38 [Senate 



the education of their sons as will enable them properly to discharge 

 the high and responsible duties of American freemen, the owners 

 and cultivators of the soil. 



In advancing agriculture, we at the same time, secure prosperity 

 to every other interest in the community. The experience of the 

 past season, shows how intimately connected our commercial pros- 

 perity is with the advance of our agricultural interest. Our great 

 inland communication has poured into the bosom of the noble Hudson, 

 the products of the west, with such a liberal hand as to satisfy the 

 most avaricious. What a numerous fleet has been put in requisition 

 to transport it from this city ; and yet, with all that could be obtained, 

 their store-houses, have been filled to overflowing. And how many 

 vessels have crossed the wide ocean, freighted with the products of 

 our soil, to relieve the starving population of the old world. Increase 

 this product as you may by judicious cultivation, from one-third to 

 one-half, and what an impetus would be given to our commerce — our 

 manufacturers will feel it, and every department of industry be ad- 

 vanced, 



"We live in a day peculiarly favorable to the improvement of agri- 

 culture. The lights of science are brought to bear more practically 

 upon the subject, than at any former period ; and if we do not avail 

 ourselves of the benefits resulting from them, the fault must res^ 

 with us. 



But a small portion of our farmers may be said to be familiar with 

 the agricultural improvements of the day, although many of them 

 have been known and practised by a few for a considerable time past. 

 A prejudice still exists against what is termed innovations upon sys- 

 tems adopted by our forefathers. To succeed, we must reach the 

 farmer at his fireside. The men now entering upon the stage of 

 active life, are to aid us in this work. The great body of farmers 

 now connected with our agricultural associations, are young men and 

 men in middle life. They have had a taste at the fountain them- 

 selves, and if you but open to them the waters, you will find them 

 sending forth their sons and their daughters to refresh themselves 

 from the sparkling streams. 



The attention of the civilized world is aroused to the subject of the 

 improvement of agriculture in a greater degree than it ever has been 

 before. There is a growing conviction every where, that the appli- 



