27 



stacks of grain ; where the dwelling house parches in the sun, without a 

 tree, a vine, or a flower to shelter and adorn it ; where old hats and old 

 clothes vie with children's faces in the broken windows, and pigs louno-e 

 on the vacant site of the piazza and door steps ; and who does not know 

 that, in this place, the man, and what is infinitely worse, the woman, is 

 devoid of taste, and that, wanting taste, they lack all the characteristics 

 of good and successful farmers ? I will not detain you by painting the 

 more pleasing antipode of this disagreeable picture, but content myself 

 with hoping that among the wholesome influences of this Society, will be 

 the cultivation of a more elevated taste, and that in a few years, our 

 whole State will be dotted over with tidy and comfortable farm houses, 

 which give evidence not only that prosperity has made them its home, 

 but that taste and refinement there preside, shedding beauty and grace, 

 contentment and joy. 



But it is time these desultory remarks were drawn to a close. I beg 

 leave to mingle my regrets with yours, at the misfortune which deprives 

 us of the anticipated speaker on tliis occasion.- Unexpectedly called, in 

 the midst of pressing engagements, to discharge the honorable duty which 

 has devolved upon me, I feel that I am but strnding as an apology for 

 him, whose fame and genius were invoked to lend interest to your Second 

 Annual Meeting. May the anniversaries of your Society be perpetual, 

 and their benign influences become as pervading as they must be useful. 

 The age in which we live is altogether interesting. To the Agriculturist, 

 the signs of the times are animating, encouraging, inspiring. The power 

 of steam has gone far to annihilate space ; the electric telegraph outstrips 

 time. The people of the earth are becoming practically but one family, 

 and the nations near neighbors. The great marts of the world are our 

 market-places. Railroads are penetrating the interior of even this State, 

 and bringing into usefulness and value vast tracts of land, recently but 

 the desert home of the savage and the wild beast. The bowels of the 

 earth are yielding up unwonted and unmeasured quantities of the precious 

 metals. All the products of the soil find a ready market and a fair price. 

 Riches are increasing and abounding in the land. Thousands and hun- 

 dreds of thousands of persons find themselves in easy and afiluent circum- 

 stances, seeking investment for their capital and occupation for their 

 minds. What more inviting field than that of Agriculture ? 



* The Hon. William H. Seward was written to, and expected until a late hour, to 

 be present and address tlie Society, 



