LINCOLN SOCIETY. ' 129 



loom of a factory ,-^^from a tailor or milliner's shop, — directly 

 from the French teacher, or the music and dancing master^ 

 is well prepared to take charge of a dairy, and prudently to 

 conduct the various affairs which should be under the direction 

 and supervision of the wife of a farmer ? They would hardly 

 dare to cut a lining for a ninepenny calico dress, without having 

 served a certain apprenticeship with a dressmaker; nor would 

 they undertake to renovate and remodel a last year's straw 

 bonnet, unless they had received instruction in braiding and 

 sewing straw; yet who ever heard of one of them refusing to 

 become a farmer's wife on account of her ignorance in spin- 

 ning, weaving, making butter and cheese, drying apples and 

 pumpkins, or saving and cleansing live geese feathers. 



There is a subject, of much importance to the agriculturist, 

 that has received but little attention in this State. The baro- 

 metical and thermometrical changes in different parts of the State 

 should be regularly and carefully noticed, and the results for a 

 series of years compared. It is often remarked that the season 

 is very dry, even when there are frequent showers ; while, in 

 in another season, vegetation flourishes and appears not to 

 suffer from drouth, when there is but little rain. This differ- 

 ence is owing to different states of the air, which are readily 

 discovered by the use of the barometer ; and it is not improbable 

 that to these very changes may be attributed the potatoe rot, 

 the black wart on fruit trees, and the recent fungus growth on 

 tjorn. 



It may be said, by some, that if these wants are to be sup- 

 plied by the State, through the exertions of the agriculturists, 

 it will be requiring too much, I would ask has not Maine a 

 duty to perform towards the United States ? Must not we 

 ■exert ourselves to sustain our national honor? Can we not 

 contemplate with pride the part which America has borne for 

 the last half century in the sublime career of human progress ? 



When we reflect upon the extent and value of our territory, 

 the vast productiveness of our agriculture, the increase of our 

 material wealth, the progress of our manufactures, the security 

 of property and personal liberty, the exemption from grievous 

 taxes, the development of our unrivalled commerce, the increase 

 in general intelligence, the magnitude^ of our railroads, our 

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