Excerpt from The Southern Planter, Vol. 1
To collect, examine, select from, and report to his readers in a clear, simple, and condensed style, all the information, to which, by the most untiring exertion, be can gain access, will be the aim and object of the editor: and so far as the most extraordinary and zealous devotion to the cause in which he is embarked, may entitle him to hope for success, so far he has a right to expect it.
But after all, his main reliance must be upon the friends of agriculture. His own unassisted exertions, no matter how strenuous, must be of little worth. Let the hundreds who have already manifested such an extraordinary interest in the success of this work, remember, that without the co-operation of the practical husbandman, no design of the kind can possibly prove successful. Our chief object is to afford a medium for the interchange of opinions and observations: we therefore not only invite, but entreat, the farmers of the south, to avail themselves of the opportunity to afford, not to us, but to each other, and to their brethren of the north, from whom they receive so much, the benefit of their experience; and they should remember that he who adds nothing to the common stock, can hardly complain if he receives but little from it.
What can we do, but strain ever nerve to call forth such communications, and then to condense and select from the materials thus afforded? Knowing the difficulty of eliciting communications from men unaccustomed to writing for the public eye, and remembering the old adage, that "what is every body's business is nobody's," instead of waiting supinely for information, we design to go in search of it. Our country friends must not be surprised, therefore, if they find us suddenly intruding upon their hospitality, with no other introduction than our paper affords us. They must consider it as a penalty incurred by their agricultural celebrity, and excuse us for our cause. We feel well assured, however, that he who comes on such an errand, will never find himself an unwelcome guest in a southern mansion.
If thus backed and sustained, we can prove successful in our design, we shall be as much gratified by the reflection, that we have been instrumental in exalting this favorite branch of industry in the south, as we can possibly be, by any pecuniary advantage to be hoped for from the enterprise.
In conclusion, it is hardly necessary to ask indulgence for our first number, or to remind our readers of the many difficulties we labor under in catering for them, at first. We hope, that with our progress, our facilities will increase, and that before the year is out, they will be fully satisfied that they have gotten the worth of their money.
The Henrico Agricultural Society.
We are happy to have it in our power to announce to the public, that an Agricultural and Horticultural Society, under the above title, has been formed in this city. The Society met in December, adopted a constitution, and appointed its officers. The Rev. Jesse Turner, well known for his skilful and successful farming, was chosen President, and Anthony Robinson, jr. elected Secretary and Treasurer. The next general meeting of the Society will beheld on the first Saturday in March next, for the choice of Vice Presidents and the despatch of other business. Exhibitions will be made, and premiums awarded semi-annually, in May and October. The details of the first exhibition are under the consideration of an executive committee, of whose arrangements we will take care to apprise the public. The President will deliver an address at the first semi-annual meeting.
This Society has gone into operation, we think, under the most happy auspices, and has been gotten up with a zeal that augurs favorably for its prosperity. We hope to see a spirit excited by its operations, that will give a new face to agriculture in our part of the world. It would be worse than useless to. Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге The Southern Planter, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint)
