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of awe and adoration tliat aaoends upward to the Gr«at iifst Cause; and the 

 farther we investigate, new developments and discoveries are opened out before 

 us, some of which have, and others promise to effect great and beneficial changes 

 on civihzed society. 



The time was when tliat valuable tuber, the potatoe, which has added millions 

 of lives to the densely populated counti-ies of Europe, grew only in the unknown 

 regions of South Auierica. The time was when that important crop to us, the 

 Indian Corn, was known only to the red man of this western world. The time 

 was when the coffee plant, which now furnishes the civilized world a most deli- 

 cious beverage, grew only on the mountain slopes of Upper Ethiopia and Arabia 

 Felix, its merits all unknown ; and, perchance, there now dwell in obscurity plants 

 that future genei-ations may marvel that we could dispense with. 



Again, when we reflect upon the improvements already made in the vegetable 

 kingdom by cultivation, we are lost in wonder and admiration. 



For instance, in the culinary dej^artment, the cabbage, a species of the genus 

 Brassica, that now finds a place in every farmer's garden, was once a nauseous 

 bitter plant growing wild upon the sea coast; and so of fruits, when we feast 

 upon the luscious plumb, or the rich and juicy apple, we should reflect that these 

 are the offspring of scientific cultivation derived originally from the wild stock. 



I might go on and enumerate, but time would fail me did I attempt even a 

 sketch of the progress of improvements, made by cultivation in the vegetable 

 kingdom. 



Again, the same law of progress is observable in the animal kingdom, but as 

 it would require volumes to trace it out, I shall not attempt it at this time, it is a 

 subject of interest, and I would commend it to the consideration of every farmer. 



In view of the importance of these subjects, we feel our mutual dependance ; 

 we see the benefit of associating ourselves together, and lending our aid to Agri- 

 cultural Societies, and should reflect while so doing, we are advancing our favorite 

 pursuit. 



These periodical meetings of farmers afford a valuable opportunity for an 

 interchange of sentiment, and often hints of great practical importance are thrown 

 out and treasured up to be acted on at our future convenience, the result of 

 which is the upward and onwai'd tendency of the science of agriculture. 



It is gratifying to reflect that Kenosha County was the first in the State to 

 form an Agricultural Society. 1 looli upon it as an evidence of our progress in 

 the method of conducting our farming operations, and feel confident that the 

 result will be productive of still farther improvement beneficial to ourselves and 

 to the communit}' in which we live, since it is a duty we owe to ourselves and 

 to our profession, not only to keep pace with the improvements of the age, but 

 to add something to the stock of knowledge already acquiied. 



