3 



of wealth is not, by any means, to be regarded as the most 

 important and benejficial results growing out of such associa- 

 tions. 



One of the great practical results that is to follow from a 

 regular system of county and State associations, will be that 

 of causing our people to change and diversify more their 

 labor and pursuits. 



This diversity will not be confined alone to the mere 

 change of labor from agriculture to mechanics, but various 

 changes in the various kinds of agricultural pursuits. 



Our true policy as a State is to be, as far as practicable, 

 independent; to look more at home and less abroad for the ele- 

 ments of prosperity. We should establish and sustain that 

 policy, that will develope all our resources, and thereby 

 advance the true interests of the State. This is a work that 

 calls loudly for the exercise of all the influence of our public 

 men, as well as our private citizens. And I would enumer- 

 ate among the most important movements in this work, that 

 system of Legislation that will build up State interest, State 

 pride, and if you please. State ambition. We may rest 

 assured that true, substantial wealth, will be found in the 

 labor around us, of the husbandman, mechanic, and manu- 

 facturer. 



Through the operations of a thorough system of organiza- 

 tions over the State, the Board will be able to collect, not 

 only general, but particular and reliable information con- 

 cerning the different soils of the State, the kind of agricultural 

 labor that pays best, what articles are best adapted to such a 

 soil and climate, the stock most in demand in the market, the 

 various productions of each county in the State, different 

 modes of farming by the best practical farmers, experiments 

 on different soils, with various crops, redeeming wet and 

 swamp lands, the mode and system adopted, stock raising, 

 ditching, barns, stables, smoke houses, wells, springs, spring 

 houses, modes of supplying stock water, &c. &c. 



In view of the great quantity of wet and swamp lands in 



