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perienced. Farms became impoverished — the average yield was less- 

 ened in quantity and depreciated in quality — labor was but poorly re- 

 quited — and the vocation (for it was not then deemed a profession) fell 

 into disrepute. What wonder, then, that the son, forced to toil in the 

 treadmill routine of his father^s unthrift, should have acquired a thor- 

 ough disrelish for all that pertained to the business, and have sought 

 for himself some more congenial employment ? 



But thanks to the persevering energy, skill and science of a few 

 philanthropic individuals, a mighty change has been effected in the 

 entire aspect of our country. The series of spectacles, like the one 

 of to-day, now annually exhibited in every part of the land, are not 

 ctily evidences of progress made and triumphs achieved, but the har- 

 bingers of still higher attainments. The hitherto dormant energies of 

 our agricultural classes have been successfully aroused, and the broad 

 and deep furrow they will ere long plow will not only render earth's 

 surface beautiful and productive, but will penetrate far and deep into 

 the sterile domain of uncultivated intellect. There is hardly a branch 

 of human learninof that will not ere lono: he drafted into the ranks, and 

 render efficient service in the field operations of practical, scientific 

 agriculture. Men will no longer follow the plow, " whistling for want 

 of thought." As the rich furrow yields to the improved share and' 

 takes its place with but little care or effort, the physical senses and men- 

 tal faculties will have a broad margin for studying the volume of nature " 

 before them. The experimental tests, previously established by com- 

 parison, combination and analysis, will be diligently applied. Geological' 

 indicia will be observed, chemical affinities detected, and the elemental' 

 ingredients and fertilizing properties of the upturned soil will be fully 

 arranged for the class table of seed; skillful manurinjx will 2:0 far 

 towards supplying deficiencies, and preventing exhaustion. Judicious 

 management in rotating and maturing crops, will relieve the soil by 

 skillful drafts of gaseous nutriment from the atmosphere. The 

 atermath of dry meadows will bo kept sacred from scythe, hoof 

 or tooth. To tillable land a season's rest in clover will bo frequently 

 awarded. 



A corresponding improvement will be visible in the rearing, keep, 

 condition, and breed of domestic animals. No gaunt, long-nosed, lop- 

 eared, large-jointed, crooked-backed specimen of swine will offend the 



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