useful knowledge, 
then, is the great object of the Society. 

And if but little has been effected during 
the last year in this department of the So- 
ciety's operations, it can he readily shown 
to have resulted from a defect in the or- 
ganization of the Executive Department 
of the Society, which hitherto it was not 
in the power of the Committee to correct, 
and not from any delinquency on the part 
of the Committee itself. 

It affords us great satisfaction, however, 
in this connection, to be able to announce 
to the Society, that many and valuable 
contributions have been made to the printed 
volume of your Transactions during the 
year 1852, by Edmund Ruffin, Esq. In 
fact, it is not too much to say, that all the 
communications for 1852, received and pub- 
lished by the Committee of that year, were 
from Mr. Ruffin, with the exception of a 
most valuable article by Samuel Mordecai, 
Esq., on the history of the growth of the 
tobacco trade in the United States, and a 
paper on agricultural machinery by Edwin 
G. Booth, Esq., of Nottoway. For the year 
1853, Mr. Ruffin has further contributed 
some valuable papers. There is also an 
article by Professor Gilham of the Virginia 
Military Institute, upon the analyses of 
marls and green sands, of a very interest- 
ing character. Besides these, there will 
be presented to this meeting many valua- 
ble papers and reports. The defect of or- 
ganization referred to, is the want of a 
Secretary of the Society— a salaried offi- 
cer, required to give his whole time and 
mind to the duties of his office. The thanks 
of the Society and of the Committee are 
due to Mr. Frank: G. Ruffin, the Corre- 
sponding Secretary, for important aid ren- 
dered by him in the discharge of the duties 
of that office— but it was obviously quite 
impossible for him to have superadded to 
the labors of editing the Southern Planter, 
and the call of private business, the arduous 
duties of a regular Secretary of your So- 
ciety, and that, too, without compensation. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



377 



And, without the aid of a regular Secre- 
tary, there was no means of establishing 
such a communication and correspondence 
with the agricultural community, as could 
effectually carry into operation the provi- 
sions of the Constitution above referred 
to. It may be said, without fear of contra- 
diction, that no agricultural society, either 
in this country or in Europe, ever survived 
the first chrysalis years of a few cattle 
shows, and entered upon the higher and 
broader career of collecting and diffusing 
useful knowledge, without the aid of a Se- 
cretary's office, zealously and ably admi- 
nistered. A Secretary, to a' great State 
Agricultural Society, is as indispensable 
a functionary as is an Adjutant General 
to an army, who is the centre and medium 
of intelligence, correspondence, and com- 
munication for the whole. 

Soon, your Society will number its thou- 
sands and tens of thousands of members, 
scattered over the wide expanse of our 
great State, and will be far more unwieldy 
than an army of soldiers of equal number, 
marshaled into close and orderly array. 

A Secretary's office, established at Rich- 
mond as the head quarters of the Society, 
would, of itself, constitute a material bond 
of union between the widely scattered 
members of the Society — it would become, 
also, a medium of communication between 
the various individual or associated mem- 
bers of the great agricultural community. 
It would be the farmer's intelligence of- 
fice — the depository, too, of seeds, plants, 
shrubs, trees, &c. — of new and valuable 
varieties, for distribution — of modelsof use- 
ful machines — of specimens of soils, marls, 
manures, minerals — the place for collecting 
contributions to useful knowledge in agri- 
culture; and from which to diffuse the 
same, through printed publications or 
otherwise, under the supervision and con- 
trol of the Executive Committee. In view, 
then, of the indispensable importance of a 
Secretary to the Executive Department of 
the Society, your Committee respectfully 
recommend, that provision be made for the 
selection, appointment and salary of such 
an officer, in such manner, as in the wis- 
dom of the Society, may appear best cal- 
culated to advance its great objects in col- 
lecting and diffusing useful knowledge ap- 
pertaining to agriculture. Your Commit- 
tee would further call attention to a consi- 
deration of the expediency of establish- 
ing at Richmond, a suite of Agricultural 
Rooms, and as soon as either the unaided 
fund3 of the Society, any appropriation by 



the Legislature, or the enlightened policy 
of the Council of the City of Richmond, 
may render it practicable. 

One of these rooms might be occupied 
by the Secretary as an office and a deposi- 
tory for the archives of the Society; and 
another should be a large hall for meetings 
of the Society, for lectures upon subjects 
connected with agriculture — a depository 
for seeds, models, &c. — and a third might 
be a library and reading-room. 

The Constitution authorizes the appoint- 
ment by the Society, itself, of an "Agri- 
cultural Commissioner and Chemist." — 
Your Committee deem it highly important, 
that there should be appointed a Chemist 
to the Society, and they would respectfully 
urge action upon this subject at its present 
meeting. 

We cannot close this report without 
returning our thanks to Chas. B. Williams, 
Esq., the Recording Secretary of the So- 
ciety, not only for the prompt discharge of 
the special duties of that office, but for the 
important aid at all times rendered to the 
Committee in the discharge of their labors, 
and for many other useful services, all 
gratuitously rendered to the Society, from 
its organization to the present time — ser- 
vices, which we know have been rendered 
at great personal sacrifice, and in addition 
to the duties of a laborious bank office. 

Mr. Edmunds of Halifax, after compliment- 
ing the Executive Committee upon the man- 
ner in which they had discharged the arduous 
and responsible duties devolved upon them, 
moved the following resolutions, which were 
adopted, viz: 

1. Resolved, That Messrs. William Old of 
Powhatan, B. Johnson Barbour of Orange, 
Richard A. Cunningham of Culpeper, Edmund 
Ruffin, Jr. of Prince George, and J. Ravens- 
croft Jones of Brunswick, be, and they are 
hereby appointed a committee to consider and 
report upon so much of the Report of the Ex- 
ecutive Committee as relates to the appoint- 
ment and compensation of a Secretary who 
shall be charged with conducting the corre- 
spondence and general business of the Society. 

On motion, P. St. George Cocke, Esq. the 
President, was added to the committee. 

2. Resolved, That so much of said report as 
relates to the appointment of an Agricultural 
Chemist be referred to a committee to consist 
of Edmund Ruffin, Sr., Esq. of Hanover, J. 
R. Edmunds, Esq. of Halifax, Dr. John B. 
Harvie of Powhatan, Col. F. H. Smith of the 
Virginia Military Institute, and Dr. William 
Welford of Culpeper. 

On motion of Mr. John Marshall of Or- 
ange, the following resolution was unanimous- 
ly adopted: 

Resolved, That four thousand copies of the 



378 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Report of the Executive Committee be pub- 
lished for the use of the members of the 
Society. 

There being no other business before the 
Society, Col. T. M. Bondurant of Buckingham, 
requested information from such persons pre- 
sent as might be able to speak from experience 
of the effects of guano applied as a top dress- 
ing for wheat. This led to an interesting dis- 
cussion, in which Willoughby Newton, Esq. 
of Westmoreland, Francis Nelson, Esq. of New 
Kent, Col. Bondurant of Buckingham, Com- 
modore T. Ap C. Jones of Fairfax, Dr. A. 
Crump of Powhatan, Mr. Harris of Powhatan, 
Dr. P. C. Venable of Mecklenburg, Dr. E. P. 
While of Caroline, B. H. Magruder, Esq. of 
Albemarle, Col. Patteson of Fauquier, and 
others took part. 

On motion of Mr. Newton, seconded by Mr. 
Harvie, the further discussion of the subject 
was postponed until to-morrow night. 

Adjourned to meet in this Hall to-morrow 
evening at half past 7 o'clock. 

Tuesday Evening, Nov. 1, 1853. 

The Society met agreeably to adjournment. 

The President announced that Dr. James S. 
Whitten of Hancock county, Georgia, was in 
attendance upon this meeting as a Delegate 
from the Southern Central Agricultural So- 
ciety, whose letter accrediting him as such, 
expresses the "hope that this manifestation 
on (their) part of a wish to cooperate in effect- 
ing the common objects of our Societies will 
be cordiallv reciprocated." 

Mr. Ruffin, from the Committee on the ap- 
pointment of a State Agricultural Chemist, 
reported that the committee were unanimously 
of the opinion that such an officer ought, to bo 
appointed, but that owing to the absence of 
some important documents, they could not at 
present make a more full report upon the 
subject. 

On motion of L. E. Harvie, Esq. of Amelia, 
the above report was laid upon the table, who, 
after an eloquent and earnest appeal to the 
Society, submitted the following resolutions: 

1. Resolved, That in view of the indispensa- 
ble necessity for raising a permanent fund for 
the uses of this Society, a voluntary subscrip- 
tion be made by the individual members of 
the Societv, and those interested in the subject 
of agriculture, payable in not less than six 
months, and that such subscription be binding 
when it amounts in the aggregate to twenty 
thousand dollars. 

2. Resolved, That the individual members 
here present be urged to become life members. 

3. Resolved, That committees be appointed 
for the several counties to raise subscriptions 
for the use of the Society. 

These resolutions were ably supported by 
Mr. Newton of Westmoreland, and carried 
by an overwhelming majority. 

Mr. Ruffin of Hanover, lose to suggest three 
modes of effecting the object of the resolutions: 
1st. The distribution of cards for subscription 



among the members present; 2d. That persons 
desirous of becoming life members should re- 
port their names to the Secretary; and 3d. That 
public spirited gentlemen should pledge their 
counties for such sums as they might think 
properto become responsible for to the Society. 

Cards were then distributed, and many gen- 
tlemen rose and gave in their names and some 
of them those of their wives, sons and daugh- 
ters, as life members, and others guaranteed 
their counties for specific amounts. This oc- 
cupied the remainder of the evening's session, 
and the subscriptions thus made amounted in 
the aggregate to about forty thousand dollars. 

Adjourned to meet in this Hall to-morrow 
evening, at half past 7 o'clock. 

Wednesday Evening, Nov. 2, 1853. 

The Society met pursuant to adjournment. 

Mr. Boulware of King & Q.ueen, from the 
Committee appointed to confer with the Pre- 
sident in regard to the monopoly in the trade 
in Guano, submitted the following report: 

The undersigned committee appointed 
to visit the President of the United Slates, 
and solicit his aid in relieving the country 
of the present monopoly in guano, beg 
leave to make the following report: 

It was first deemed important by the 
committee to examine the records of the 
State Department at Washington, and as- 
certain what had been ibe action of our 
government on the subject; and also col- 
lect all the information which might be 
obtained there, as to the manner in which 
this trade is carried on. The Secretary 
of State courteously permitted the investi- 
gations to be made, which were desired. 
The committee then proceeded lo Balti- 
more, where the agency for the sale of 
guano in this country is established, and 
sought from merchants and other sources 
within their reach, whatever other facts 
might serve to throw light on the course 
and character of this trade. 

The sale of guano is in the hands of a 
Peruvian company, or, more properly, mer- 
cantile house, which is established in Eng- 
land, and has an agent who conducts the 
business in the U. States. This company 
hastheexclusive privilegeof tradingin gua- 
no in this country. They enjoy a monopoly 
entirely inconsistent with all our usages, 
opposed to our interests, and justly subject 
to all the prejudice entertained by our peo- 
ple on the subject of monopolies. The 
singular and anomalous spectacle is pre- 
sented, of a foreign government establish- 
ing on our territory a monopoly, which 
embraces an amount of trade equal, pro- 
bably, to eight or ten millions of dollars 
per annum; and which must increase with 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



379 



great rapidity from year to year, if the 
demand for the article should be supplied. 
These eight or ten millions of dollars of 
value in guano, do not represent less than 
from twenty to twenty-five millions of dol- 
lars in grain, cotton and tobacco. For it 
is believed to be a fair estimate, that on an 
average, one dollar expended in guano, 
gives in the three great staple crops above 
referred to, from two dollars and a half to 
three dollars in the succeeding crop. That 
is from 150 to 200 per cent, upon the amount 
invested. We have, then, this extraordi- 
nary result. The Peruvian government 
through an exclusive agency, established 
among us, is controlling the productiveness 
of our country to the amount of twenty or 
twenty-five millions of dollars per annum. 
And it is not only probable, but nearly 
certain, if some substitute should not be 
found for guano, that this sum will very 
soon be enlarged to fifty millions. It must 
also be recollected, that this production is 
for the most part in bread stuffs, which, of 
all products, are the most important to 
every people. 

The commercial marine also feels the 
influence of the monopoly in the transpor- 
tation of thi3 article. It is stated on good 
authority, that §4,000,000 will be paid out 
in freights during the present year. It is 
probable, that this amount is to some ex- 
tent exaggerated; but it is certainly very 
large. The va3t amount of tonnage en- 
gaged in this trade, is employed directly 
by the Peruvian government, or by this 
company, or by another of a similar kind — 
it is immaterial, so far as our interests are 
concerned, in which of these modes; as in 
either, a powerful and concentrated influ- 
ence of a foreign government is brought 
to bear on this department of our industry. 
Whether it has been exerted thus far ca- 
priciously or unjustly, this committee can- 
not say. 

Other governments establish monopolies 
within their own territories; but this is the 
first example so far as it is known to this 
committee, of a monopoly chartered and 
located within the boundaries of another 
power. Is it not in violation of those cour- 
tesies, and those friendly relations which 
usually control the conduct of one nation 
towards another? Is it not inconsistent 
with the sovereignty of our government? 
Can it be proper thus to permit an impe- 
rium in imperio to be placed among us, 
wielding so vast an influence over the re- 
source, the industry and the productive- 
ness of our country? The hostility, the 



caprice, or the indifference of a mere trad- 
ing company, may affect the interests of 
our citizens to the amount of many mil- 
lions of dollars, and may bring embarrass- 
ment and distress on thousands, and even 
millions of our population. At this very 
time, a large portion of the agricultural 
interest of the Middle States, to say no- 
thing of other sections, is suffering from 
the neglect of this company to have a sup- 
ply of guano in the country in time for the 
wheat crop. 

This is a Peruvian company, irresponsi- 
ble to us, regardless of our interests, list- 
less and almost indifferent, it would seem 
to their own. They belong to a race des- 
titute of the industry and enterprise that 
are common among the people of this 
country. The mode in which this trade 
is carried on, is a fit example of their en- 
ergy and their capacity to conduct large 
industrial operations. 

With guano sufficient for the world, with 
a supply already formed of one hundred 
and fifteen millions of tons, according to 
their estimates, they, last year, excavated 
and furnished to the markets of the wide 
earth, 200,000 tons. If 500,000 tons were 
removed every year, it would require up- 
wards of two centnries and a third to ex- 
tract the supply. The bounties of Heaven 
bestowed on these people, through the birds 
of the air, in the little isles of the sea, bor- 
dering their coast, are more valuable than 
the gold mines of California, if they would 
use them. Yet, with an obstinacy like 
that of the dog in the manger, they will 
not use them themselves, nor will they 
permit others to use them. Yet they have 
nothing to do to avail themselves of these 
treasures, but to shovel the guano from 
their islands elevated above the level of 
the sea into the vessels which come along 
side to receive it. They employ ships and 
permit them to lie idle for weeks without 
commencing to load them. The same 
ships arrive at Baltimore, and with thou- 
sands of farmers and their commission 
merchants crowding the office of the Pe- 
ruvian agent and eagerly demanding gua- 
no, these ships lie at the wharves for weeks 
unloaded. With the demand not half sup- 
plied, they refuse to permit the captains of 
our vessels to load themselves, but force 
them to wait their turn. Thus is this trade 
embarrassed and obstructed at the begin- 
ning and the end, by the incompetent and 
indolent managers who control it. 

The Peruvian government itself is not 
benefited by this monopoly, which is esta- 



380 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



blished among us, so much to our inconve- 
nience, annoyance and injury. This use- 
less, not to say mischievous machinery, of 
an exclusive company here, might be dis- 
pensed with, with as much profit to that 
government as to ourselves. They might 
well spare themselves the trouble of em- 
ploying ships to send us guano, and hav- 
ing an agency here to dispose of it for 
them. The simplest, the easiest, and the 
most profitable mode of conducting the 
trade, would obviously be to throw it open 
to the world. Let those who wish it go to 
the Chincha Islands and buy the guano. 
Let merchants and farmers send their own 
ships, and bring it here, and let free com- 
petition bring down the price to a proper 
standard. Why should the sale of this 
commodity be placed on a different basis 
from that of every other? What would 
be the feelings of the people of the United 
States, if the Chinese should establish 
here a monopoly for the sale of tea, and 
should refuse to permit it to be brought or 
sold here in any other way than through 
the exclusive agency of their own com- 
pany? 

From all the information which this 
committee has been able to obtain, it is 
believed the Peruvian government receives 
about $12 per ton for their guano; and 
that at present an average of $18 per ton 
is paid for freight, making an aggregate 
of $30 per ton for this article, delivered in 
our ports. Allowing $5 for commissions 
and profits and other small expenses, it 
would cost here §>35. Yet we pay $46, 
and all of this sum, except the $35, is lost 
by the cumbrous and pernicious machinery 
of monopolies. It cannot be doubted that 
the Peruvian government would gain more 
and our farmers pay less by a change of 
system. 

When Mr. Clayton was at the head of 
the State Department, he addressed a com- 
munication to the Peruvian Minister at 
Washington, urging the adoption of free 
trade in guano. He received an answer 
from the Minister, that the contracts made 
by his government with commercial com- 
panies, giving them exclusive privileges, 
were then in force, and that it would be 
impossible to make any change of system, 
until those contracts had expired; but he 
expressed a hope that, then, a more favor- 
able system might be introduced. Those 
contracts did expire, and new engagements 
of a similar kind, it is believed, were en- 
tered into, with one or more companies, 
without further effort on the part of this 



government. But since the present Ad- 
ministration was inaugurated, the Secre- 
tary of State addressed a despatch to our 
Minister in Peru, directing him to bring 
this subject before the Peruvian govern- 
ment, and to insist on the adoption of free 
trade. 

The committee is happy to say that the 
President expressed the most favorable 
disposition in the interview, which he was 
pleased to give them; and declared he 
would use all the means within the sphere 
of his power to rid us of the present odious 
system. He seemed fully impressed with 
the magnitude of the interests involved, 
and the great importance of the subject. 
But he expressed a fear that the same ob- 
stacle would present itself now, that was 
urged when his predecessor attempted a 
negotiation. It is not believed by this com- 
mittee that this obstacle is insuperable. 

All of which is respectfully submitted, 
William Boulware, 
Philip St. Geo. Cocke, 
Lewis E. Harvie, 
B. J. Barboor, 
Frank: G. Roffin. 

The above report was received and laid 
on the table; and then, on motion, was re- 
ferred back to the same committee, with 
instructions to report resolutions in accord- 
ance with the report. 

At the same sitting, the committee re- 
ported the following resolutions, which 
were unanimously adopted: 

Resolved, That the present mode of con- 
ducting the guano trade in this country by 
the government of Peru, is subject to such 
objections as to constitute a grievance to 
which the people of the United Siatea 
ought not to submit. 

Resolved, That the President of the U. 
States be requested to have the negotia- 
tion with Peru conducted with energy and 
urgency, and that he be earnestly solicited 
to adopt all the means which are in the 
range of his powers to rid this country of 
this odious monopoly. 

Resolved, That the above resolutions, 
together with the report, be communicated 
to the President of the United States. 

The Society then resumed the conversa- 
tional discussion on the subject of guano as a 
top dressing for wheat, &c. 

Mr. T. Jones of Richmond county, who was 
then called for, made some very interesting 
statements of his experiments with this agent. 

To the inquiry whether guano could be suc- 
cessfully used as a top dressing after the wheat 
is seeded, Mr. Fleming of Goochland, replied 
that he did not think it could be advantageously 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



3S1 



used in that way, except npon a snow. Mr. 
Sutton related two experiments of friends in 
Hanover and Chesterfield, from which it ap- 
peared that guano had been applied by them 
respectively as a top dressing, with very satis- 
factory results, without snow. 

Mr. Bassett of Hanover, stated that he had 
used guano as late as April as a top dressing 
for wheat, with favorable resnlts. He also 
related numerous experiments with guano un- 
der varied circumstances, all of which resulted 
in a great increase in crops. 

Adjourned to meet in this Hall to-morrow 
evening at half past 7 o'clock. 

Thursday Evening, Nov. 3, 1853. 

The Society met pursuant to adjournment. 

The President introduced Dr. S. Maupin, 
Professor of Chemistry in the University of 
Virginia, who bad been invited by the Execu- 
tive Committee to deliver an address on the 
Relations of Chemistry to Agriculture. He 
proceeded to deliver a very able address, which 
was received with great applause. 

Mr. Edmund Ruffin, Sr. introduced to the 
Society Dr. Wm. C. Daniel, another Delegate 
from the Southern Central Agricultural So- 
ciety of Georgia. 

On motion of Thos. L. Preston, Esq. it was 

Resolved, That the Constitution be so amend- 
ed in section 3d as to admit of the addition of 
five members to the Execuiive Committee. 

The Society then proceeded to the election 
of officers for the ensuing year, when the fol- 
lowing gentlemen were nominated and unani- 
mously elected: 

Philip St. George Cocke, Esq., President. 

VICE PRESIDENTS. 

1. Edmund Ruffin, Sr. of Hanover. 

2. Lewis E. Harvie of Amelia. 

3. Willoughby Newton of Westmoreland. 

4. Thomas L. Preston of Washington. 

5. John R. Edmunds of Halifax. 
C. Samuel F. Christian of Augusta. 
W. G. Crenshaw of Richmond, Treasurer. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

William Boulware of King & Glueen. 

Edwin G. Booth of Nottoway. 

William G. Overton of Hanover. 

William H. Richardson of Henrico. 

Charles B. Williams of Henrico. 

Frank: G. Ruffin of Albemarle. 

Bernard Peyton of Albemarle. 

Richard Irby of Nottoway. 

J. Ravenscroft Jones of Brunswick. 

B. Johnson Barbour of Orange. 

On motion of Mr. Wallace of Petersburg, 
the Constitution was farther amended, so as to 
admit of the election of an additional Vice 
President. 

Mr. Wallace then nominated George W. 
Summers, Esq., of Kanawha, who was unani- 
mously elected the 7th Vice President. 

Mr. J. Ravenscroft Jones, from the Commit- 



election of a permanent Secretary, made a 
report, which was approved and adopted, as 
follows: 

The committee, to whom was referred so 
much of the Report of the Executive Commit- 
tee of the State Agricultural Society of Virgi- 
nia as relates to the propriety and necessity of 
establishing a permanent Secretaryship to said 
Society, have had the same under considera- 
tion, and beg leave to state, that after due re- 
flection, they eniirely concur in opinion with 
the said committee, as to the importance and 
necessity of immediately establishing such an 
office; that the various duties which will de- 
volve upon that office in conducting the exten- 
sive correspondence which may be necessary 
to elicit agricultural information, to prepare 
statistics, and diffuse knowledge throughout 
the State, will require that a well qualified per- 
son should be selected to fill the office, with a 
salary that will enable him to give his whole 
time and attention to the subject. We, there- 
fore, recommend that the said Executive Com- 
mittee be instructed to appoint some suitable 
person to perform these duties, and affix such 
compensation, as will, in their opinion, com- 
mand the talents necessary for the proper dis- 
charge of these duties, and to procure tuitable 
rooms for his accommodation. 

Mr. Harvie, of Amelia, read a letter from 
William Townes, Esq., of Mecklenburg, mak- 
ing a donation to the Society, of five hundred 
dollars, payable in annual instalments of one 
hundred dollars per annum. 

Mr. E. Ruffin, after a lew prefatory remarks, 
offered the following resolutions, which were 
unanimously adopted: 

Resolved, On the motion, and the unanimous 
recommendation of the Executive Committee, 
that the thanks of the Virginia State Agricul- 
tural Society are due, and hereby are tendered 
to Charles B. Williams, Recording Secretary 
of this Society, for his long continued, labori- 
ous, untiring, and also, most effective ser- 
vices, freely and gratuitously rendered in his 
official capacity and otherwise. 

Resolved, As a testimonial of the sense of 
gratitude of this Society for these fruits of 
public spirit which no pecuniary reward can 
repay, that the Executive Committee be hereby 
directed to bestow on Charles B. Williams, 
out of the funds of the Society, the value of 
three hundred dollars, of which, a portion, or 
all, shall be in silver plate, with inscriptions 
suitable to the object. 
On motion of H. M. Nelson, Esq., of Clarke, 
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be 
presented to Gen'l Wm. H. Richardson for the 
zealous and effective manner in which he has 
discharged his duties as General Agent. 
On motion of Edmund Ruffin, Jr., Esq. 
Resolved, That the cordial thanks of the So- 
ciety be tendered to the Executive Committee, 
collectively and individually, for the zeal, fide- 
lity and ability with which each and all of 
them have, for the past year, discharged the 



tee to whom was referred the subject of the | duties devolving upon them 



382 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be 
tendered to the rail road companies for their 
liberal aid in the transportation of members, 
and subjects, for exhibition free of charge. 

Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be 
presented to the Common Council, of the City 
of Richmond, and to the citizens generally, for 
the enlightened public spirit and praiseworthy 
liberality of the one in providing such commo- 
dious grounds and ample accommodations for 
the Society's first exhibition, and for the gene- 
rous and refined hospitality of the other so 
freely dispensed in the entertainment of the 
members of the Society. 

His Honor, the Mayor of the City, re- 
sponded to this resolution in eloquent terms, 
and assured the Society that the City and citi- 
zens of Richmond would rejoice in every op- 
portunity afforded them of facilitating the ope- 
rations of the Society, and of welcoming its 
members to a participation of their hospitality. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow evening at 
half-past 7 o'clock. 

Friday Evening, Nov. 4th, 1853. 

The Society met pursuant to adjournment. 
The President, after calling the Society to 
order, rose and delivered the following ad- 
dress: 

Gentlemen of the Society, — I rise to re- 
turn you my thanks for the honor you 
have conferred upon me, in calling me 
again to preside over the Virginia State 
Agricultural Society. 

I should be insensible indeed, were I not 
profoundly moved by this mark of your 
partiality, by this high honor, proceeding 
as it does, from this august assembly. 
Gentlemen of the Society, I have but a 
word more to say. 

A year ago ] was called from the retire- 
ment of private life — in which I had fondly 
hoped to pass the remainder of my days — 
to lead the '■'■forlorn hope" in another effort 
to organize a great State Agricultural So- 
ciety. My comrades were kw, but good 
and true men, and at the bidding of patri- 
otism, of State pride, of duty and of honor, 
we went forward, we encountered obsta- 
cles, we overcame difficulties, we stormed 
the breach, we carried the work, we plant- 
ed our flag, and already the victory has 
been proclaimed from yonder field, — aye! 
and has re-echoed even in this Hall! 

Again you bid me lead my tried and 
worthy comrades, and essay a higher and 
a mightier work — that of elevating and 
advancing the great interests of Agricul- 
ture in our State. 

Well might one far abler than I falter, in 
view of the mighty task imposed. But, 
fellow-farmers, encouraged by your con- 



fidence, and trusting to your support, 1 
yield, however rashly, to the call; and in- 
voking the aid of that Almighty Power 
who ever shapes our ends, 1 can only say, 
in the words, and I trust somewhat too in 
the spirit, of a gallant soldier of historic 
fame, when ordered forth in the discharge 
of duty, even to the cannon's mouth, I can 
only say, " / ivill try." 

Comrades of the Executive Committee, 
[turning to them] I shall know how to 
count upon you. 

Gentlemen of the Society, [turning to 
themj now embodying the mind and moral 
force of the State, you will press on, you 
will support our advance towards the ulti- 
mate achievement of the great and glo- 
rious result. 

Mr. N. Francis Cabell, of Nelson, Chair- 
man of the Committee on Branch IX, in the 
Schedule of Premiums, which proposes to 
award honarary testimonials for the introduc- 
tion of any new principle, process or experi- 
ment, important to the agricultural interest of 
Virginia, made a report, which, on motion of 
Mr. Lee, of Orange, was received with the 
thanks of the Society. 

The Hon. William C. Rives being called 
upon to address the Society, responded in a 
short, but feeling and eloquent speech, and 
concluded his remarks by constituting himself, 
his wife, his daughters, sons and sons' wives 
and children life members of the Society, and 
announced, on behalf of Messrs. Warwick & 
Barksdale, their munificent 'donation of two 
thousand dollars. 

Messrs. B. Johnson Barbour, of Orange, J. 
H. Lacy, of Spottsylvania, and several other 
gentlemen, being called for by the meeting, 
delivered stirring and eloquent addresses. 

On motion of Mr. Gilmer, of Albemarle, 
the following resolution was adopted: 

Resolved, That a banner shall be awarded to 
the county from which the Society shall have 
received up to the time of holding the next 
annual Fair, the largest amount of money in 
proportion to its population. 
And then the Society adjourned sine die. 
Ch. B. Williams, Rec. Sec'y. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY 

At the Show Grounds during the progress of the 
Exhibition. 

On Tuesday morning, the 1st of November, 
the various Committees of Award completed 
their organization, and proceeded to examine 
and compare the subjects for premiums sub- 
mitted to them in the departments assigned 
them respectively. 

On Wednesday, the 2d of November, the 
Society assembled in the large central tent at 
11 o'clock for the purpose of hearing the An- 
nual Address. After prayer by the Rev. Mr. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



383 



Cummiags, the President introduced John R. 
Edmunds, Esq. of Halifax, who, in accordance 
with the invitation of the Executive Commit- 
tee, delivered an able and instructive address, 
which was received with the liveliest satis- 
faction. John Tyler, Esq. Ex-President of 
the United States, being present, as the guest 
of the Society, was then loudly called for, who 
proceeded, in eloquent and glowing terms, to 
congratulate the farmers of Virginia upon the 
scene before him, which gave utterance, in 
language far more impressive than words, to 
the zeal and enthusiasm which animated the 
multitude of the enlightened and patriotic sons 
of Virginia, brought togeiher from every sec- 
lion of the Commonwealth by this glorious 
occasion. He exhorted them 10 ceaseless perse- 
verance in the noble enterprise, so auspiciously 
commenced, of redeeming Virginia from the 
depression and lethargy under which she has 
too long labored and of arousing her to an en- 
ergetic advancement in the cause of improve- 
ment upon which she has now entered. 

Gen. Winfield Scott and Edmund Ruffin, 
Esq., were in Hire manner called for, who 
successively returned thanks for the sponta- 
neous honors accorded to them, and congra- 
tulated their fellow-citizens upon the success- 
ful achievements of the Society in getting up 
an exhibition so creditable to the Stale and 
gratifying to the pride of every true Virginian. 

On Thursday, the 3d of November, Peter 
A. Brown, Esq. of Philadelphia, who appeared 
by invitation of the Executive Committee, de- 
livered an interesting lecture on the course and 
prospects of the wool market — the statistics 
of the trade, anion the different qualities and 
comparative value of wool, illustrated by nu- 
merous and rare specimens, collected at great 
expense, classified and arranged with taste and 
skill, and flesigned and adapted to enlighten 
those of our citizens who are turning their at- 
tention to the subject of sheep husbandry. 

On motion of Col. McCue, the thanks of 
the meeting were unanimously voted to Mr. 
Brown, for his interesting discourse. 

A. half past 12 o'clock the trial of ploughs 
and the ploughing match commenced, under 
the direction of the committee in charge of 
those subjects, which occupied the remainder 
of the day. 

On Fridav, the 4th of November, Ex-Presi- 
dent Tyler delivered the following valedictory 
address to the members of the Society: 

Gentlemen of the Agricultural Society: — On 
me has devolved the task of uttering to you 
the valedictory address of the Executive Com- 
mittee on this interesting occasion. It will of 
course be brief. The important duty will af- 
terwards remain of announcing the various 
premiums awarded by the Society; and after 
to-morrow the first great Fair of the Agricul- 
tural Society will have mingled with past 
eternity. 

And first let me congratulate you, gentlemen, 
upon what we have seen and what we have 
heard since we have been together. The moun- 



tains and the lowlands have met in friendly 
communion, to exchange views and thoughts 
on the great subject of agricultural improve- 
ment, and every region of the State has exhi- 
bited the results of its industry in its various 
productions. Specimens of tobacco, of corn 
and wheat indicate a capacity in our State to 
supply food to the starving millions in less 
favored lands — sheep of the longest wool and 
finest fleece — cattle, both native and imported, 
of rare excellence — horses that claim a de- 
scent from the " racers of the sun," and the 
sturdy animals that share with us in the labors 
of the plough — vegetables of a diversified and 
admirablecharacter — ores dug from the bosom 
of the earth, of unsurpassed richness and qua- 
lity — the inventive genius of our people, as 
manifested in the exhibitions of their skill — 
the advance of mechanic arts, as shown in the 
useful specimens of implements to be seen 
upon the ground, and the cloths and other fa- 
brics, the product of the needle and the loom — 
all bear evidence to the richness of our State, 
and encourage us to press forward in the race 
of improvement; and can we desire a finer 
fiield for our exertions than our own time ho- 
nored State presents'? If you overclimbuhe 
mountains and traverse that interesting region, 
you find stretching far down on the dimpled 
rivers of the west, a country rich in mineral 
resources; its hill tops and valleys covered in 
much of its area with luxuriant grasses on 
which graze innumerable herds of animals, 
and possessing a water power to do the manu- 
facturing of the world; re-cross the Alleghany 
and your eye rests upon a valley rivalling in 
point of beauty the loveliest regions of earth; 
inclining gently from its lofty summits, you 
behold the Alleghany sinking amid verdant 
and flower-covered slopes, and meeting in the 
sunlight the broad smiles of the Blue Ridge, 
its joyous rival and sister. A population com- 
paratively dense, engaged in all the diversified 
employments of society, here meets the gaze. 
The hum of man's busy industry, mingled 
with the lowing and bleating of numerous 
flocks, bespeak a region far advanced in the 
arts which embellish and adorn, and the labor 
which enriches the country. Descending the 
Blue Ridge to the east, and you enter upon 
the region of red lands, where flourishes the 
Tobacco plant, one of the great articles of 
foreign exchange, and where the farmer ga- 
thers into his garners until they are full with 
the harvest. Below the falls of the rivers the 
tide-water country invites attention, not only 
because of its valuable productions, but be- 
cause of numerous rivers and bays, the capa- 
cious reservoirs of a commerce yet to be, 
which it requires but ordinary effort on the 
part of the Legislature and the people to ad- 
vance and increase. Such is the country 
which God in his goodness has given to you 
Virginians, and to your descendants; such the 
resources which he has placed at your dispo- 
sal ; such the talent entrusted to your care. 
We should but poorly acquit ourselves of our 



384 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



duty if we could neglect to improve so rich a 
patrimony — nor can it be denied that indivi- 
dual effort has done much towards the im- 
provement of the land. I am surrounded here 
by gentlemen who have raised up their land 
from barrenness to fertility — acres which a 
few years ago would not have repaid cultiva- 
tion, are now teeming with production. In 
fact the most interesting statistical table which 
could be presented for the encouragement of 
others, would be the statistics of the wheat 
crop upon those improved estates for the pe- 
riod of twenty years last past. In that district 
of country which has fallen more immediately 
under my eye and in which I reside, it may 
be safely said that where twenty years ago 
the crop was told by the hundred bushels it is 
now told by the thousand. The truth is, that 
without some change in the course of cultiva- 
tion and improvement, we should have been 
driven to emigrate to richer and distant re- 
gions, or to have dragged out lives of poverty 
and wretchedness. The annunciation of a 
single fact, the result of analysis, viz. the ab- 
sence of lime from the soil, rescued us and 
the State from comparative abandonment. — 
From that moment a new order of things has 
existed. The roads leading to the West and 
South are no longer filled, as was formerly the 
case, with emigrants fleeing from the homes 
of their fathers to seek their bread in other 
lands. Plenty presides over the board where 
meagre scraps of food were before served up. 
The son cultivates the old homestead, and 
hospitality once more invites the wayfarer to 
enter the doors where poverty so lately kept 
watch. Can too much praise be bestowed on 
that man who has been the great instrument 
in the hands of Providence in bringing about 
this resultl The soldier in the embattled field 
may encircle his brow with laurels; he de- 
serves to wear them, for his skill and bravery 
have won them — the statesman may deserve 
the gratitude of his country by a course of un- 
selfish and devoted patriotism, but what can 
warrior or statesman do to compare with the 
citizen who, unaided in his efforts, shall from 
his laboratory, have announced a truth, and 
by his own example have carried it out and 
thereby .opened the way to the resuscitation 
and improvement of his native land. The 
monument of such an one is in the hearts of 
his countrymen, and the laurels that adorn it 
shall be green for ever. 

Much, I admit, has been thus done by indi- 
vidual effort towards the improvement of the 
soil — but what can individuals, isolated and 
apart, accomplish to be compared to the result 
of united action 1 Look at the effects of con- 
centrated capital in the various concerns of 
life. It bids the manufacturing establishment 
arise, and forthwith the loom and shuttle clothe 
the naked. It penetrates into the bowels of the 
earth, and the fire blazes in the hearth to ex- 
pel the frost; the plough subverts theglobe, and 
the axe fells the forest. It speaks to uninha- 
bited places, and towns and villages and cities 



arise. It builds the engine and lays down the 
iron, and the car speeds over hill and plain; 
it calls into requisition the lightning and makes 
it the letter carrier "from Indus to the Pole." 
If such be the results ot concentrated capital, 
shall mind have no affinity with mind in this 
great work of improving the very matrix of 
every comfort known in life 1 ? If gold and sil- 
ver poured into one common coffer, can build 
up and embellish, can the united efforts of 
mind produce no similar effects upon the agri- 
culture of a State'? Mind, from which sprung 
the universe— mind, the great attribute ema- 
nating from Deity, and which makes man but 
little lower than the angels, can its scintilla- 
tions when collected and drawn to a focus, be 
less in their effects than the metal, which but 
for it would still lie embosomed in the earth. 
And how is this concentration of the mind to 
be obtained but by association! It is only by 
intercourse with the world that each man is 
active and useful. Separate him from his kind 
and isolate his mind, and he becomes the na- 
ked savage, and wild beasts, no more savage 
than himself, are types of his condition. 

For the first time, Virginians, you have 
brought the concentrated mind of the State to 
bear upon this great subject of the improve- 
ment of the lands of the Stale. It is an emi- 
nently successful first effort, and would most 
favorably compare with the long continued 
efforts of other States. We have now assu- 
rances that this is to be no spasmodic effort, 
to perish as soon as made. The Agricultural 
Society of Virginia is now a fixed fact, and its 
benefits are destined to roll over the land in a 
mighty volume, causing the now desert places 
to bloom and blossom like the rose, and our 
beloved Slate to raise its head proudly among 
the nations. The voice of the past, proud in 
historic fame, has been heard and obeyed. 
The interests of the present resulting in our 
good, have plead not in vain. 

The hopes of the future, so full of unspeaka- 
ble greatness, spring forth in the heart and ra- 
tify this work, which has been accomplished. 
We look no longer from Pisgah's top, but have 
already entered upon the fruition of the great 
heritage of our anxious longings. From this ? 
day a new era opens upon us. Our noble Slate 
awakens like a giant from her slumbers, and 
stands erect in all her majestic proportions. 
I rejoice that I have lived to see this day. 

The hour is approaching when we must wend 
our way to our respective homes. Your neigh- 
bors will cluster around you to learn from you 
the results of your visit here. You will tell them 
what you have seen, and when next we assem- 
ble, ihey will surely be wilh us. You will not 
fail to tell them that Virginia is at length in 
earnest in the good work which she has so 
long been seing only in the possible; that she 
has changed her livery of gray and put on a 
new suit of green; that the spirit of improve- 
ment has commenced her work in earnest, 
and that Ithuriel has touched her with his 
spear and that she stands in all her virgin 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



385 



robes beautiful and lovely, soon to become I 
grand and sublime. For ourselves, we will 
go back possessed of new energy in the work 
of improvement. Upon the next meeting of 
the Society I trust that each and every one of 
us will have something to bring of the product 
of our own industry for public exhibition, and 
thus give evidence that our lives in the interval 
have not been passed in inactivity. Remem- 
ber that success is the result of well directed 
labors. We should adopt no system which is 
not the result of our own experience or that i 
of others. Even the results announced from j 
the laboratory of the chemists are often decep- ; 
tive. The processes of nature are subtle in i 
the extreme. She is constantly forming new 
combinations and undergoing mutation. Man 
thinks sometimes that he has entered her tem- 
ple and read from her mighty volume her hid- ; 
den mysteries — but he who knows most sinks 
back upon himself with the consciousness, not 
of positive ignorance, but of how little he does 
know. 

The great farming interest is that which 
government has most neglected. Instead of! 
being fostered and cherished as the foundation ] 
of all others, it has been made the beast of 
burden for their benefit. The farmer has also 
stood isolated and alone until very recently — j 
other interests could more easily combine and 
cooperate in a common end. He, therefore, 
stood exposed to assaults from all, and it has 
bat too often happened that he has been made 
the carcass on which the vultures have preyed. 
Through the associations similar to our own 
which are formed and forming, he is now in 
some condition for defence. His employment 
has also been heretofore avoided by parents in 
the education of their children. He has been 
in fact regarded as the inferior in his vocation 
to those who entered upon other pursuits. This 
delusion has passed away, and science conies 
to his aid to elevate, to refine and improve. 
, We have cause, brother farmers, to be proud 
of our calling. In the language of a great 
Indian Chief, "the earth is otir mother, and 
on her bosom we repose." Our trust is in that 
over-ruling Providence which has brought us 
into existence, and sustains us in our efforts. 
Our God is evermore present with us, and our 
communion with him is unceasing. He gives 
the genial showers that cause the grain to ger- 
minate. He gives the sunshine to mature the 
golden harvest. We hold converse with him 
during the day, and at night we gaze out upon 
the over-hansing firmament, glistening wiih 
the light of the whole host of Heaven. We 
go to sleep with the flowers, and rise as jocund 
day comes tripping over the lawn— its feet 
bathed in dew, to join in the great anthem to 
our Maker, which all things having life unite 
in raising. Have we not cause to be thankful 
for the lot which has been assigned us? Should 
we not press forward in the race of life, with 
hearts buoyant with hope and minds resolved 
upon victory? 
I shall say no more. We separate after a 
13 



few hours. Meet again at the next annual 
Fair, and bring with you your wives and chil- 
dren. Come not empty-handed. Let the fa- 
ther and the son and the husband bring with 
them the products of their industry — and let 
the mothers and the children bring the fruits 
and the flowers — types of their own purity. 
Here is a platform broad enough for all. No 
party spirit can find place upon it. Let him 
who comes leave the spirit of discord behind 
him, and give place in its stead to the catholic 
spirit of peace with his brother and good will 
to all. That is the great principle on which 
this Society is based; and it is consecrated 
alone to the noble task of beautifying and im- 
proving the earth. This spirit stands boldly 
forth to rebukeall sectionalism — all local strife. 
It knows no East, no West. It knows only 
Virginia. Virginia in part and Virginia in 
whole. It is on its march, and mountains sink 
before it. It walks upon the waters and the 
billows become calm. Come up, then, to an 
altar at which all may worship, and let your 
offerings be worthy of the aliar and the Deity. 

At the close of the address the President 
read abstracts of the reports of the various 
committees awarding the premiums of the So- 
ciety, and announcing the names of the suc- 
cessful competitors. The publication of these 
reports is necessarily deferred". 

The Exhibition closed with an auction of 
such stock and articles as the owners of them 
desired to expose to public sale. 

Ch. B. Williams, Rec. Sec'y. 



The following tabular statement of subscrip- 
tions made to the permanent capital of the 
Virginia State Agricultural Society, on the 
night of the 2d November and subsequently, 
is designed to keep before the public the pro- 
gress of the enterprise. The amount stand- 
ing to the name of each county, will be altered 
from time to time in conformity to the latest 
authentic intelligence of what may have been 
accomplished in each, if it shall exceed the 
sums originally guarantied. 

The names of other counties not yet pledged, 
but which may hereafter assert their claim to 
a participation in the great work, will be 
added with the amount raised. 

The population of each county will be set 
opposite to its name, that competitors for the 
banner, ordered to be prepared by the Execu- 
tive Committee, may be the better able to 
judge of their chance of success. Many in- 
dividual donations and life memberships re- 
main to be credited to the different counties, 
which, for want of time, are necessarily re- 
served for insertion in a future publication of 
the table. 



386 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



Amounts subscribed to the Virginia State 
Agricultural Society, on November 2d and 
since, in donations Irom individuals, payments 
for Life Memberships and guarantees of addi- 
tional subsciiptions from counties and towns. 



From which coun- 
ty or town. 



Population, 
1350. 



Amounts 
Contributed. 



Albemarle, 


25,65 1 


© 1 ,000 00 


Amelia, 


9,755 


1,300 00 


Augusta, 


21.6.6 


1,000 00 


Accomac, 


17,881 


500 00 


Brunswick, 


14,527 


500 00 


Buckingham, 


13,945 


1,060 00 


Bedford, 


24,112 


500 00 


Bottetourt, 


14,909 


500 00 


Culpeper, 


12,262 


500 00 


Caroline, 


18,456 


500 00 


Charles City, 


5,200 


250 00 


Charlotte, 


14,075 


700 00 


Chesterfield, 


17,402 


500 00 


Clarke, 


7,433 


500 00 


Cumberland, 


9,855 


500 00 


Dinwiddie, 


11,106 


500 00 


Fairfax, 


10,682 


600 00 


Fluvanna, 


9,488 


700 00 


Fauquier, 


20,922 


500 00 


Greene, 


4,434 


500 00 


Gloucester, 


10,559 


300 00 


Goochland, 


10,437 


600 00 


Greensville, 


5,627 


600 00 


Halifax, 


25,878 


500 00 


Hanover, 


15,172 


920 00 


Henrico, 


15.605 


100 00 


Jefferson, 


15,^75 


500 00 


Kanawha, 


15,354 


100 00 


Kins & Q,ueen, 


10,15-2 


500 00 


King William, 


8 794 


500 00 


Louisa, 
Loudoun, 


16,671 


500 00 


22,070 


1,000 00 


Lunenburg, 


11,678 


680 00 


Madison, 


9,332 


500 00 


Mecklenburg, 


20.566 


500 00 


Montgomery, 


8,357 


500 00 


Nottoway, 


8,415 


500 00 


New [tent, 


6,654 


250 00 


Norfolk County, 


18.770 




Nelson, 


12,758 


500 00 


Northampton, 


7,396 


500 00 


Orange, 


10,067 


600 00 


Petersburg, 


14,61)3 




Pittsylvania, 


29 078 


500 00 


Prince Edward, 


11,851 


500 00 


Prince George, 


7,595 


800 00 


Powhatan, 


8,171 


1,500 00 


Pulaski, 


5,114 


500 00 


Putnam, 


5.336 


50 00 


Richmond City, 


27,483 


7,500 00 


Richmond County, 


6 443 




Rockbridge, 


16,040 




Smvihe, 


8,162 


500 00 


Stafford, 


9,044 




Spottsylvania, 


14,917 


520 00 


Washington, 


14,613 


500 00 


Westmoreland, 


8,080 


500 00 


Wytke, 


12,024 


500 00 



PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 

From 1st November to \st December, 1853. 

All persons who have made payments early 
enough to be enteied, and whose names do 
not appear in the following receipt list, are 
requested to give immediate notice of the 
omission, in order that the correction may be 
made in the next issue: 

James S. Battle to January 3S54 

Daniel Ammen to January 1855 

Robert Noifleet to January 1854 

R. D. Wimberly to January 1855 

James Fitch to July 1853 

Elbert Le Grand to November 1854 

Josiah Eley to January 1855 

Emanuel Gerst to May 1855 

William L. Oliver to November 1854 

W. R. Bland to January 1855 

W. M. Hannah to January 1855 

S. W. Lackland to April 1854 

William T. Scott to January 1854 

Thos. R. Joynes to July 1855 

Mrs. Martha Cocke to January 1854 

E. Ruffin, Jr., to January 1855 

J. Overby to November 1854 

W. C. Davis to July 1854 

Col. Samuel Drake to January 1855 

Dr. R H. Stuart to January 1855 

A. H. Reams to July 1854 

Gulielmus Coleman to March 1854 

E. Clayton to January 1854 

Berthier Bott to January 1855 

Joseph Segar to January 1854 

C. S. Jones to January 1854 

Colin Stokes to November 1854 

H. C. Williams to July 1854 

Peter S. Roler to July 1855 

George L. Bagley to January 1855 

J. M. Adams to September 1854 

T. H. Eppes to January 1854 

S. Neblett to January 1854 

T>r. W. W. Oliver to November 1854 

S. S. Griffen to Jannaty 1854 

Thomas Edmunds to November 1854 

Dr. R. H. Dejarneti to January 1854 

Richard Stokes to August 1854 

George Pannill to January 1854 

John E. Meade to November 1854 

W. A. Armisiead to April 1855 

T. B. M'Gehee to April 1854 

William Major to June 1855 

George Bouton to July 1854 

L. T. Barnes to January 1855 

N. B. Gay to September 1854 

G. A. Chaffin to July 1854 

George W. Pettit to September 1854 

Col. R. R. Brown to July 1854 

E. A. Tillman to November 1854 

Dr. G. W. Coleman to November 1854 

N. Alexander to July 1856 

Dr. W. R. Holt to January 1854 

Julien Ruffin to January 1855 

William Sayre November 1854 

M. Goldsborough to January 1854 

J. N. Goldsborough to November 1854 



$5 00 


1 00 


1 00 


5 00 


1 00 


1 00 


2 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


3 00 


1 00 


1 00 


3 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


3 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


5 00 


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2 00 


2 00 


1 00 


1 00 


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7 00 


1 00 


1 00 


7 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


2 00 


1 00 


5 00 


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1 00 


2 00 


1 00 


1 00 


2 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 


5 00 


1 00 


2 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



387 



Edmund Rosetiberger to July 1855 
Gen. W. T. Ballew lo January 1854 
Henry Carrington to January 1855 
Col. S. iM'D. Reid to January 1855 
Dr. E. A. Coleman to September 1855 
S. F. Harwood to August 1853 
Rev. Peyton Harrison to July 1854 
Com. T. Ap Cateshy Jones to Nov. '54 
Hall Neilson to November 1854 
John Hunter to November 1854 
Thomas Carroll to January 1855 
Edward C. Robinson to JaDuary 1854 
John S. Hobson to November 1854 
Samuel P. Wilson to September 1854 
Dr. W. S. Morton to May 1855 
James D. Isbell to January 1855 
William D. Blanton to October 1854 
David S. Read to January 1855 
F. Foot to January 1854 
Dr. H. N. Coleman, Sr., to July 1854 
Col. John Lewis to January 1855 
Anthony D. Wren to Sept. 1854 
Dr. Barraud to July 1854 
L. H. Taliaferro to June 1854 
Colin Bass to January 1855 
H. E. Coleman to November 1854 
Richard Gwathmey to January 1854 
Col. Alex. Fleet to January 1854 
Mrs. Su^an H. Powell to July 1854 
William G. Buck to January 1854 
Mrs. Mary H. Claibor ie to January '54 
Sam'l F. Christian to November 1854 
Heury E Edmunds to January 1854 
John Washington to July 1854 
Thos. W. Meriwether to January 1854 
Hugh W. Mackey to June 1854 
Mrs. Lucy C. Binford to March 1854 
Robert B. Moorman to June 1854 

D. T. Armstrong to November 1854 
William Cowherd to Januarv 1855 
R. F. Hannon to January 1854 
Lewis H. Blair to November 1854 

E. W. Hubard to January 1857 
James R. Gates to January 1855 
Samuel G Tinsley to November 1854 
Dr. P. B. Pendleton to October 1853 
Waller Holladay to November 1854 
J. W. Wilson to January 1854 

John S. Kemper to July 1854 

S. M Baker to July 1854 

John N. Shields to January 1855 

Lewis Neal to July. 1854 

Maj. George Wilson to January 1855 

Dr. William Fuqua to Januarv 1854 

John C. Thorn to January 1854 

B. F. Lewis to May 1854 

Joseph H. Prince to November 1854 
Dr. Thos. B. Powell to November 1854 
Dr. H. E. Shore to July 1854 
N. P. Fitchett to January 1854 
Capt. N. Ward to Januarv 1855 
William C. Daniell to November 1854 
H. R. Baird to Novemher 1854 
J. H. Thomas to November 1854 

C. B. Claibourne to November 1854 
John Trimble to July 1854 

C. S. Lacy to November 1854 



Jl 00 


5 00 


2 00 


1 00 


2 00 


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1 00 


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F. Fitzgerald to January 1655 $1 00 

Dr. G. Fitzgerald to January 1855 

Benjamin Archer to November 1854 

Charles Selden to September 1855 

Col. G. Moseley to January 1854 

Dr. W. P. Moseley to January 1854 

Wm. Fitzgerald 10 November 1854 

John Keen to November 1854 

Jas. L. Harris to January 1855 

R. Powell to November 1854 

Robert Dunn to November 1854 

W. M. Connelly to November 1854 

Thomas Keith to July 1854 

W. T. Hubbard to November 1854 

T. G. Coleman to November 1854 

H. E. Coleman to January 1854 

James A. Hunt to January 1854 

A. G. Hobson to January 1854 

W. M. Woodson to November 1854 

Dr. Wm. Briegs to September 1854 

Joseph W. Mason to November 1854 

Prof. W. B. Rogers to September 1858 

Wm. H. Basdarn to September 1854 

Nicholas Cocks to Septemher 1854 

Grief Hood to September 1854 

Miss Sarah Nicholas lo Sept. 1854 

J. M. M'Nutt lo November 1854 

J. H Earnest to November 1854 

P. W. Dudley to November 1854 

Adam Lusbaugh to April 1854 

Joel W. Daniel to January 1854 

John H. Batte to November 1854 

John Saunders to January 1854 

Dr. W. D. Boaz to November 1854 

W. Roy Mason to January 1856 

John D.Johnson to September 1854 

Dr. M. A. Wilcox to January 1854 

T. Pollok Burgwyn to January 1854 

Jas. M. Ransot: to September 1854 

W. B. Miller to January 1854 

A. G. Binlord to January 1855 
Charles M'Kee to July 1855 
William G. Fretwell to July 1854 
N. Burnley to July 1854 
James L. Duptiy to September 1854 
William F. Plunkett to July 1853 
Dr. Chas. Brown to July 1854 
Isaac O. Perkins to January 1854 
William Tompkins to October 1853 
Robert Rodes to Januarv 1855 
T.J. Michie to April 1855 
R. N. Trice to July 1853 
Jas. N. Siephens to January 1854 
Peter M'Gee to July 1854 

B. B. Garth to July 1853 
John S. Nicholas to January 1854 
Capt. Jas. Hobson to November 1854 
Dr. J. W. Gaunt to January 1835 
S. C. Anderson to January 1855 
Judge R. C. L. Moncure to Nov. 1854 
John A. Roberts to November 1854 
James M. Thomas to November 1851 
Thomas P. Crawford to August 2854 
Joseph A. Earley to Nov. 1854 
Dr. T. H. Vena'ble to January 1853 
Wm. A. Winston to April 1854 
Sam'l A. Masten to Nov. 1854 1 00 



1 00 


1 00 


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3 (10 


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388 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



A MOST DESIRABLE FARM FOR SALE. 

OCq ACRES of land, 16 miles from 
/CjKJ*j Richmond, 70 acres being "James 
river low grounds" and the residue the best 
quality of up-land on a clay bottom, separated 
from the 70 acres by the "James River and 
Kanawha Canal," which passes through the 
farm, and over which there is a bridge, to be 
supported in perpetuity at the expense of the 
Canal Company. The buildings on the farm 
are comfortable and beautifully located, com- 
manding the most picturesque view of James 
river. This farm offers peculiar advantages 
from the facility of communication with Rich- 
mond—one of the best markets in the coun- 
try — the proverbial fertility of "James river 
lands," and the fact that such a farm is rarely 
offered for sale. It will be sold unusually low, 
if application be made soon, and on accom- 
modating terms, with the growing crop of 
corn, about 5 acres of Irish potatoes, catile, 
horses, mules and farming implements, in- 
cluding anew " Hussey 's Reaper," &c. &c. &c. 

Apply, pre-paid, to 

GODDIN & APPERSON, 

Richmond, Va. 
Or to P.D.BERNARD, 

Publisher Southern Planter. 

Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Ledger and 
National Intelligencer insert three times each 
and send accounts to this office for settlement. 

October 1, 1853— 3t 

STEPHEN H. FISHER, MANUFAC- 
TURER OF BOOTS AND SHOES, 
No. 228, Broad Street, north side, between 3d 
and 4th streets, Richmond, Virginia, keeps 
constantly on hand a full assortment of ready 
made Boots and Shoes of his own manufac- 
ture, for Ladies' and Children's wear, which 
he will sell as low as can be purchased in this 
city. 

Boots and Shoes for Gentlemen and Boys 
on hand, or made to order at short notice. 

Servants' Shoes of all qualities constantly 
on hand. 

f^All work warranted. 42 

|3r Farmers are invited to give him a call. 

oc — ly 

CHOICE POULTRY. 

THE subscriber offers for sale the following 
varieties at pure blooded Fowls, viz. Cochin 
China or Canton Fowls; Black, Whitr, 
Buff and Brown Shanghais; Chittagjngs 
or Gray Shanghais. 

The above are the largest and best variety 
of fowls bred in this country, and are from 
stock originally imported by the subscriber. 
Gentlemen, Poultry-keepers and others, desir- 
ous of procuring choice Poultry may depend 
upon the above stock being purely bred and 
warranted true to their name. Address 
CHARLES SAMPSON, 
West Roxbury, Mass. 



A MORRIS, 97 Main Street, is constantly 
• supplied with all New and Standard 
Agricultural Works. The subscriber re- 
spectfully invites the attention of the public, 
especially those visiting the Agricultural 
Fair, to his extensive assortment of Books 
on Agriculture, among which may be found 

The Chemical Field Lectures for Agricul- 
turists, by Dr. J. A. Stockhardt; translated 
from the German : edited with notes by James 
E Tesehemceher. 

The Field Book of Manures, or the Ame- 
rican Muck Book, treating of the nature, pro- 
perties, &c. of all the principal manures in 
common use, by D. J. Brown. 

The American Farm Book, or Compend of 
American Agriculture, being a practical trea- 
tise on soils, manures, draining, &c. and every 
staple product of the United States, with the 
best methods of planting, cultivating and pre- 
paration for market, by R. L. Allen. 

Eltments of Agricultural Chemistry and 
Geology, by James F. W. Johnston, M. A. 

The Monthly Journal of Agriculture, con- 
taining the best current productions in promo- 
tion of agricultural improvement, including 
the choicest prize essays issued in Europe 
and America, with original contributionsfrom 
eminent farmers and statesmen, 3 vols. 8vo. 
John S. Skinner, Editor. 

The Principles of Agriculture, by Albert 
D. Thaer. 

The Farmer's and Planter's Encyclopaedia 
of Rural Affairs, embracing all the most re- 
cent discoveries in agricultural chemistry, 
adapted to the comprehension of unscientific 
readers, by C. W. Johnson, Esq. 

European Agriculture and Rural Economy, 
from personal observations, by Henry Colman. 

Chemistry in its Application to Agriculture 
! and Physiology, by Justus Liebig, M. D. 

The Book of the Farm, detailing the labors 
of the farmer, ploughman, field worker, &c. 
! by Henry Stephens. 

Elements of Scientific Agriculture, or the 

! Connection Between Science and the Art of 

Practicat Farming, by John P. Norton, M. A. 

An Essay'on Calcareous Manures, by Ed. 
Ruffin: 5ih edition, amended and enlarged. 

The Farmer's Barn-Book,by Clater, Youatt, 
Skinner and Mills. 

Together with many other valuable works 
I on farming, the treatment and management of 
cattle, &c. A.MORRIS, 

Bookseller, Stationer and Dealer in 

oc— 3t Piano Fortes, 97 Main Street. 

SUFFOLK PIGS. 

THE subscribers are prepared to receive 
orders for pure Suffolk Pigs, bred from 
i stock imported in 1848 by the late William 
; Stickney, also by the subscribers in January 
' last. Address 

JOSIAH STICKNEY, Walerlon, 
Or, ISAAC STICKNEY, Boston, Mats. 
Boston, August, 1853— 6t. 



. 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER 



389 



CONTENTS OF NUMBER XII. 

PAGE 

Address of John R. Edmunds, E^q. before 
the Virginia Slate Agricultural Society, 

November 3, 1853 353 

Liming- and Brining Wheat 36,4 

Good Milch Cows 364 

How to Use Elderberries 365 

Comparative Nutritive Value of an Acre 

of Cabbage with other Crops 365 

The State Agricultural Society 366 

Premiums for the Planter 369 

Secretary to the State Agricultural Society .370 

The Maine Liquor Law .371 

Penny Post 371 

Life Memberships— Amelia C. H 371 

Virginia State Agricultural Society — Pro- 
ceedings of the Executive Committee. .371 
Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Agri- 
cultural Society 373 

Proceedings ot the Society at the Show 
Grounds during the progress of the Ex- 
hibition 382 



SINTON & SONS' NURSERY, NEAR 
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 

AS the season for planting has arrived, the 
subscribers would respectfully call the 
attention of their friends and the public ge- 
nerally, to their large and extensive collection 
of Fruit Trees, embracing, perhaps, a selec- 
tion that has not been surpassed, for the cli- 
mate of Virginia, and nearly all propagated 
from fruit-bearing trees in their own orchard. 

Catalogues, with directions for planting, may 
be had at William Palmer's Seed and Plough 
Store; at Peyton Johnston & Broiher's Apo- 
thecary Store; at C. J. Sinton & Co.'s Hard- 
ware Store, and at Logan Waller's. Commis- 
sion House, where any orders left will be 
punctually attended to, and letters addressed 
to the subscribers, Richmond, will receive 
prompt attention. 

nov— if JOSEPH SINTON & SONS. 



LIFE INSURANCE — MUTUAL BE- 
NEFIT COMPANY. Office at the Book 
Store of Knowles & Walfold, corner of Main 
and 11th streets, Richmond, Virginia. 

£. W. KNOWLES, Agent. 
After paying all losses and expenses, the re- 
ceipts of this company on the 1st July, 1N53, 
amounted to &2,036.R77 3!) 

Paid in dividends to the insured, 360,921 40 



Leaving a net capital of $1,6*5,955 99 

Showing a business unprecedented in life in- 
surance. 

The annual dividends average over one- 
third the premium paid, thus making the ac- 
tual cost very low. 

A few dollars paid annually secures hun- 
dreds or thousands to the policy holder. 
dec— 3t 



HALL- & SPEER, PLOUGH MANU- 
FACTURERS, No. 166 Penn Street, 
Pittsburgh, Patentees of the celebrated First 
Premium Iron Centre and Hillside Revolving 
Beam Ploughs, also manufacture Patent Lever, 
Centre Lever, Improved Peacock, Wrought 
Mouldboard, Creole, Valley, and every other 
description of Ploughs, Plough Castings, Cul- 
tivators, &c. 

Morton & Booker, Agents, Richmond, Va. 

Wat kins & Morton, Agents, Petersburg, Va. 

Agencies will be established in all the prin- 
cipal towns throughout Virginia, so that points 
can be supplied regularly and conveniently. 

nov— 61* H.&S. 



J. W. SMITH, 

13th Street, below Main, Richmond, Virginia, 

PLUMBER AND GAS FITTER, and 
dealer in Lift and Force Pumps, Hy- 
draulic Rams, and all kinds of Apparatus for 
raising and distributing water; Lead, Wrought 
and Cast Iron Pipe, for Steam, Gas, or Water 
Circulation. Planters and others in want of 
Water or Steam Fixtures, Pumps or Hydrau- 
lic Rams, would do well to send their orders, 
as every thing sold or put up, is warranted to 
give satisfaction, or no charge. 

f£jr Orders from any part of the country 
promptly attended to. Prices moderate. 

dec— tf 

HOLLYWOOD NURSERY. 

JAMES GUEST, Florist and Nursery- 
man, a tew yards south-west of the new 
Public Square on which the Virginia State 
Agricultural Society holds its Annual Exhibi- 
tion, Richmond, Virginia, has always on haiid 
a large supply of Greenhou e Plants, Roses, 
Crape Myitles, Magnolias, Evergreens, Shade 
and Ornamental Trees, Asparagus Roots (1 
and 2 years old,) Grape Vines, Osage Orange 
for hedges, Strawberry Vines (some fine new 
varieties,) Lancashire Gooseberries (20 varie- 
ties,) Fastolf and other Raspberries, Rhubarb 
or Pie Plant of different kinds, &c &c. 

fjf Orders received for Fruit Trees; in ad- 
dition to which, he will shortly be in receipt 
of several hundred Plum and Pear Trees of 
the choicest varieties from one of the largest 
Northern Nurseries, selecied with care. 

Reference is made to the following gentle- 
men: Charles T Wortham, James Fisher, Jr., 
R. M. Zimmerman, Esqrs., Richmond; James 
Lynch, Esq., Petersburg; Charles B. Shaw 
and Montgomery Lynch, Esqrs., Civil Engi- 
neers, nov— 2t* 

BOOKS, PIANOS, MUSIC, &c. 

NASH & WOODHOUSE, Wholesale and 
Retail Dealers in Bo< ks, Piano Fortes, 
Stationery, Music, &c. 139 Main St., Rich- 
mond, Virginia. 

Constantly on hand, a full supply of stand- 
ard Agricultural Works. oc — tf 



INDEX. 



A. 



PAGE 

3, 65, 161 
8 



Agriculture, Scientific, No. 3, 4, 5, 
Agricultural Implements, 
Agriculture, Praise of - 9 

A Happy New Year, 16 

Acknowledgements, 19 

Agriculture, Experiments in - - 48 

Agricultural Societies and Clubs, - 54 

Agriculture, Explained by Question and 

Answer, - - - - 74, 172 

Agricultural Club of Powhatan, - 82 

Address by Mr. French, 88 

Analysis of Soils, Practical Value of the, 

by Prof. Booth, - - - 114 

Ammonia, Influence of, upon the Develop- 
ment of Plants, - - - •'" 118 
Agricultural Clubs, Effects of, on Perma- 
nent Improvement, - - 173 
Agricultural Club of Nottoway, - 196 
Agricultural Society of Loudoun Co., 205 
Agricultural Education, - - .217 
Agricultural Association, - - 240 
Agriculture, a Text-Book of - 266 
Ashes and Guano, ... 300 
Agricultural Club, Nuttsville - 307 
Agricultural Society, Southern Central 308 
Agricultural Fair in Norfolk City, - 313 
Agriculture, Use of Salt in - - 341 
Address of John R. Edmunds, Esq. before 
the Virginia State Agricultural Society, 
November 3, 1853, - - 353 
Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Agri- 
cultural Society, ... 373 

B. 

Bacon, Loss in Curing 48 

Bone Mill at Richmond, 56 

B'ackberry Wine, ... 176 

Bee, Taming the Honey - - 199 

Brunswick Agricultural Society, Resolu- 
tions of the ... 212 



Borrowing and Hiring, 

Blue Grass, English and Kentucky - 

Bees, Chloroform for 

Blackbird, Red Winged 

Barley, as a Substitute for Wheat— Joint 

Worm, • 
Broom Corn, - 



C. 



Page 
225 
234 
279 
281 



321 

328 



Cattle, Devon - - - 14 

Cattle, Great Sale of 22 

Clover, How to Get a Stand of - 36 

Colts, How to Break 38 

Correspondence, Extracts from - 57, 247 

Cattle, Gruels lor Improving - 79 

Corn— Preparation of Land, Manuring, 
Planting, Working, Securing and Using 
the Crop, - 

Challenge, - 

Calcareous Manures — Review of Essay 
on, by Hon. Willoughby Newton, 

Collars and Backhands, 

Corn, Culture of - 

Crops, Wheat and Tobacco - 

Clover Seed, How to Save - 

Cotswold Sheep, 

Cattle, Tumid Jaw in 

Clover Seed, Chilian 

Cut Worm, Remedy Against 

Celery, ... 

Chemistry— What is it Doing for Agri- 
culture'? . . - - 

Cattle, Points of Different Breeds of 

Cotswold Sheep at the Fair of the Royal 
Agricultural Society in England, in 
1853, --;■-'.- 

Cauliflowers, Culture of - 

Clay, New Use for - 

Concrete Cellar Bottoms, 

Comparative Nutritive Value of an Acre 
of Cabbage with other Crops, - 365 



106 

122 

129 
155 
174 
177 
178 
204 
207 
242, 306, 309 
266 
271 

292 
296 



314 
314 
335 
345 



INDEX. 



391 



D. 



PAGE 

22 

26 



Dog Law, .... 

Draining, Cbeap ... 
Draining as a Meansof Improving Lands, 

Ammonia in Rain Water, - - 77 

Draining, .... 184 

Ditching Machine, Morrill's Improved 205 
Dogs and Foxes, ... 238 
Ditching Machine, Pratt's - - 268 

De Bow's Review, for July, - - 277 

Damask Rose Bashes, Put not your 

Trust in - - - - 294 

Delinquent Subscribers, - - 305 

District Agricultural Societies of the 

State, .... 305 

E. 

Explanation, 

Errata, ... 

Ewes, Silesian and Merino - 
Erratum, ... 
Exhibitors, Notice to - 
Easy Shaving, 
Elderberries, how to use 

F. 

Fences, Wire — An Experiment, 

Flax Culture, 

Fowl, to Dress Cold - 
-Fence Law, Report on the - 

Four Thousand Dollars Wanted, 

Falkirk Tryst, 
JFounder, Cure for 

Fence Law, Burdens of the - 

Farming about Norfolk, 

French Merinos, 

Fair, Proposed in Norfolk City, 

Fence Law — and the Bearing of the 
Maine Liquor Law on Production, 326 

Farming, Scientific, - - - 340 

Fall Manuring, ... 344 

G. 

Grazing, Profits of, in Fauquier, - 35 

Guano, Use of, on Summer Crops, - 40 

Guano, Queries Respecting Artificial 54 

Guano as a Permanent Fertilizer, - 73 

Guano, Rolling Corn in — Prevention of 

Sore Throat in Hogs, - - 76 

Garden Crops, Rotation of - - 112 

Guano, Action of - - - 154 

Gypsum, Action of, on Organic Manures, 

by Prof. Campbell, of N. C, - 169 

Guano, Effects of - - - 171 

Grazing, .... 176 

Guano, Cost and Profits of - - 206 

Grape Vines Dropping their Fruit — Why 

Wheat Heaves, - - - 225 

Guano, Action of - - - 232 

Guano, Dr. Valentine's Artificial 246, 270 
Gad Fly, .... 247 
Gapes in Chickens, ... 269 
Grape Vines, Blood on 270 

Gnano, - - - 289,307,339 

Grape Vines, ... 294 

Good Milch C«ws, ... 364 



22,38 
178 1 
235 
243 
273 
312 
365 



25 
46 
79 
182 
209 
212 
215 
237 
272 
313 
314 



H. 



Hessian Fly, Bla^ck Fly and Joint Worm, 6 
Housewives of New trigland, - 49 

Horses, Comparative Merits of French 

and English 50 

Hole and Corner Clnb of Albemarle, Con- 
stitution of the 83 
Horizontal Ploughing, and the Hillside 

Plough, - - 185 

Hogs, Crude Antimony for - - 212 

Horseradish, to Keep - - 219 

Hole and Corner Club of King George, 226 
Horses, Careful Use of - - 231 

Horse's Mouth, Corn Cobs in the roof of 242 
Harness, How to Keep, in Order, - 295 

Horses, Cure for Scratches in - 304 

Horse vs. Mule, . - - 327 

I. 



Irish Potatoes, 


. 


53 


Irish Potato— Several Modes of Manur- 


ing, Cultivating an 


d Keeping, 


80 


Irish Potato, Culture 


of the - 


107 


Inspection Laws, 


- 


164 


Important, if True, 


- 


324 


Indian Corn, 


- 


330 


Joint Worm, - 


J. 


186, 291 


Joint Worm and Fly 




242 



K. 

Kettle well and Guano, - - 143 

Ii. 

Lime, Carbonate of - - - 9 

Lime, Common — Is it indispensable to the 

Fertility of the Soil, - - 36 

Lands in Amherst, ... 142 

Lime— Report of its Use in Nottoway, 203 
Lands, Draining, a Means of Improving 238 

Lime, 243, 291 

Lime Spreader, Cooper's, (with a cut,) 304 
Liming and Brining Wheat, - 364 

Life Memberships— Amelia C. H. - 371 

M. 

Manure, Protecting it from the Weather, 27 
Manures, on the Use of Single - 42 

M'Cormick's Reaper, - - 55, 72 

Marl, 72 

Manures, Preservation and Application 

of yard 85 

Marls of Lower Virginia, Analysis of, by 

Prof. Gilham, ... 97 

Manure, is Barnyard, indispensable to 
the Preservation of the Fertility of Cul- 
tivated Lands, ... ]09 
Melons, New Mode of Raising - 125 

Merino Sheep Speculation of 1815-17, 144 
Marl, Limit of Improvement from the 

Use of - - - - 193 

Manures, .... 197 
Mineral Manure Theory, - - 200 

Mosquitoes, How to Get Rid of - 204 



392 



INDEX. 



Mattresses, How to Prepare Shucks for 
Making - 

Manure, is Shade a Substitute for Barn- 
yard 

Mules, High Prices of, in Kentucky, 

Mules, Gen'l Washington's - 

Management, Good, no Mystery, 

Mules, Siraw as Feed for 

Mills, Warwick & Barksdale's 

Mutton, Merino Sheep for 

Mutton Sheep, Best Breed of 



Negroes, 



ST. 



o. 



206 

214 
231 
236 
263 
272 
277 
295 
301 



23 



Osage Orange — Mode of Planting, - 83 

Orange County Subscriptions to the State 
Agricultural Society, - - 313 

P. 

Peas and Pea Hay, 44 

Pigs Raised at University, - - '54 

Potato Rot, - - - 87 

Peach Trees, 87 

Prof. Mapes, Comments on an Analysis of 120 

175 
209 
297 
309 
337 
371 



Plants, Physiology of 
Postage on the Planter, 
Professor Mapes, ... 
Premiums, Liberal, - 
Planter, Encouragement to the 
Penny Post, - 

Proceedings of the Virginia State Agri 
cultural Society at the Show Grounds, 382 

R. 

Rules, Useful ... 26 

Rose Bugs, Cure for - - - 44, 208 

Reaping Machines, Proposed Trial of HO 
Rain, Fall of - - - - i 170 

Reaper, Aikins' Automaton or Self-raking, 204 
Reaping Machines, Trial of - - 215 

Reaper, Aikins' Automaton - - 246 

Red Wevil in Wheat, - - 250 

Reapers, Mr. Booth's Remarks on the Tri- 
al of, at Curl's Neck— also, on Drilling 
Machines and Water Rams, - 257 
Reapers, .... 274 

Rape or Colza, - - 274 

Railroads, Progress of - - 277 

Premiums for the Planter, - - 369 

S. 

Sheep, French Merino - - 11, 69 

Stock, Live, in the United States, - 12 

Sewing Machines, 20 

Seed Corn— Good Idea, - - 22 

Sore, Recipe for Curing 47 

Strawberry Culture, 56 

Smut in Wheat, Cause of - - 75 

Stock, Sale of Good ... 83 

Seed Corn, one Idea on ■• - 87 

Southdown Buck, - - - 123 

Seed Corn, ... 142 



PAGE 

Shade Theory, Dr. Baldwin's - 167 

Sheep, - - - - 171 

Stock, Loss on, when Driven to Market, 174 
Subsoiling, 202 

Sheep Husbandry, the Bible a Text Book 

for .... 207 

Sheep, French Merino, with a Cut of Mr. 

Geo. Campbell's Buck Matchless, 216 

Soap Making, - - - 231 

Slavery, Moral Benefits of - - 244 

Sheep, - - - 259,333 

Strawberry Controversy, - - 267 

Soiling Cattle, - - - 280 

Smut in Wheat, Brining and Liming a 

Preventive of 294 

Shepherd's Dog, - - - 298 

Super-phosphate of Lime, DeBurg's, 306 

Stock, Sale of Imported, in Kentucky, 312 
State Agricultural Societies, Judges at 

the 313 

Sheep, Charcoal and Salt for - 333 

Secretary to State Agricultural Society, 370 

T. 

Tobacco, . - - 

Tobacco, Specific Manure for 
Tide Water Agricultural Society, 
To Correspondents, - 
Tobacco, Use of, in England, 
Tobacco Project, 
The Peach, - 
The Seasons, - - - 

The Hon. Willoughby Newton, 
The Chrysanthemum, 
The Slate Agricultural Society, 
The Maine Liquor Law, 

U. 

Under-brush, to Destroy 
V. 

Virginia State Agricultural Society, 16, 4? 
Ill, 146, 178, 209, 227, 241, 273, 339 

Virginia State Agricultural Society, sche- 
dule of Premiums Offered by the 147 

Virginia Slate Agricultural Society, Pro- 
ceedings of the Executive Committee, 371 

W. 

Wheat, Premium - - - 11 
Wool, Future Prospects of— How to grow 

it, - - - - - 24 

Wet Feet, 35 

Wool Grower and Stock Register, - 54 

Wheels, to Keep Tires Tight on - 185 
Wheat Culture, the Lois-Weedon System 

of 202 

Wheat Crop, another Enemy to the 250 

Washing by Sieam, - - - 278 

Wheat, Educated - - - 282 

Wheat Drill, with a Guano Attachment, 313 

Wheat Reapers and Drills, - • - 324 

Wire Worms, Salt for - - 335 

Water Gate and Water Fence, - 346 






33 

55 
146 
209 
272 
310 
322. 
329 
343 
347 
366 
371 



279 



SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ADDRESS 

Of Hon. Willoughby Newton, before the Virginia State Agricultural Society, delivered 
in the Hall of the House of Delegates on Thursday evening, Feb. 19, 1852. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen: 

It is not my purpose, to-night, as many 
of you may perhaps suppose, to speak of 
practical agriculture. I appear before you, 
in obedience to the call of your Executive 
Committee, to discourse of other themes; 
and I shall be most happy if, with the brief 
period allowed me for preparation, I shall 
be able to discharge the duty assigned me 
in a manner at all acceptable to myself, or 
in the least degree worthy of this large 
and enlightened audience. 

The occasion which brings us together 
is one of deep interest to the entire Com- 
monwealth. After years of vain and fruit- 
less effort, and mortifying disappointment, 
the friends of agriculture are again assem- 
bled, I trust, under better auspices, with 
the hope of establishing, on a permanent 
basis, a State Agricultural Society, which 
shall endure for all time, and dispense its 
blessings to generations yet unborn. The 
signal failure of all former efforts to arouse 
Ihe attention of Virginia to the importance 
of this great subject would deter me from 
attempting the difficult task, if we were 
not now surrounded by circumstances that 
cheer us with new hope, animate us with 
fresh zeal, and give us, indeed, an assured 
confidence of the ultimate success of this 
noble enterprise. 

The greai civil revolution through which 
we have just passed has, I trust, obliterated 
forever all traces of the former differences 
between the various sections of the Com- 
monwealth. The strife is ended; and what- 
ever may have been our feelings or convic- 
tions of ri^ht and duty, we of the east no 
longer brood over our griefs, but are re- 
solved that all our jealousies and heart- 
burnings shall be forever buried. Now, 
no Tweed divides a kindred people. The 
mountain barriers are broken down, and 
with thern the conflicting interests that 
seemed to sever a people always in heart 
united. Amidst the greatest excitement, 
in the very tumults of passion, the hearts 
of our people have always been right. At 
no moment has that generous affection 
1 



which binds brother to brother, ceased to 
burn in their bosoms. Let the safety, in- 
terests or honor of Virginia be menaced 
from any quarter, and all domestic feuds 
are forgotten, and the only rivalry that 
remains is, who shall render the most effi- 
cient service, in repelling the common foe. 
Whether that foe be a foreign power in- 
vading our coast, or a domestic enemy 
assailing our peace and property, we feel 
that when Virginia calls we have no surer 
ally than the hardy pioneer of the west. 

"Bravest of men, his flocks and herds are safe, 
Remote from war's alarms, his pastures lie, 
By mountains inaccessible, secured, 
Vet foremost he, into the plain descends, 
Eager to bleed, in battles not his own." 

The Society, which we propose to estab- 
lish, is to be as broad and comprehensive 
as ihe Commonwealth itself. Every sec- 
tion and interest of the State will here 
be represented. The grower of wheat on 
the banks of the Potomac will here meet 
the planter of tobacco from the distant 
Roanoke; and the tiller of corn, who greets 
the first beams of the morning sun from 
the golden waves of the Atlantic, will hail 
his brother who catches its parting ray as 
it is reflected from the glassy bosom of the 
beautiful Ohio. 

If such an association were productive 
of no other good than bringing together 
citizens of distant quarters of the Com- 
monwealth, ils benefits would be incalcula- 
ble. It would remove prejudices, increase 
our State pride, and enlarge our knowledge 
of the resources of the Commonwealth, 
both intellectual and physical. 

There is no department of human in- 
dustry in which the knowledge of inven- 
tions, discoveries and improvements, seem 
to travel so slowly as in agriculture. Manu- 
facturers, congregated in cities and towns, 
are quick to learn whatever will facilitate 
their labors and add to their profits; whilst 
farmers, living in a state of comparative 
isolation, often remain for years ignorant of 
the greatest improvements. Thus, M'Cor- 



ADDRESS OF MR. NEWTON. 



large quantities of tobacco and Indian 
corn. When, in addition to this, it is re- 
collected, that Pennsylvania has been, for 
more than half a century, under an ame- 
liorating system of husbandry, whilst in 
Virginia no general attention has been 
given to improvement until within a very 
few years, no doubt can remain of the 
great natural superiority of Virginia. The 
census report, too, is of the crop of 1849, 
at which time the influence of the concen- 
trated manures, now so generally used in 
Virginia, was scarcely felt. The crop of 
that year was fourteen million five hundred 
and sixteen thousand nine hundred and six 
bushels. From my own observation and 
extensive inquiry I am satisfied that the 
crop of 1S50 in Eastern Virginia, exceeded 
that of 1849 at least twenty-five per cent, 
and the cropof 1851 was, in the same pro- 
portion, larger than that of the preceding 
year. My own crop of 1850 exceeded that 
of 1849 by more than one hundred per cent, 
and the crop of 1851 was greater by twenty- 
five per cent, than that of 1S50. I think 
there can be no doubt that the crop of last 
year exceeded twenty millions of bushels, 
and that Virginia may now be put down 
as the first wheat growing State in the 
Union, not only relatively but absolutely. 
There can be no better test of the value 
of land than its capacity to produce wheat, 
and taking this as the criterion, our poor 
old worn out State is certainly not inferior 
to any in the Union, old or new.* 

In Eastern Virginia the career of im- 
provement may be said to be but just be- 
gun. We are scarcely in the full tide of 

* The following statement, from the Census Re- 
port, may be relied upon as a near approximation 
to truth in relation to the wheat crop, which is pro- 
bably accurately measured; but in regard to the 
corn crop, is entirely conjectural, most of it being 
fed upon the ground, and is, therefore, entitled to 
no reliance. 

Great Wheat and Corn States. — A corre- 
spondent of the Pittsburg Gazette, writing from 
Washington, says : 

" From the abstracts of statistical returns already 
prepared at the Census Office, it appears that Penn- 
sylvania, in 1850, was the largest wheat producing 
State of the Union. I have had the curiosity to 
compare the si* most prominent States in respect 
to this crop, and give them below, with the crop of 
each, as shown by the return: 
Pennsylvania, - - 15,482,191 bushels. 
Ohio, - - - 14,967,056 " 

Virginia, - - - 14,516,906 " 
New York, - - 13,073,000 " 
Michigan, - - - 4,918,000 " 

Maryland, - - 4,494,680 " 

"In the yield of Indian corn, Ohio bears off the 
palm, or rather she stands primus inter pares mag- 



successful experiment, yet the striking fact, 
communicated in the Governor's message, 
of an increase in the assessed value of the 
lands, of this section, of more than seven- 
teen millions of dollars, or nearly thirty 
per cent, in twelve years, is well calculated 
to startle the croakers and to cause the 
compilers of statistics to commence figuring 
anew. This assessment, gratifying as the 
result must be considered, falls far short of 
the actual value of the lands; and their 
true increase in value cannot be rated at 
less than thirty millions of dollars. 

It is very difficult to estimate the intrinsic 
value of land, and I would recommend to 
those who have a taste for such investiga- 
tions, the perusal of a most remarkable 
essay of Dr. Black of Delaware, published 
in an early volume of the old American 
Farmer, in which the subject is treated 
with singular clearness and force. He 
maintains that land, being a permanent 
investment, is intrinsically worth that sum 
the annual interest of which it will con- 
tinue to pay in all time, after deducting all 
the expenses of manuring and cultivation. 
Taking this principle as correct, which 
seems to be founded in right reason, the 
assessment of many of our farms is much 
too low. The farm on which I reside, for 
example, which a few years ago cost four 
dollars per acre, was assessed, I believe, 
at eight dollars; yet it yielded, the last 
year, (to say nothing of the incidental pro- 
fits necessarily arising from a farm on 
which a large family resides,) a clear 
profit in cash, after deducting all expenses 
of cultivation and manures, of six per cent, 
on sixty dollars per acre. And I have no 
doubt that, under the system now pursued, 
this profit will not only continue, but be 
largely increased, in future years. Nor is 
this an isolated case. Many of my neigh- 
bors, upon similar lands, made crops quite 
as good, and others much better than mine. 
There was a time, Mr. President, when 
we of the east feared the competition of 
the west, and all schemes of internal im- 
provement were indiscriminately opposed, 

nos, for five States stand almost in a line in regard 
to this important staple. These States and their 
respective crops are as follows: 
Ohio, bushels of Indian corn, 59,788,750 

Kentucky, " - 59,000,000 

Illinois, " ,- 57,000,000 

Indiana, " - 53,000,000 

Tennessee, " - 52,000,000 

"The corn cropof 1850 for the whole United 
States is returned as over five hundred millions of 
bushels, a gain of about forty per cent, on that of 
1840." 



ADDRESS OF MR. NEWTON. 



with a zeal quite sincere, but, perhaps, not 
always according to knowledge. That 
time is past. We will now endeavor wisely 
to direct what we have not been able to 
counteract. Press on, therefore, with vi- 
gorous but prudent zeal, your great works 
of improvement; reach the Tennessee line; 
tap the Ohio at as many points as you 
please, and pour down upon the markets 
of the east, the rich product of your teem- 
ing valleys and grass-clad hills. We in- 
vite you to a 1'ree and generous competi- 
tion. Nay, more; connect your improve- 
ments with kindred works, in other States, 
until they reach the heart of the great 
west, and let her vast store-houses be emp- 
tied upon the ocean. Yet we shall not be 
appalled: confident in our own resources, 
we feel assured we shall be driven from 
no market in which others can sell with a 
profit. 

Each section has its peculiar advan- 
tages; but survey this glorious Common- 
wealth in all its length and breadth, and 
tell me in what is it inferior to any of the 
States of this Union? In a race of brave 
men, and fair women, none claim supe- 
riority. 

It is not mine to speak of her inexhausti- 
ble mineral resources, of her unfailing wa- 
ter power. We have seen that in the pro- 
duction of the most important of the ce- 
reals, she surpasses them all. Her tobacco 
finds a market in every quarter of the 
world, where the "weed" has a votary. 
Her Indian corn is not surpassed, except 
in that fabulous grain growing region, 
where the half bushel is discarded, and 
the only measure is an exuberant imagina- 
tion. Her horses are equal to the English 
and superior to the Arab. Hers are "the 
cattle on a thousand hills." Her wool ex- 
ceeds in fineness that of Spain or Silesia, 
and her flocks need only legislative pro- 
tection from pestilent curs, to compare in 
numbers with the leaves that in autumn 
strew her valleys. 

These remarks are made in no boastful 
spirit. Our people have been discouraged. 
I desire to banish their discontent. And, 
indeed, we have been so long decried by 
others that I think it high time we were 
standing up for ourselves. We have, in 
truth, Mr. President, "a goodly heritage," 
and are false to ourselves, and unworthy 
of the fame of our noble ancestors, if we 
lark the energy to improve, or the courage 
to defend it. 

Another prominent cause of the failure 
of all concerted efforts for the improvement 



of agricultute in Virginia may be traced 
to an erroneous opinion, extensively pre- 
vailing, as to the character and value of 
our agricultural labor. Originating at a 
very early day, (perhaps with Mr. Jeffer- 
son, who, however wise as a statesman, 
was not remarkable for the depth of his 
philosophy, or the soundness of his practi- 
cal views,) this error soon became general. 
The doctrine was taught by philosophers, 
statesmen and political economists, that 
slave labor was ruinously expensive and 
unproductive to its owners, and wherever 
employed, carried barrenness and desola- 
tion in its train. 

Whatever evils we endured, whether 
arising from a natural defect in our soils, 
which no labor could correct, but for which 
modern science has found a remedy, or 
from low prices, consequent upon a de- 
rangement of the currency, or a general 
peace in Europe, were attributed to this 
fruitful source of all our woes. And when, 
to these causes of discontent, was added 
the unfortunate disturbance in Southamp- 
ton, not comparable in its extent or vio- 
lence to an emeute in Paris, or a theatre 
mob in New York, or a fireman's riot in 
Philadelphia, a panic seized the public 
mind, and madness ruled the hour. The 
whole vocabulary of epithets was exhausted 
in denunciation of the hated institution, 
and the most striking pictures of the de- 
cadence of Virginia, which a heated ima- 
gination could paint, were profusely scat- 
tered through the land. Men of virtue 
and intelligence in her public councils, 
seemed to vie with each other in the ex- 
travagance of their denunciations. Her 
gullied hills and wasted fields were apos- 
trophized, and her sighing pine tops in- 
voked to chant a requiem over the departed 
glory of Virginia. Is it surprising that 
these views, thus expressed with all the 
earnestness of feeling and of eloquence, 
should have deeply impressed the public 
mind? The consequence was, a general 
spread of discontent — a feeling that slave 
property was insecure, and that emanci- 
pation, either immediate or prospective, 
would, sooner or later, be resorted to, as 
a remedy for the supposed evils under 
which the Commonwealth was suffering. 
How far the agricultural interests of the 
State were retarded by the memorable 
scenes of 1832 it is vain now to speculate. 
I rejoice to know that reason has resumed 
her empire, and that many of the most 
distinguished actors in that remarkable 
drama have renounced their former errors. 



ADDRESS OF MR. NEWTON. 



This subject is too comprehensive and 
important to be discussed, as a mere inci- 
dental topic, in an annual address, and I 
trust that some gentleman ol" the Society, 
of competent talents and information, will, 
at an early day, thoroughly investigate it, 
and furnish an essay on the necessary con- 
nection between the institution of slavery 
and the progress of agricultural improve- 
ment in Virginia. 

The institution of slavery is a fixed fact; 
and as wise and practical men, it is our 
duty so to regard it. Emancipation is an 
idle dream, beyond the reach of human 
power. Its accomplishment, if it were pos- 
sible, would be the overthrow, not only of 
all the material interests of the south, but 
also of the great fabric of modern civiliza- 
tion. Let us be content with our condition. 
We have a class of laborers, tractable, effi- 
cient and profitable. Without them, Vir- 
ginia would be a wilderness; with them, 
we may defy the competition of the world. 
It is not for us, in the indulgence of a mis- 
taken sensibility, to call in question the 
wisdom or beneficence of the great Author 
of our being. Let the institution go on to 
fulfil its mission; and when, in the provi- 
dence of God, that has been accomplished, 
the same Power that opened the waters of 
the Red Sea, for the exodus of the Israelites 
i'rom the land of Egypt, can make dry the 
waters of the great deep, for the passage 
of the African to his native shores. 

Age may counsel, and wisdom may di- 
rect, but no great enterprise was ever yet 
accomplished without the enthusiasm of 
the young. This we have, heretofore, 
failed to secure. Nor is this wonderful. 
The cheerless pictures that have been 
presented, of the prospects of agriculture, 
were far from captivating to the imagina- 
tions of youths, who, leaving the seminaries 
of learning, with a high appreciation of 
their powers, have come into the great 
world, with a determination to carve their 
own way to fame and fortune. The policy 
of the State has caused them to be in- 
structed in every science save that which 
would be most useful. They come into 
active life, entirely ignorant of the princi- 
ples of agriculture, and turn with contempt 
from a calling, in which they suppose the 
unlettered rustic can be quite as successful 
as themselves. They press into the pro- 
fessions, already crowded to suffocation, or 
try their fortunes in the precarious trade 
of the politician. It would afford an in- 
structive, though a melancholy lesson, if 
we could follow the progress of the army 



of aspirants that have left our colleges in 
Virginia during the last thirty years, full 
of hope and expectation, to battle with the 
world. How many have fainted by the 
way-side! How many, chafed by disap- 
pointment, have turned their backs upon 
their native homes, to seek in distant lands, 
what may never be attained! How few 
have reached the goal of their ambition! 

This deplorable waste of talent and en- 
ergy must be arrested. New ideas must 
be infused into the old, and new tastes 
formed in the young. Happily, this pro- 
cess has commenced, and I trust will ra- 
pidly extend. Many of our enlightened 
farmers are showing, by the balance sheet, 
that the profits of agriculture, in Virginia, 
are more certain, and quite as large, as 
those of any other legitimate business. 
And the demand for scientific knowledge 
connected with our profession, has been 
so great, that the University, and some of 
our principal colleges, have, in deference 
to public opinion, instituted a course of 
lectures on agricultural chemistry. This 
is a gratifying commencement, but falls far 
short of that comprehensive system of in- 
struction demanded by the spirit of the age. 

If my humble voice could reach the 
throng of noble youths that now crowd 
our halls of learning, buoyant with hope 
and panting for distinction, I would point 
them to our neglected agriculture as the 
most promising field for the exercise of 
their talents and the gratification of an 
honorable ambition. The vast resources 
of Virginia only await your efforts for their 
development. With a territory capable of 
supporting, in comfort, a population of two 
hundred, she has less than twenty to the 
square mile. Here is ample room and 
verge enough for the exercise of all your 
talents, and, unlike other professions, the 
greater the competition the greater the 
profit, in the improvement of the common 
inheritance of all. Science woos you to 
her embrace, and an honorable indepen- 
dence and an enduring fame offer them- 
selves as your rich reward. Will you 
prefer the uncertain conflicts of the bar, or 
the thorny paths of party politics? What 
do they offer in comparison with the sub- 
stantial blessings enjoyed by every en- 
lightened and successful farmer? What 
do you find in the history of our public 
men to charm and captivate you? Few 
have acquired fortune, many have sacri- 
ficed their independence; and if, here and 
there, one has attained to eminence, thou- 
sands have returned to their constituents, 



ADDRESS OF MR. NEWTON. 



like rain-drops to the ocean, never more to I 
be distinguished from the common mass. 
Nor is agriculture without her triumphs. 
Ancient history presents many names, illus- 
trious because of their connection with the 
rural arts. 1 need not recite them. In 
modern times what statesman has achieved 
a more solid reputation than Sinclair, Coke 
or Arthur Young? In our own State, 
Arator will live when the author of Con- 
struction Construed and the Enquiry shall 
be forgotten. And among all the eminent 
living statesmen of Virginia, who have, 
with toil assiduous, climbed the steep as- 
cent of fame, is there one who has attained 
a reputation as extensive and enduring as 
the unpretending author of the Essay on 
Calcareous Manures? 

The last cause of disappointment to 
which I shall refer is the fact, that we 
have not heretofore been sustained by the 
cordial cooperation of the Legislature. — 
Other States have established agricultural 
schools and societies, with munificent en- 
dowments, appointed chemists, geologists, 
and boards of agriculture, and have mani- 
fested by every means in their power, a 
deep interest in the success of this the most 
important of all industrial employments. 
The Legislature of Virginia, amidst this 
universal progress, has heretofore looked 
on with listless indifference, as if uncon- 
Bcious of its duties, or unwilling to perform 
them. Standing here to-night, in the ca- 
pitol of the State, honored as 1 am by the 
presence of many of the representatives 
of the people, may 1 be pardoned for in- 
quiring, if this state of things, so injurious 
to the interests, and so unworthy of the 
renown, of this great Commonwealth, will 
be permitted longer to continue? I trust 
not. The friends of agriculture, here as- 
sembled, will doubtless soon present to 
your honorable body, their reasonable re- 
quests. Without anticipating them, I may 
safely assure you, that they will be such 
as it is not unbecoming in them to make, 
or in yon to grant. They may ask some 
efficient legislation for the protection of the 
rights and interests of agriculture. They 
will, doubtless, ask an appropriation of 
money, to be applied to various objects, 
eminently useful. The wisest economy 



requires that you should not deny them 
this. Besides the general benefits that it 
would diffuse through the Commonwealth, 
you will receive back into the treasury, at 
no very distant day, ten dollars for every 
one that you may appropriate to this object. 
You have seen that your revenue has re- 
ceived a permanent addition of more than 
seventeen thousand dollars under the new 
assessment of the lands of Eastern Virgi- 
nia alone. This gratifying and unexpected 
result is mainly attributed, by our patriotic 
Chief Magistrate, to the unaided efforts, 
of comparatively a few zealous and intel- 
ligent farmers, scattered through the coun- 
try. What may not be expected, when the 
countenance and protection of the State 
government are given to this great inter- 
est, and the attention of the whole people 
aroused to its high importance? Under 
this fostering influence, the next decade 
will probably show a farther enhancement 
in the value of the lands of this section, 
equal to thirty millions, and a farther in- 
crease of your revenue to the extent of 
thirty thousand dollars, from this source 
alone. Am I not warranted, therefore, in 
saying, that wise economy demands this 
appropriation? 

And now, Mr. President, fervently im- 
ploring the blessings of a kind Providence 
on all our endeavors, I appeal to the far- 
mers, throughout the Commonwealth, to 
come up to this great work, with an ardent 
and enlightened zeal. I call upon the re- 
presentatives of the people to do their duty 
to the Commonwealth and their constitu- 
ents. I invoke the cordial cooperation of 
men of all parties and occupations — gen- 
tlemen of the learned professions, enter- 
prising merchants.and industriousarlisans. 
I call upon the press, to lend us its mighty 
influence; upon the old, to give us the be- 
nefit of their wise counsels; on the young, 
to lend us their ardor and enthusiasm; and, 
finally, sir, in behalf of this noble enter- 
prise, I invoke the potent influence of wo- 
man. I call upon the mothers, wives and 
daughters of Virginia, to encourage, by 
their countenance and cheering smiles, a 
calling which crowns the daily board with 
abundance, and diffuses peace, and happi- 
ness, and joy around the domestic fireside. 



> 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



ADDRESS 

To the Virginia State Agricultural Society, on the Effects of Domestic Slavery on the 
Manners, Habits and Welfare of the Agricultural Population of the Southern States; 
and the Slavery of Class to Class in the Northern States, by Edmund Ruffin, Pre- 
sident of the Society. Read at the First Annual Meeting, in the Hall of the House 
of Delegates, December 16, 1852. 



Members or the Virginia 

State Agricultural Society: 

Upon this occasion of (he first annual 
meeting of your body since its organiza- 
tion, and also in conformity with time-ho- 
nored usage, it is probably expected that 
something will be said by your presiding 
officer, laudatory of the past labors, or in 
hopeful anticipation, thence deduced, of 
the future prospects of the Society. It is 
not in my power to apply any such "flat- 
tering unction." The efforts of the Execu- 
tive Committee, and the few other members 
who have labored to promote the objects 
of the Society, have not been seconded 
by much the greater number of actual 
members, well qualified to render good 
service; still less have they had the aid or 
sympathy of the great agricultural com- 
munity; and our objects and efforts have 
had neither aid nor countenance, nor even 
notice of the Legislature of Virginia. In 
the past session of five months' length, the 
Legislature did not find time to give the 
slightest consideration to, still less to act. 
upon, the petitions of this Society, for aid 
to agricultural instruction and improve- 
ment. Even the taxes levied upon agri- 
culture, through the pretended and delu- 
sive legal inspections of manures, for relief 
from which the assemblage of farmers 
which formed this Society unanimously 
petitioned, not only still remain in force, 
but our petition for their repeal has not 
received the slightest consideration. 

We may, and ought to continue to urge 
the affording of that governmental aid 
which is justly due to agricultural instruc- 
tion and improvement. But is not to be 
disguised that there is but little ground for 
hope of obtaining such aid from the Le- 
gislature of this almost exclusively agri- 
cultural commonwealth, which has never 
yet granted as many single dollars to pro- 
mote this incomparably the greatest of all 
public interests, as it has squandered thou- 
sands, perhaps millions, for private interests 
and visionary schemes, and even jobs for 
selfish and predatory individual interests, 
under the specious but deceptious guise 



and name of public improvements and pro- 
motion of public interests. The former 
abortion of a Board of Agriculture, and 
the recently still-born enactment of an 
Agricultural Commissioner and Chemist, 
(enacted, "but remaining suspended,) do 
not deserve to be named as exceptions to 
the general rule of total neglect of all 
agricultural improvement and interests. 

Perhaps it may be considered as at least 
impolitic for me, in this place, to express 
these plain truths. The utterer only and 
individually is responsible for them, and 
they cannot be charged to the Society. 
But in any case, no harm can result from 
thus stating the truth. Whether, like the 
idol-worshipper of the ancient fable, we 
continue to pray to a deaf and wooden 
deity, or abuse and maltreat it, in either 
case we will obtain nothing for our object. 

Still, if we, the members of this Society, 
perform faithfully the duties we have un- 
dertaken, there is no reason for despairing 
of our cause. Few and weak as we are, 
in comparison to the numbers which the 
great agricultural community of Virginia 
ought to supply, and even if still continuing 
without aid or countenance of the govern- 
ment, we alone can render important ser- 
vices to agricultural improvement and pro- 
gress. All that is necessary for this great 
and beneficial result, is that each member 
shall contribute his individual useful know- 
ledge to the general stock. Let but this 
be done, and we shall do well — even though 
unaided by the far greater number of our 
as intelligent and capable brother farmers, 
and still utterly neglected, in common with 
all other agricultural claims and interests, 
by the Legislature of our country. I ear- 
nestly invite and urge each one of you all 
to deiermine so to act. As an individual 
member, and in the private capaciiy in 
which only will henceforth be my service, 
I pledge myself to strive thus to labor to 
promote the great and noble object of our 
Association, so long as my fast-failing 
powers, of both body and mind, may per- 
mit, and enough fellow-laborers shall con- 
tinue to aid and further the good work. 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



9 



Without farther reference to this Socie- 
ty, or its members, I will proceed to more 
general considerations. The subject upon 
which I propose now to offer my opinions 
and remarks, though not strictly agricul- 
tural, is of the highest degree of interest 
and importance to the whole agricultural 
community of this and the other southern 
states of the confederacy. This is, the in- 
fluence of the institution of domestic or 
individual slavery on manners, intellect 
and morals, and on the welfare of both 
masters and slaves; and in these respects 
compared to the influence of the slavery 
of class to class, which, in one or other 
form, either now prevails, or soon will oc- 
cur, in every civilized country where do- 
mestic slavery is not found. 

The institution of domestic slavery, its ef- 
fects, influencesand probable consequences, 
constitute the great and all-absorbing sub- 
ject of discussion at the present time — of 
defensive and too often apologetic argu- 
ment in the southern states, and of aggres- 
sive and fierce denunciation throughout 
the northern states of this confederacy. 
The subject is as broad and varied as it is 
important. To be fully discussed it would 
require consideration in sundry aspects, 
but of which each one may be treated se- 
parately and distinctly. The expediency 
and rightfulness of slavery may be consi- 
dered either as a question of religion and 
morals — of public policy and political in- 
fluence — or of domestic economy and in- 
fluence upon private interests and on the 
habits and manners of society. The for- 
mer and chief branches of the general 
question have been already discussed by 
able writers, to whose arguments I could 
add no light, even if this occasion per- 
mitted so wide a range of discussion. But 
the latter-named branch has had less at- 
tention, or defence, on our part; and as its 
consideration is intimately connected with 
agriculture and agricultural interests, in 
this connection mainly, and as suitable to 
this occasion, I will now offer some re- 
marks upon the influence of the existing 
institution of African slavery, on the social 
qualities, manners and welfare of the agri- 
cultural class in these southern stales. 

This one and limited relation cf slavery 
to agricultural interests, requires a still 
farther division, into 1st: The question of 
the comparative pecuniary profit of slave 
labor, or of its absence and its substitutes; 
and 2d: The question of social and moral 
advantages and disadvantages. The first 
of these subdivisions, important as it is to 



our interests, and certain and easy as 
would be the demonstration of the result, 
cannot be here discussed. The superior 
pecuniary profit of slave-labor is a subject 
of statistics, of calculation and detail, which 
would be inadmissible at this time and 
place. But it is not required to reach the 
proof through such a course of argument. 
I may assume as granted and unquestion- 
able, the fact almost universally admitted 
in the southern states, that slave-labor is 
in our circumstances, more profitable to 
the employers, and to agricultural inter- 
ests, than could be any possible substituted 
labor. Dismissing, then, this important 
subdivision of this subject as settled, I will 
direct my observations to private interests 
other than pecuniary, as affected by the 
influence of the institution of slavery. 

It has been a fertile subject of declama- 
tion and denunciation among the opposers 
of slavery, that the existence of domestic 
slavery operated to corrupt manners and 
morals. Every wide-spread and pervading 
institution, however beneficial in general 
effect, must also have some adverse effect 
or influence in minor points, or exceptional 
cases. This is true in regard to slavery, 
as it is in regard to every great institution 
of public economy, government, morals or 
even religion. He is a poor reasoner who 
judges not by general rules, but by the 
exceptions. And that is the mode of argu- 
ment generally adopted to oppose and de- 
nounce the institution of slavery. The 
so-called facts or premises, if not either 
entirely false and impossible, as is gener- 
ally the case, are but rare exceptions to 
general rules. 

The great economical objections to slave- 
labor are these: The compulsion of autho- 
rity, and the fear of punishment, to the 
slave, are less potent than the pressure of 
want, and desire of gain, stimulating Cree 
laborers. Hence slaves labor less assidu- 
ously than necessitous free laborers. Next, 
with all this loss of effort, still the labor of 
slaves is so profitable that their owners are 
tempted by their prosperity and the ease 
of obtaining a living, to be themselves in- 
dolent and wasteful. These are effects 
which every where follow similar causes. 
Their existence is certainly a great de- 
traction from what might otherwise be the 
profits of southern agricultural industry 
and capital. But when this detraction is 
urged (as is continually done) by the op- 
posers of slavery to prove the evils of the 
system, they are in fact but asserting the 
truths that the labors of the southern slaves. 



10 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



in general, are lighter, and yet the profits 
of their owners greater, than in regard to 
the corresponding classes of laborers and 
capitalists in Europe or the northern states. 
Northern farmers who are now thriving by 
greater economy of labor and products, 
would become bankrupt if subjected to the 
waste of both, which is general through- 
out the southern states. These evils are 
the effects certainly of slavery — but effects 
which are the strongest evidence of the 
greater benefits of the system, and of the 
falsehood of the charges against it, as a 
question of profit for the proprietors, or of 
oppression and suffering of the slaves. 

Much is certainly wanting among the 
agricultural class of the southern states, 
in education and mental culture; and great 
have been and still remain the obstacles to 
the higher attainment of these benefits. 
This also is one of the attendant minor 
evils of the institution of slavery, caused 
by the necessary dispersed residences of 
the superior class of population. Still, in 
no other class of cultivators of the soil, 
whether in this young and great confede- 
racy, or in old Europe, can there be found, 
in proportion to numbers, so much of mental 
improvement, enlargement of views, and 
general information, as in the southern and 
slave-holding states. In no other agricul- 
tural class, throughout the world, are better 
nurtured or so well preserved the purity 
of all the domestic and family virtues of 
daughters, wives and mothers. To the 
most intelligent and fair judging of foreign 
travellers and visitors to our southern coun- 
try, who have had opportunities to observe 
domestic manners and country society — 
whether such visitors were natives of Eu- 
rope or of our northern and slavery-hating 
states, nothing has seemed more marked 
and peculiar than facts observed, which 
were hut illustrations of the propositions 
I have asserted, and necessary results of 
our peculiar social position. Yet it has 
not occurred to these intelligent stran- 
gers, who have admired and eulogised the 
domestic manners and refinement of the 
southern country population, that the main 
cause, the essential foundation of the per- 
manence of the peculiar merits which they 
witnessed with surprise and admiration, 
are due to the institution of African slavery. 
It is this institution, which, by confining 
the drudgery and brutalizing effects of con- 
tinued toil to the inferior race, (and of which 
the subjection, notwithstanding, has served 
greatly for its benefit and improvement,) 
gives to the superior race leisure and other 



means to improve mind, taste and man- 
ners. In countries where domestic slavery 
does not exist, (or some equivalent condi- 
tion of society, such as I will advert to,) 
and where the owners of the soil and all 
members of their families are necessarily 
laborers in the lowest departments or most 
degrading menial services, there may be 
much industry, greater economy and fru- 
gality, and possibly, (under the peculiarly 
favorable, though transient circumstances 
of a newly settled territory and cheap and 
fertile lands,) there may be even much gen- 
eral accumulation of profit and of wealth. 
But, nevertheless, such a population, of 
necessity, must be, or in a few generations 
will become, rude in manners, and greatly 
deficient in refinement of feeling and cul- 
tivation of mental and social qualities. No 
one appreciates more highly than myself 
the advantages to a nation of producing 
and accumulating wealth by the individual 
members of the great community, and es- 
pecially, as the greatest public gain, the 
increase of agricultural production and 
riches. To advocate and urge the for- 
warding of the latter results is the especial 
object of my present service and employ- 
ment, as it has been one of the most im- 
portant objects of all my public efforts and 
labors. Still, God forbid that we should 
deem the accumulation of wealth — even 
if from its most beneficial and best possible 
source, the fertilization and culture of the 
soil — as compensation for the loss or de- 
terioration of the mental and moral quali- 
ties of southern men, and more especially 
of southern women! And if brought to 
the hard necessity of choosing between 
the two conditions, with their opposite dis- 
advantages, I would not hesitate a moment 
to prefer the entire existing social, domestic 
and industrial conditions of these slave- 
holding states, with all the now existing 
evils of indolence and waste, and generally 
exhausting tillage and declining fertility, 
to the entire conditions of any other coun- 
try on the face of the globe. Our country 
population would lose largely in grade by 
exchangingconditionswith the industrious, 
economical and thrifty Flemish farmers — 
long and deservedly celebrated for the ex- 
cellence of their agriculture, ami who yet, 
beyond the routine of their regular work, 
are almost as uninformed as their most 
ignorant hired laborers. Far worse would 
be a change to the condition of the pro- 
prietary class of France, among whom 
land generally is so minutely subdivided, 
that its possession is usually accompanied 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



11 



by all the toils and privations of day-la- 
borers to the farmer and his family, and of 
course by the ignorance, coarseness of man- 
ners, and moral degradation, which are the 
necessary consequences of such unceasing 
toil, exposure and privations. In Britain, 
it is true, that with much of gross ignorance 
and rudeness of manners among the lower 
class of farmers, and with all the agricul- 
tural laborers, there are, in the higher 
classes, both of proprietors and tenants of 
lands, many persons of high intellectual 
attainments. But this exception to the 
general rule is owing to the almost univer- 
sal mode of tenure of the landed property 
in that country, and the usual separation 
of its possession, as capital, by men of 
wealth and leisure, and the conducting of 
the cultivation by tenants upon rent. Even 
many tenants are men of wealth, who find 
it more profitable, as tenants, to conduct 
very large agricultural operations and ca- 
pital, than the being proprietors of small 
farms, and upon a necessarily very limited 
scale of operations. These causes are there 
further aided in operation by the high price 
of land, which keeps it in the possession 
of the wealthy and educated, and also the 
great plenty and cheapness, and degrada- 
tion, of agricultural labor — much cheaper 
in that thickly populated country than our 
slave-labor. Of these several conditions 
of British agriculture, serving to improve 
and refine the higher agricultural classes, 
and only the higher classes, not one exists 
in this country, or possibly can occur for 
centuries to come. 

In the northern and north-western states 
of the confederacy, there are also to be 
found, (as yet, though they must certainly 
and soon disappear,) many proprietors and 
cultivators of land who are men of educa- 
tion and intelligence, and whose wives and 
daughters have a high degree of refine- 
ment of manners. But in nearly every 
such case, it will be found that this intelli- 
gence and refinement were derived from 
some previous and different training and 
position; and that these qualities have 
been so far retained in agricultural life by 
the large agricultural profits and accumu- 
lations of wealth available in a newly set- 
tled country. But even now, the general 
condition of the agricultural class in these 
non-slave holding states is much lowered, 
and tending to what must be hereafter a 
state of general and deep degradation, in 
intellectual and social qualities. And with 
them, the degradation will not stop when 
as low as that of the tenantry of England, 



or of the boors who reap rich harvests 
from the fat soil of Belgium. The compa- 
rative poverty of soil in the older northern 
states, and the general and repeated divi- 
sions of property therein, by inheritance, 
indicate a future condition of the proprie- 
tors more like to that of the wretched and 
ignorant proprietary class of France. 

Even now, it is comparatively a rare 
case in the northern stales to find, what is 
so common in the southern, a highly intel- 
ligent man, with a well educated and re- 
fined family, all natives of and still residing 
in the country, and belonging strictly to 
the agricultural class. Such persons have 
little inducement to remain in (and still 

I less to commence) country life and agricul- 
tural employments in the northern states. 

| And should any such, perchance, be so 

j situated, they must either abandon their 
pursuits and their locality, or be content 

I that their children shall sink to the general 
level of the surrounding residents, in coarse 
manners and uncultivated intellect. A suf- 
ficient proof of the working of this law of 
circumstances is presented continually to 
the world in the contrast of the represen- 
tation in Congress from the country dis- 
tricts of the northern and southern states 
respectively. The most distinguished men, 
and especially statesmen, of the south, have 
(at least) as often been natives and con- 
tinued residents of the country as of towns — 
and in talent and in numbers they have far 
exceeded all from the north in our public 
councils. In the northern states there are 
indeed many men of the highest talents, 
education and learning — and, it may be, 
in the latter respects exceeding any in the 
south, because of the greater advantages 
offered by great cities for literary and 
scientific pursuits. But these great men 
are either produced in or gathered to the 
great cities only. They are men who have 
acquired their just renown either as law- 
yers, physicians, divines, or professors in 
scientific and literary institutions. All of 
great intellectual power that now exists in 
the great states of Massachusetts, New 
York, and Pennsylvania, is to be found in 
their populous cities only — and almost ex- 
clusively in their respective great capitals. 
Some truly great men may be (and some- 
times are) furnished from these cities to 
aid the public councils. But never does 
one such come from all the twenty-fold 
greater country and village constituencies— 
which even when disposed thus to honor 
the highest talent (which is not often the 
case, either in town or country — north or 



12 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



south) — could not possibly find among 
themselves any high talent to honor. The 
difference between the intellectual condi- 
tions of the northern and southern agricul- 
tural population, is the cause of the usual 
long existing and well known commanding 
influence in the federal government of the 
southern states, through their representa- 
tives, in whatever measures of national 
policy are directed by wisdom, or intellect, 
or for the benefit of general interests. But 
we are now much the weakest in votes, 
and in whatever of public policy is con- 
nected with sectional interests, or still baser 
private self-interest — superior intellect has 
no influence, and we are governed by the 
bruteforceand cupidity ofsuperiornumbers. 

The peculiar defects of northern agricul- 
tural labor in its influence on social and 
domestic relations, do not (as yet) forbid 
great pecuniary success in agricultural pur- 
suits. Indeed, when no far-reaching intel- 
lectual power is required to devise or di- 
rect a system of culture or improvement, 
or while enough of such direction, derived 
from former influences, yet remains in ope- 
ration, the returns of agricultural capital 
are even increased by the existing condi- 
tion of things in the northern states. 

A farmer or planter of the south, not 
rich, but in independent and comfortable 
circumstances, gives a portion of his time 
to social and mental occupation. Perhaps 
his whole object in seeking such relaxation 
is present enjoyment. But the final result 
is not the less improvement of mind and 
manners. His sons and daughters grow 
up under these advantages and influences 
of social communication. And, if in the 
end, because of such indulgences of a fa- 
mily, even though moderately and properly 
enjoyed, there may be less money accumu- 
lated, there will be acquired other values 
much more than compensating the differ- 
ence of pecuniary gains. Elwood Fisher, 
(in his excellent lecture on "The North 
and the South," (has observed most truly 
that the ordinary social intercourse of the 
people of the south serves admirably as a 
school of instruction. Quoting by memory 
only from this profound thinker and able 
advocateof southern institutionsand rights, 
I am not sure whether I am indebted 
directly to his expressions, or indirectly, 
(by deduction from them) i'or the opinion 
which will here be added — that this social 
school, in its operation for improving man- 
ners and morals, for enlarging observation 
and thought, and for affording general and 
useful information, is far better than the 



much lauded common-school education of 
the New England states. Spelling, read- 
ing and common arithmetic are indeed ne- 
cessary and excellent first steps in the pur- 
suit of useful instruction and knowledge. 
But he who goes no farther in the pursuit, 
might as well have not moved at all. 

A farmer of New York or Pennsylvania, 
in like moderate, but independent circum- 
stances as to amount of property to those 
just supposed for the southerner, would be 
compelled to be one of his own continual 
laborers. His wife would be the most un- 
ceasing drudge on the farm. His sons, and 
not less his daughters, would be brought 
up to continued labor in the lowest and 
most repulsive employments, and without 
any improving, social intercourse, because 
its cost could not be afforded. Under such 
circumstances, aided by the usual accom- 
paniments of industry, frugality and parsi- 
monious expenditure, wealth may and pro- 
bably will be increased. But the possessors 
will seek and find nearly all their objects 
and pleasures in such accumulation, and 
they, or the next generation, will descend 
as much in refinement and intellect, as the 
stock of wealth may be increased. Such 
a proprietor, in mere money valuation, is 
just so much the richer as the value of the 
wages of himself, his wife, and his children, 
as day-laborers on the farm, or in the house. 
A life of continued, moderate and regular 
labor, is not a life of pain. When encou- 
raged by the prospect, and rewarded by 
the fruition of gain, it becomes a life of plea- 
sure. Thus the accumulation of wealth, 
by an industrious northern farmer, does 
not usually induce any intermission of his 
early labors, or change the habits, labors, 
or training of his children. When he may 
have acquired $30,000 worth of property, 
he continues to labor as steadily, and to 
live nearly as rudely as when under the 
pressure of his early poverty. His son 
still drives his father's wagon or his hogs 
to market— in no way distinguished in ap- 
pearance or habits from the other hired 
laborers. His wife is still the most labo- 
rious domestic drudge. His daughters 
have no improving society, and their dnily 
and continuous employments are Ihose of 
menial servants— whose services it would 
be too costly to hire. 

This is the general condition to which 
agricultural sociefyand manners must tend, 
are tending, and have already reached, to 
great extent, in the older non-slaveholding 
states. This is the condition from which 
we are saved, and immeasurably exalted, 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



13 



by the subjection and slavery of an inferior 
race. The superior race here is free. In 
the so-called free countries, the far greater 
number of the superior race is, in effect, 
enslaved, and thereby degraded to a con- 
dition suitable only for a race made infe- 
rior by nature. There exists slavery, or 
the subjection of man to man, in every 
country under the sun, except, perhaps, 
the most barbarous and ignorant. In these 
southern states we have the slavery of in- 
dividual to individual, and of a naturally 
inferior to a naturally superior race; which, 
of all, is the condition best for both masters 
and slaves. In the so-called free countries, 
in addition to the'sometimes most oppres- 
sive ruleof a despotic and grinding govern- 
ment — or it may be under free constitu- 
tional government, there is the slavery of 
class to class — of the starving laborers to 
the paying employers. Hunger and cold 
are the most exacting of all task-masters. 
The victims of hunger and cold are always, 
and of necessity, slaves to their wants, and 
through them, to those who only can sup- 
ply their want3. The great argument 
urged by English and northern advocates 
for the abolition of our system of slavery, 
(while totally regardless of their own) is 
that hired labor is cheaper than slave-labor. 
And this is unquestionably true, as to both 
Old England and New England, and all 
other countries where the formerly existing 
domestic slavery has been abolished, be- 
cause (and only because,) it had ceased 
to be the most profitable to the slaveholders. 
Whenever continued severe suffering from 
hunger and cold, and the number of the 
sufferers, compel the destitute class to com- [ 
pete eagerly with each other in lowering 
the wagesof their labortoobtain bread, then 
the payment for such labor of so-called 
free men necessarily becomes cheaper than 
would be the support of a domestic slave. 
Of course, if domestic slavery then re- 
mained in that country, theowners of slaves j 
would hasten to get rid of them, and to j 
employinstead thecheaperlaborsfurnished ! 
and tasked and driven by hunger and cold, i 
Thus, and for these reasons, acted our t 
English ancestors, when manumitting their j 
white slaves. Thus, and still better for 
their own interest, did our northern bre- 
thren. For when convinced that domestic 
slavery was too costly in their wintry re- 
gion, they first sold their negro slaves to 
the south, and while thereafter avoiding 
their costly use, they continued, as long as 
permitted by law, to steal new supplies 
from Africa to sell to the southern states. 



If the former southern demand for Africans 
still existed, and the African slave trade 
was open by law — or if it were safe and 
profitable to violate the new prohibitory 
law — enough of our northern brethren 
would be now as ready as ever to supply 
the demand. And if their access to the 
coast of Africa was prevented, they would 
be as willing (if safe and profitable,) to 
supply all the south with slaves, by kid- 
napping the subjects of their now desired 
ally, the negro emperor of Hayti. 

Nearly all of the many vessels which 
have been engaged in the African slave 
trade, in violation of the prohibitory laws 
of the United States, were fitted out for 
that purpose from northern ports and by 
northern capital, and were manned by 
northern crews. This trade, since being 
prohibited and made piracy by our laws, 
has been carried on to supply slaves to 
Cuba and Brazil, with incomparably more 
inhumanity and cruelty, than attended the 
formerly legalized and regulated traffic. 
From time to time, we have seen announced 
the detection of sundry vessels, or persons 
engaged in this now atrocious business of 
torture and murder in the sea voyage; and 
legal proceedings have often been com- 
menced against the supposed offenders 
in the northern cities to which they re- 
spectively belonged. But in not one such 
case have I ever heard of the conviction 
followed by due punishment of any of 
these worst of criminals. And when such 
detections of these acts of legal piracy are 
announced in northern newspapers, it is 
usually done in as few words as would 
serve for any other commercial occurrence, 
of innocent or legal character. Yet, besides 
the illegality of the trade, any one such 
voyage, made by the order and funds of 
merchants of a northern city, would furnish 
more true facts of suffering, crime and 
horror, than could possibly occur among 
all the slaves in the southern states in the 
same length of time. No furious popular 
and philanthropic indignation has been 
aroused against these detected pirates — 
neither the crews and their commanders, 
nor the richcapitalists, who were the owners 
and real traders, torturers and murderers. 
The great gain of the trade seems to serve 
as a veil and excuse for its deep iniquity. 
D ! Wolf, who was alleged and believed to 
have been one of the great slave-trading 
capitalistsof Rhode Island, (while the trade 
was yet legal,) was not therefore the less 
a leading man of that state, as is evident 
from his having been subsequently elected 



14 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



by its Legislature to the Senate of the 
United States. If any such African slave 
trader had lived in the southern states, all 
his wealth would not have lifted him to a 
respectable position; and he could not have 
obtained the lowest office, from either peo- 
ple or government, as readily as did his 
compeer of Rhode Island attain the highest 
official station, and 1 suppose the highest 
estimation, in slavery-hating and puritani- 
cal New England. 

There are still other kinds of slavery 
besides those produced by force, and by 
want and suffering. General ignorance 
leads to the corruption of a people, and of 
subjection of mind to mind. And this kind 
of slavery, as it is in effect, tending to the 
most awful political and national evils, is 
already growing rapidly in the so-called 
free northern states. It is in their circum- ! 
stances — of the land cultivated and owned 
by an unenlightened and still deteriorat- ; 
ing country population — of large cities, in 
which, with a few men of highest intel- 
lectual powers, or popular influence, there 
is collected an enormously predominating 
number of ignorant, needy, and unprinci- 
pled men — when a very large proportion 
of the population of these cities is com- 
posed of newly arrived foreigners, often 
vicious and turbulent, and necessarily un- 
acquainted with the principles of free go- 
vernment, and unused to freedom in any 
form — I say, it is certain, in such circum- 
stances as these, that the body of the peo- 
ple will be directed, governed, and in effect 
enslaved by a few master-minds — and 
these minds generally acting solely for the 
promotion of base self-interest and per- 
sonal aggrandizement. No safe-guards! 
in written constitutions can preserve such 
a people from being made the tools and j 
slaves of able political knaves and unscru- 
pulous demagogues. With such popula- 
tion of both towns and country — with such 
influences at work, and their tendencies — 
with such unprincipled leaders and mana- 
gers, and such followers — in the great 
state of New York, political liberty, in 
effect, is already at an end; and individual 
property, and even life, are unsafe. If the 
doors of every dwelling house in the south- 
ern country were left nightly without locks, 
or bolu, and if every slave on each farm 
had full command of deadly weapons, (and 
both such circumstances, in effect, are real 
in innumerable and continuing cases,) our 
property and our lives would be much 
safer from any attempts thereon by our 
slaves, than soon will be the property and 



lives of the wealthier people of New York 
from their fellow-citizens, notwithstanding 
all the protection afforded by the constitu- 
tion and laws of their nominal free govern- 
ment. Indeed, the beginning of this ter- 
rible consummation is already clearly in- 
dicated in the successful progress of the 
anti-rent-paying combination and move- 
ment of the state of New York. For many 
years, numerous occupiers of rented lands 
have openly and avowedly leagued to with- 
hold the payment of the rents due to the 
proprietors, and yet hold to the land. The 
laws have been trampled upon by this fe- 
lonious league, and the decrees of courts 
frustrated or silenced. The agents of the 
proprietors and creditors have been out- 
rageously maltreated, (as would have been 
the principals, had they dared to appear,) 
and the officers of justice, when attempt- 
ing to enforce legal processes, have been 
resisted by arms, and in some cases have 
been murdered by these defiers of the laws. 
Growing more powerful and bold with 
time and success, these anti-renters have 
assumed a political position and organiza- 
tion, and thus exercise great influence in 
state elections. And as a crowning act of 
triumph, they were enabled to secure the 
election of a candidate for the chief ma- 
gistracy, upon the understood engagement 
of that candidate that he would prostitute 
his pardoning power as governor, to dis- 
charge from the state's prison some of the 
most desperate felons of the anti-rent party, 
who by rare chance had been convicted 
and sentenced to punishment in that con- 
finement. Whether this corrupt and most 
vile pledge had been expressly given or 
not, it was charged as being understood, 
and was acted upon by the anti-renters — 
and was faithfully redeemed by the go- 
vernor so elected, by his speedy pardon of 
the desperate criminals, for whom his aid 
had been thus sought to be purchased. 

In these so-called free northern states, 
there are two powerful and counteracting 
influences at work, each tending to estab- 
lish a very different, kind of class slavery. 
The ultimate fate of these states will de- 
pend upon which of these two adverse in- 
fluences will move the faster towards its 
own peculiar evil and calamitous conclu- 
sion. Either the laboring population will 
be enslaved, through want and suffering, 
to the employers and capitalists, (as is 
already complete in Britain and other old 
countries where individual slavery has 
ceased — ) or otherwise, if popular licen- 
tiousness, or demagogue rule, is too strong 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



15 



in opposition to capital, then the spirit if 
agrarianism, communism and anti-rent- 
isrn — all tending to anarchy and the de- 
struction of the rights of property — will 
govern. Then may be looked for such 
regard to property, liberty and life, as was 
seen in the like calamitous time of the 
Reign of Terror and of Robespierre. — 
This latter end will be more likely than 
the former to mark the last scenes of the 
tragic farce of free government in the state 
of New York especially, and of the northern 
states generally. If they are to be saved 
from this threatening consummation, it 
will be by the protection of the federal 
nnion — and that only permitted and ex- 
erted by the operation of the conservative 
influence of domestic slavery on the go- 
vernment and policy of the southern states 
and through them on the whole confedera- 
cy. That conservative influence, serving 
as "the balance wheel of the government," 
(so-called by a great statesman) has alrea- 
dy had much beneficial influence. Should 
that remote and unseen, but not the lees 
real conservative influence be lost to the 
northern states, by either the abolition of 
slavery, or by their separation from the 
southern states, then the downward career 
of the northern states will become more 
and more rapid into one or the other of 
these abysses of class slavery which have 
been named. Should the anarchists and 
the mob, under their master demagogues, 
obtain the victory over capital, how that 
victory will be used has been already indi- 
cated in the acts of anti-rentism in the 
state of New York, the murderous riots of 
the cities of New York and Philadelphia, 
and the burning of religious edifices, inha- 
bited only by defenceless women, by the 
people of the "law-abiding" and phari- 
eaical city of Boston — and all followed by 
either ihe partial or complete impunity of 
all these flagrant violations of law, justice 
and humanity. 

One of the great benefits of the institu- 
tion of African slavery to the southern 
states is its effect in keeping away from 
our territory, and directing to the north 
and north-wept, the hordes of immigrants 
now flowing from Europe, and which ac- 
cession of population has already so much 
demoralized not only the states receiving 
the largest supplies of such population, 
but the federal government itself. Every 
political aspirant, aiming for the hij/hest 
offices, deems it to his interest to conciliate 
and attempt to bribe to his support, this 
new and enormous element of political 



power. Hence we see unprincipled, but 
not the less influential and dangerous aspi- 
rants for presidential honors, competing 
with each other, as to who shall offer the 
highest bids for this support, in bestowing 
the public lands gratuitously on immigrants 
from all the world. It will not be long 
before this foreign power so fostered and 
increased, will be so strong, that the grants, 
conditions, or acquiescence of the govern- 
ment, will be altogether superfluous and 
worthless. 

Far is it from my intention to stigmatize 
any of our population upon the ground of 
foreign birth. We should value men for 
their known merits, and not for their places 
of nativity. We ought to feel even the 
more indebted to a good citizen, or a public 
benefactor, if a foreigner, who had sought 
our land and government from preference, 
than if the mere accident of native birth 
had placed him in our country. Hence 
we are the more indebted for the services 
and talents and the patriotism of Montgo- 
mery, Charles Lee, Hamilton, Lafayette, 
Kosciusko, Pulaski, Gallatin and Soul6, as 
foreigners, than if they had been among 
us by birth, instead of by preference. To 
hundreds of thousands of immigrants from 
Europe our country has been greatly in- 
debted for their useful private or public 
lives. But I speak of classes, and not of 
individuals — of the general rule, and not 
of its exceptions. Taken altogether, the 
recent and present immigration from Eu- 
rope is lower in intelligence than the lowest 
class of native citizens, and immeasurably 
inferior in knowledge and appreciation of 
the principles of free government. An in- 
fusion of such new population, amounting 
to a small minority only, could do no poli- 
tical harm. But the danger of prospective 
evil is enormous, when this new population 
can control entire states, and, if not able 
to elect a president, is so powerful as to be 
offered bribes for that purpose by every 
ambitious and unprincipled seeker of the 
office, who can so influence the legislation 
of the Congress of the Uniied States. 

The pretended philanthropists of the 
northern states are well aware of the ef- 
fects which the success of their efforts for 
the abolition of southern slavery would 
produce. The Wilberforces and Clark- 
sons and Benezets of former times doubt- 
less were deceived, and believed all they 
professed ns to the expected beneficial re- 
sults of negro emancipation. But since 
the experiment of Hayti, now of fifiy years' 
standing, and of others of later date, in the 



16 



ADDRESS OF MR. RUFFIN. 



British West Indies, and all the latter made 
with the utmost care and under the most fa- 
vorable auspices, no abolitionist of good sense 
and information can believe in the benefits of 
emancipation even to the slaves themselves, 
or in the fitness of the negro race for freedom 
and self-government. The present leaders in 
this northern warfare against southern slavery 
are actuated much less by love for the slaves 
than by hatred for their masters. Their lust 
for political power is a still stronger operating 
motive than either. They know that the com- 
plete fruition of their machinations would be 
to reduce the southern states to the condition 
of Jamaica, if not to the still worse state of 
Hayti. Jf they, or other as malignant and 
more powerful enemies, should ever succeed 
in abolishing this institution in these southern 
states, it will not only be the utter ruin of these 
states, but one of the heaviest blows to the 
well-being of the world — the most powerful 
obstacle to the settlement, culture, civilization, 
and highest improvement of all this western 
continent, and the extension of free govern- 
mentand the true principles of freedom among 
all the superior races capable of appreciating 
and preserving those blessings. And even the 
northern states, all of which are now desirous, 
if not striving for the abolition of slavery in 
the south, would be, next to the southern 
states, the greatest losers by that result, both 
in their pecuniary interests and political safety. 
If there is any existing institution of divine 
origin, and manifestly designed and used by 
the all-wise and all-good Creator to forward 
his beneficent purposes, slavery, and especially 
African domestic slavery, is such an institution. 
Personal slavery has existed from the earliest 
known existence of society. Slaves were held 
by the most virtuous and the most favored of 
God's ancient worshippers and servants.— 
Slavery has ever been the means, if it is not 
the only possible means, of civilizing barba- 
rous tribes and regions, spreading the culture 
of the earth, and instructing the most ignorant 
and degraded races of men. Still better and 
peculiar features belong to African slavery, 
under civilized and white masters. By this, a 
race made inferior by nature, and always en- 
slaved to barbarous and cruel masters, was 
raised greatly in the scale of comfort and hap- 
piness, as well as of improvement. Civiliza- 
tion and Christianity have thus been commu- 
nicated to millions, who otherwise would never 
have heard of either. By aid of negro slavery 
only, could these southern states, and still more 
die tropical regions of America, have been 
settled and cultivated by the white race. All 
that has been done in the south, and much ol 
all done even in the northern states, for indus- 
trial and moral improvement, refinement and 
even religion, has been more or less due to the 
existence of African slavery. For even all 
the older northern states had the benefit of this 
institution at first, when it was most needed, 



and retained it as long as it continued to be 
beneficial, and until the now fast growing 
slavery to want began to operate as a sub- 
stitute. 

It is true that the institution of slavery is 
attended by many and great particular evils. 
And where is the great social institution which 
is not'? Even in the blessed relations of hus- 
band and wife, and of parent and child, there 
are cases of great unhappiness and evil, and 
crime, growing out of these very relations. 
Yet, because there are husbands and wives, 
and parents and children, who are monsters 
in human shape, and who can avail themselves 
of these respective characters to perpetrate the 
most horrible crimes, and inflict the direst 
calamities on helpless and innocent sufferers, 
who would, therefore, condemn, and strive to 
abolish, the institution of marriage, or the sub- 
jection of children to parents'? The legal in- 
stitution of apprenticeship, prevailing among 
every civilized and refined people, is precisely 
slavery, only limited in the time of duration. 
In this generally beneficial relation of master 
and apprentice — and not less among the north- 
ern philanthropists than elsewhere — there oc- 
cur numerous cases of great injustice and 
cruelty, and of extreme and unmerited suffer- 
ing. Yet, who, among these even sincere wor- 
shippers of a sickly philanthropy, has proposed 
as the proper safeguard against such particular 
cases of oppression and crime, the abolition 
of the entire system of apprenticeship? 

Judging from the early existence and con- 
tinued duration of the institution of domestic 
slavery — its almost universal extension— its 
beneficial influence in subduing barbarism and 
savage indolence and ignorance— in inducing 
the culture and improvement of the earth, and 
promotingthe industry, civilization, refinement 
and general well-being of mankind — it seems 
to me an inevitable deduction, that the insti- 
tution of slavery is as surely and manifestly 
established by the wise and benevolent design 
of God, as the institution of marriage and of 
parental rule — and it is next to these, and in- 
ferior to these only, in producing important 
benefits to mankind. To the direct aid of do- 
mestic slavery, every cultivated portion of the 
earth owes its first improvement, and every 
civilized people their first emerging from bar- 
barism. The only exceptions to the existence 
(past or present,) and operation of this great 
element of improvement, are to be found among 
the most rude and ignorant of savage tribes, 
such as the aboriginal inhabitants of North 
America and Australia. And if it had ever 
been, since the creation of man, that all man- 
kind had been sunk in that lowest depth of 
barbarism, they would have so continued to 
this day, if without the aid of the institution 
of domestic slavery, for their improvement, or 
otherwise, the still more direct exercise of the 
miraculous, as well as benevolent power of 
Almighty God. 



SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



ADDRESS 

Of Philip St. George Cocke, Esq., President of the Virginia State Agricultural 
Society, delivered at a General Meeting of the Society, held in the Hall of the 
House of Delegates, on Thursday, 10th of March, 1853. 



Gentlemen of the Agriccltdhal Society: 

I cannot, for the first time, take the chair 
as President of the State Agricultural So- 
ciety, wilhout returning to you, as I now 
do. my unfeigned thanks for the honor con- 
ferred upon me; an honor, however, which 
I feel to be quite unmerited on my part, 
and for which, I fear, I shall be wholly 
unable to make any adequate return in the 
way of services to be rendered in the good 
cause of your Association; an honor which 
I would most gladly have seen conferred 
upon some other and far abler member 
than myself. But relying upon the indul- 
gence of the Society and encouraged by 
so marked an expression of your partiality 
and of your wishes, I enter upon the du- 
ties assigned me, and for their discharge 
I can only pledge to you the exertion of 
my humble but best and zealous efforts. 

This meeting,gentlemen, has beencalled 
by the Executive Committee of your So- 
ciety, who have resolved to make another 
and a strenuous effort to resuscitate the 
Society from its past and present languish- 
ing condition. 

The friends of agriculture from every 
part of the State have been invited to con- 
vene in this city, and at this time, to co- 
operale with the Committee in this arduous 
but interesting and patriotic undertaking. 
And 1 am happy to be able to congratulate 
you upon the hearty response every where 
made to thi3 call, evinced as well by the 
numbers as by the zeal and intelligence 
of this meeting. 

Gentlemen, we have called you here to 
aid in this work of reviving our State Agri- 
cultural Society; of placing it upon a per- 
manent and useful basis; to cheer us by 
your presence and your sympathies; to 
aid us with your counsel, and to support 
us by your numbers and by your means. 

The Committee have rightly judged 
that a spirit of inquiry and improvement — 
a desire for progress has at last come to dif- 
fuse itself through our agricultural classes. 
The fruitful seeds of this spirit have been 
2 



long since scattered broadcast through our 
community by such leading minds as those 
of John Taylor, of Ruffin, Skinner, Gar- 
nett, Newton and others. Chemical sci- 
ence, too, steadily ndvancingsince the days 
of Sir Humphry Davy, now pours a flood 
of light across the pathway of the mother 
of arts. Improved machinery comes to 
lighten the labors of the field. Manufac- 
tures convert to a thousand uses the in- 
creased fruits of the earth. Works of in- 
ternal improvement carry a market toevery 
farm, whilst an expanding commerce lays 
the whole world under contribution as con- 
sumers of the products of our agriculture. 

At a time and in the midst of circum- 
stances so auspicious we come to invite 
the organization and cooperation of the 
agricultural interests throughout the Slate. 

We know that this thing has been at- 
tempted before — and that all such attempts 
have hitherto failed. But we know, too, 
that never before did so hopeful, so bright 
a future reveal itself as that which now 
invites the scrutiny and stimulates the ex- 
ertions of every enlightened agriculturist 
throughout our good Old Dominion. We 
perceive that a new day has dawned, that 
a new spirit is awakened, that young and 
vigorous hands and hearts are enlisted and 
enlisting in the cause of agricultural re- 
form and improvement, whiUt science, wis- 
dom and experience are ready to direct 
every movement and to insure the most 
successful results. 

Why, at this very time there are not less 
than a dozen State Agricultural Societies 
in the Union — each having its numerous 
County Societies, and all working harmo- 
niously, prosperously and advantageously. 
Several of these societies — each publishing 
annually a valuable volume of transac- 
tions — thereby collecting, diffusing, and 
perpetuating a vast amount of valuable 
statistical and agricultural information — 
each society eliciting the labors of the best 
minds in both the science and art of agri- 
culture — stimulating a generous and en- 



18 



ADDRESS OF MR. COCKE. 



lightened rivalry in all the practices of the 
best husbandry — organizing and conduct- 
ing annual cattle shows and agricultural 
fairs, at which are exhibited the most im- 
proved specimens of the various species 
of domestic animals — of the fruits of the 
earth — of domestic manufactures — and of 
agricultural implements and machines — 
and at which all the farmers of the State, 
their wives, their sons and their daughters, 
come together as to a great national jubi- 
lee, to return thanks to a kind Providence 
for the overflowing fruits of their labors — 
to greet each other as members of a com- 
mon fraternity — to interchange all the 
courtesies of life — to extend acquaintance — 
to strengthen friendship — to acquire and 
to impart information — and to concert and 
to carry out measures for the still further 
progress and improvement of the great art 
of agriculture. 

And what others have so happily done, 
can we not and shall we not also do? 

Let us take courage, too, from the vast 
progress goin^ on throughout the civilized 
world in all the arts of life akin to our own. 

Steam, clippers and caloric ships have 
bridged the oceans from continent to con- 
tinent, and brought all mankind from the 
remotest corners of the earth into one great 
family ol nations. The art of printing is 
spreading the Gospel of Peace to "every 
kindred, tongue and nation," whilst it is 
diffusing the lights of truth and of know- 
ledge even to the darkest abodes of igno- 
rance and of heathenism. Commerce is 
spreading her free wings before every 
breeze of heaven. The railroad and the 
telegraph are binding the interests of man 
to those of his fellow-man with hooks of 
steel. Science has found the golden key 
to Nature's laws, and the genius of the 
mechanic arts is every where yoking these 
laws to her uses, and thereby substituting 
mind and machinery for manual labor. 

The boundless treasures of California 
and Australia are causing an exodus of 
the old nations of Europe and of Asia, 
which are pouring out a flood of emigra- 
tion, such as the world has never before 
witnessed, building up great cities and na- 
tions in less than the period of a single 
generation, and in countries which but 
as yesterday were howling wildernesses, 
whilst a brilliant and life-giving flood of 
gold pours through every avenue of com- 
merce, as if to gild these vast triumphs of 
mind over matter.' 

Already at the very dawn of this glo- 
rious day of progress our merchants have 



become princes, our manufacturers prosper 
beyond all precedent, without tarirls to 
pamper them and to oppress others — and 
even the mechanic and the day laborer 
are seen rising in their strength and pro- 
claiming rule and law to their employers. . 

Our agriculturists alone seem stationary 
in the midst of this otherwise universal 
and splendid progress. But they, too, are 
beginning to catch the spirit of the age, 
and to the discerning eye a brilliant future 
begins to dawn in light and life and hope, 
over the whole field of agricultural science 
and art; and the intelligent mind, whilst 
contemplating the improvements, progress 
and triumphs destined to be achieved by 
the mother of all the arts, may well glow 
with hope and enthusiasm. 

The high objects of our Association are 
to promote this progress and to hasten this 
future — to extend the science and to per- 
fect the art of agriculiure— to give dignity 
and influence to our profession, and to place 
it in the rank and on the level of the learned 
professions — to add to the wealth and to 
the resources of the State, and to diffuse 
virtue and intelligence, abundance and 
happiness, throughout our rural districts. 

Such, gentlemen, are some of the incen- 
tives to action, and such the important and 
patriotic objects towards the attainment of 
which we earnestly exhort you to aid us by 
your talents, by your time, and by your 
material means. 

And should it be asked, by what mea- 
sures we purpose to advance these great 
interests of agriculture? we reply — 

By the permanent establishment of a 
Slate Agricultural Society, thoroughly and 
efficiently organized and amply endowed 
by the voluntary and liberal contributions 
of its members. A Society, capable of 
performing all the important functions of 
representing in an organized and influen- 
tial manner, the agricultural interests of 
the State; of eliciting and rewarding, 
chiefly by honorary means, the best talent 
in our profession; of awarding premiums 
for the best essays upon both the theory 
and practice of agriculture, for useful dis- 
coveries, inventions and improvements,and 
having themeansof procurng useful seeds, 
plants, shrubs and trees; for defraying the 
expenses of an annual Cattle Show and 
Fair, and of publishing a yearly volume 
of Transactions. 

By the organization of county societies, 
connected with the Stale Society, and re- 
quired to report annually to the Society 
such of their proceedings as maybe deemed 



ADDRESS OF MR. COCKE. 



19 



of general interest, and to collect and re- 1 
port accurate and full agricultural statis- 
tics of their respective counties. 

By encouraging the establishment of; 
agricultural schools, in which shall be 
taught the science and theory as well as 
the practice of agriculture. 

By advocating the endowment of agri- 
cultural professorships in our Colleges and 
in our University, where all the physical 
sciences may be taught, together with 
their application to our own profession. 

By defining and establishing, for the 
education of our sons, a reform in the pre- 
sent ecclesiastical system of collegiate edu- 
cation, so as to substitute in its stead a 
system more in harmony with the princi- 
ples of the Baconian philosophy; a system 
which shall invite the scholar to the study 
of nature and of nature's laws, which shall 
impart to him a knowledge of men and of 
things, even at the risk of leaving him less 
learned in the dead languages, and in mere 
words and abstractions. 

By giving support and circulation to I 
agricultural and periodical journals, some! 
of a high and scientific character, others 
popular and practical. 



By asking of the Legislature the means 
necessary to maintain the organization of 
our State and counly societies, and also 
lor the support of a State Agricultural 
Chemist, who shall be selected, appointed, 
and controlled wholly by the State Society. 

By effecting the repeal of all laws inju- 
rious to the interests of agriculture, and 
by causing such further legislation as may 
be required by these interests. 

And by such a thorough organization 
of the numbers and influence of our class 
as will enable us at all times to bring that 
influence to bear in a manner commensu- 
rate to the extent of our numbers and of 
our rights, and whetherupon the legislation 
of the State, upon the society in which we 
live, or upon the great interests which we 
represent and support. 

With these brief remarks explanatory 
of the chief objecls of this meeting, as 
connected with the more extended aims 
and purposes of our State Agricultural 
Society, I most cheerfully give place to a 
gentleman who I am happy to say is pre- 
sent and who will address the meeting 
more at length upon kindred subjects. 



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