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his nature which so transcendently distinguish and elevate him beyond 

 a mere physical existence. 



The improvement of the mind would also act practically upon the 

 best interests of the science of agriculture, and is indeed, indispensable 

 to it. Each department of labor requires the protection and fostering 

 care of government, and none more so, perhaps, than agriculture and 

 manufacture. They are the foundation of commerce and trade. Fer- 

 tile fields and active machinery will enrich a people, unless they become 

 impoverished by the arts of speculation through a bloated credit, aris- 

 ing from ficticious capital. Intercourse or commerce then, with other 

 nations should be restrained and regulated by such wholesome laws as 

 would eflfectually guard the grower and the manufacturer from having 

 thrown back on their hands their produce and manufacture for want of 

 funds in the country to purchase them, or from suffering total loss by 

 credit sales, one or the other of which is too generally the cavse when 

 the balance of foreign trade is largely against our country. Thus it be- 

 comes important that the mind of the farmer should be well informed, 

 and strengthened by education and exercise, that he may be fully qual- 

 ified by advice or action in our legislative halls, to advance at the same 

 time his own interest and the prosperity of his nation. 



Again : American agriculture should supply the demands of other 

 nations, especially with bread-stuffs and cotton, as England has done 

 for many years with her manufacture. For this purpose, treaties with 

 foreign nations should be of such practical character as to secure so de- 

 sirable an end ; and the ambassador charged with that duty, if not of 

 the agricultural class himself, should be aided and prepared by the prac- 

 tical suggestions of those who by experience and reflection are compe- 

 tent. The nature of our soil and climate, the former extensive and 

 abundant, and the latter including nearly every degree of latitude, gives 

 to us the entire ability. 



A great obstacle, however, remains to be overcome — an evil which 

 spreads its baleful influences over all industrial classes, and mostly cov- 

 ers with ruin its projectors. The dazzling prospects of speculation at- 

 tract capital from agricultural and other substantial interests of the 

 country and the people at large, and directs it to individual aspirations 

 for wealth and affluence. This is but seldom realized ; and thus men 

 crowd the large cities of our seaboard, pining away in health under 



