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continue to grope our way in the dark, depending upon foreign countries 

 for information upon a subject of so much moment as this ? For the honor 

 of my countrymen I tr'st it will not be. And I am happy to state that 

 within the past few years an increased attention has been paid to the sci- 

 ence of agriculture, and we have reason to hope a brighter day is about 

 to dawn. 



The importance of estabhshing an Agricultural Bureau was discussed, 

 and found many able advocates, in the present Congress. A National 

 Agricultural Convention was held at Washington during the past summer, 

 the result of which was, the formation of the United States Agricultural 

 Society. And in this Convention no less than twenty three States and 

 Territories were represented. 



Thus we see that public sentiment has been awakened upon the subject, 



and we have now but to combine and organize State and County Agri- 



cutural Societies, and bring our strength to bear on the advancement of 



this noble science, and our purpose is accomplished. If we remain 



divided and isolated our moral force will be lost. We must bring the 



science of combination to bear upon our purpose. State and County 



1 Societies, if they would unite their influence, have now the power to 



Vmduce Congress to do something for us. It is vain to expect politicians 



^ take the lead in this matter, they must be pressed into it by public 



sentiment. Great measures of reform can only -progress ^ari passu with 



enlightened public sentiment. Individuals, it is true, are frequently in 



advance of the age in which they live, but their ideas can only be carried 



out as fast as public sympathy appreciate them. 



Hartlib pointed out the advantages of a National Board of Agricul- 

 ture to the inhabitants of Great Britain, a century before it was established 

 by the indefatigable exertions of Sir John Sinclair. 



Washington, the father of his country, and a practical farmer, recom- 

 mended the establishment of an Agricultural Bureau in several of his 

 messages to Congress. It was a subject on which he ever expressed the 

 liveliest interest, and upon which he loved to dwell. 



In his correspondence with Mr. Sinclair, speaking of the British 

 Board of Agriculture, he says : 



" From the first intimation you were pleased to give me of this insti- 

 tution, I conceived the most favorable ideas of its utility. And the more 

 I have seen and reflected on the plan since, the more I become convinced 

 of its importance, in a national point of view, not only to your own 



