SECOND DISTRICT ACailCULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 285 



pete with you in the culture of apricots; we know that we can suc- 

 cessfully compete with the world in making light dry wine, Init we 

 know that we cannot successfully compete with you in making either 

 raisins or burgundy wine, or the sherries, or the port, or possibly 

 brandies. This knowledge every beginner in the field of viticulture 

 now gets Avithout paying for it; but we, who were the first in this 

 field of horticulture and viticulture, had to purchase this informa- 

 tion by the experience of many failures. 



Farming cannot be overdone. There will never be too many peo- 

 ple engaged in this business, nor will there be too many farms. The 

 danger is, there will be too few farms, and these too large. A republic 

 cannot long survive when the lands are concentrated in the hands of 

 a few men. Any man will hght for his home, but it takes a very 

 brave man to fight for the privilege of working for half wages. An 

 interest in the soil gives an inspiration to patriotism. It is the 

 thousand little homes that dot our valley, and not the great farms all 

 homeless and houseless, that gives security to this Nation. It is the 

 independant yeomanry who love their country, "because it is their 

 own," who in peace and in war will maintain its honor and its glory. 

 It is the toilers with brawny arms and great hearts who have builded 

 this mighty Republic, and who will be found defending it so long as 

 virtue and patriotism has an abiding place in the hearts of men. 



