38 N. H. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



groioih that not only constitutes the great ultimate store- 

 house of all nutriment, but is the source of all organic ex- 

 istence, the cause and condition of all physical life, is the 

 most important of material occupations, the most indis- 

 pensable of human arts. 



The estimation in which agriculture is held is a good test 

 of the advancement of a people in civilization and the lib- 

 eral arts. When Rome was at her utmost height of povrer 

 and glory, her most gifted sons did not disdain to study 

 the theory of rural husbandry, and even to give practical 

 rules for the conduct of its minutest details. When Rome 

 relapsed into that state of semi-barbarism, which is so apt 

 to follow an age of great military exploit, agriculture was 

 despised as a plebeian occupation, the laws of nature on 

 which its successful practice rests were forgotten, and it 

 became as unintelligent and unproductive a calling, as it 

 was thought vulgar and humble. 



In our own time, it has advanced in all civilized coun- 

 tries, in proportion to the intelligence of the people; and 

 now that able philosophers have undertaken the investiga- 

 tion of its principles, it has again assumed almost the dig- 

 nity of a proper science. 



I cannot claim the merit of having added anything to 

 the general stock of knowledge on this branch of univer- 

 sal industry, or even of having familiarized myself with the 

 results arrived at by more systematic inquirers, and I can 

 only present you with such scattered gleanings, as mere 

 ♦reneral, unscientific observation has enabled me to gather 

 in a field somewhat wider than has fallen under the perso- 

 nal notice of most of you. 



The remarks I have to offer you will assume the shape 

 rather of a rambling discourse than of a formal disserta- 

 tion. Their topic, so far as any special subject is adhered 

 to, will be the general physical aspect of the most highly 

 cultivated and densely populated i)arts of central and 

 southern Europe, their agriculture and rural economy, with 



