11 



o 



Hitherto we have had the benefit of a virgin soil, that yielded its pro- 

 ducts with comparatively little labor, but in the last two years we have received 

 a check that should prove a salutary lesson to us. 



The failure of our great staple, calamity as it is, may be the means of making 

 better farmers of us — we have followed this one idea until we have literally run it 

 into the ground — we have depended upon one product almost to the entire 

 neglect of all othei-s. 



Now, if we would place our agricultural interest upon a permanent basis of 

 prosperity, we must retrace our steps, diversify our labor, and direct our energies 

 to the production of eveiy article of value of which our climate and soil will 

 permit; in short, we must pursue a more mixed system of agriculture. 



It is generally conceded that we have canied our farming operations to an 

 unprofitable extreme ; it is not necessary for us to hack and scratch over our 

 whole farms as an evidence of title. 



By cultivating well those parts naturally the most fertile, and laying tho 

 remainder down to permanent pasture, we shall thereby derive an annual profit 

 requiring but little labor. 



The ancients illustrated the importance of thorough tillage by the following 

 apologue : A vine-dresser had two daughters and a vineyard ; when his oldest 

 daughter was married he gave her a third of his vineyard for a portion, notwith- 

 standing which he had the same quantity of fruit as formerly ; when his youngest 

 daughter was married he gave her half of what remained, still the produce of his 

 vineyard was undiminished. 



This result was the consequence of his bestowing as much labor on the third 

 part left after his daughters had received their portions as he had been accus- 

 tomed to give to the whole vineyai-d. 



It is a well established fact that all soils lose a portion of their productive 

 powers by constant cropping, unless as much be returned to the soil as is ex- 

 tracted from it. 



It is true, by a judicious rotation of crops we may succeed for a while, but 

 eventually we shall be obliged to resort to manure or some other method of fer- 

 tilization. 



Permit me to commend to your favorable consideration wool growing as a 

 rotation and fertilizer that combines favorably with other interests. 



I know this recommendation is unnecessaiy to many members of this Society, 

 as the splendid specimens of sheep here exhibited will amply testify ; but I would 

 like to have the subject appreciated by the whole farming community. 



I am fully of the opinion, that a field well sheeped and once ploughed is better 

 fitted for a crop of wheat than with any number of ploughings without the 

 -sheep. 



8 



