146 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Shall we hate a Farmers' College in Maine ? 



" Afp'ivuV lire feeds ui^ ; to a great, extent it clothes us; without it 

 we could not have maniifaclures, and we should not have commerce. 

 These all stand together like pillars in a cluster, the largest in Vie 

 centre, and that largest is agriculture.' ' Daniel Webster. 



The importance of agriculture to the state is readily enough 

 acknowledged by all ; but, like the importance of air for the indi- 

 vidual to breathe, it is frequently out of the mind, not to say 

 entirely forgotten. 



Times like these tend to bring home to the thoughtful mind a 

 deep impression of its position and worth, as the main stay of the 

 country, underlying and supporting all other interests. For a little 

 while the stimulus given to other branches of industry by the 

 unwonted demands made in order to carry on a great war, may, like 

 the temporary stimulus of the bowl, elevate one's thoughts above 

 the plow and scj'the or other every day occupation. But by-and- 

 by, production will have the burdens to carry, just as surely as in 

 due time the physical system of the individual must pay the inex- 

 orable penalties of vicious indulgences. 



Because of this, and because agriculture is the great producing 

 arm of the country, the sagacious legislator will see to it in time 

 that this interest be strengthened and fostered by every wise and 

 judicious appliance which can be given it. We may reasonably 

 conclude that members of Congress at the last session held such 

 views, for we find more done, or attempted to be done, than in a 

 half century previous. 



A "Department of Agriculture " has been created at Wash- 

 ington, with a chief and subordinates, in place of the corner in the 

 Patent Oflice formerly devoted to this interest ; and if its offices 

 be filled by competent men, untold good will come of it. 



Perhaps it may not be out of place here to allude to a miscon- 

 ception which seems to prevail with many regarding the duties, or 

 needful qualifications, of the head of such a department. The sub- 

 ordinate positions, of course, should be filled by those amply 

 qualified to discharge the duties of each special posi, whether clerk, 

 chemist, botanist, seedsman, or whatever else. But it is said by 



