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abundance, in one brief year there would scarce be a vestige of animate 

 existence left From the remotest antiquity, therefore, all nations and 

 people have honored agriculture. 



It is to promote this important branch of human industry that we 

 have met here in Oakland to-day. We have met to exchange opinionB 

 and reason together. "Let the farmer," said an able speaker before our 

 State Society, "when he meets his brethren here, meet to instruct and 

 be instructed, and sever himself from little prejudices, partialities and 

 traditions." There is not, peihaps, a farmer here, but, taught by expe- 

 rience, has found his past year s farming in some particulars wrong, and 

 has resolved to attempt some improvement that will avoid, if possible, 

 the diiSculties of the old system. Your farmer friend, who meets you 

 here to-day, perhaps on a similar errand, may impart the desired infor- 

 mation. Instruct each other — in this way these annually recurring 

 Fairs will become vitally important and profitable. 



The inventor and mechanic bring here their most impoitant contribu- 

 tions in aid of agriculture. Many late improvements in farming imple- 

 ments will be exhibited, and biggoted opponents of change may aban- 

 don their obstinate adherence to those implements that once, perhaps, 

 were regarded best, for such as experience has now proved to be better^ 

 "Seeing is believing," it is said ; and a few minutes examination will 

 often do more to break away old prejudices than the most elaborate ex- 

 planation. " History," says Macauley, " is philosophy, teaching by exam- 

 ples." Fairs like this, teach agriculture by examples. 



A hint is something to hang a thought or improvement upon ; and 

 can the observing man go away to-day without finding very many 

 things to give him hints ? — hints that will be most important and valua- 

 ble ? The simple falling of an apple from a tree, to use a common il- 

 lustration, is said to have suggested a train of thoughts to the mind of 

 Newton, that revealed to his sagacious intellect the laws of gravitation, 

 and which enabled him to explain the motions of this and the other 

 vast systems of worlds that occupy limitless space. Let no hint of to- 

 day fail of awakening a suitable degree of attention. Everyone should 

 feel at all times, and more especially on such occasions as these, the 

 spirit of the learner. Such a spirit will be amply rewarded. 



Another benefit resulting from these fairs is to ai-ouse a just spirit of 

 emxilation among farmers, to get and have the best of everything a far- 



