No. 112.] 435 



young men would go forth through the rural districts of our 

 State, distinguished alike for strength of mind, health of body 

 and exemplary habits. 



They would carry with them a practical knowledge of the best 

 modes of farming, the best implements, the best seeds, and the 

 best breeds of cattle, and each in his sphere would carry with 

 him evidences of an improved mode of agriculture, and dignify 

 the calling which now by the more ignorant is considered as de- 

 grading, unprofitable and uninviting. Such, gentlemen, I be- 

 lieve to be some of the beneficial results which would follow 

 from a proper and thorough education in the science of agri- 

 culture. Too long have we. timidly knocked at the doors of our 

 legislative hails fur aid and have received only the crumbs which 

 have fallen from their tables. . 



Let us then, farmers of Jefferson, unite in this work of reform 

 in our own important and most useful calling ; let us put our own 

 shoulders to the wheel, and (as a politician woukl say) set the 

 ball of agricultural science in motion. Let petitions be circu- 

 lated in every town in our county, and we trust that other 

 counties having an equal interest will do likewise, and with one 

 united voice say to the law makers, " we are the sovereign 

 people and you are our servants, and we claim, nay, demand, 

 that aid whicli is so justly due, still so lung denied.*' With such 

 united efforts we trust that whoever may be honored with a seat 

 in either our State or National Legislature would conceive it to 

 be their first and most imperative duty to carry out the views and 

 wishes of their constituents. 



In concluding this subject I would say, that although other 

 avocations may offer larger prizes in the great lottery of life, yet 

 if we compare the advantages of rural industry with those of 

 any other occupation to which man devott-s himself, we venture 

 to say that he who is eugaged in agriculture has no reason to 

 complain of the lot which i'ruvidencc lias allotted to him. 

 Nothing is more calculated to enlarge tlie mind, to increase its 

 faculties, or to extend the si»here of rational pleasure than the 

 great study and contemplation of nature. 



