150 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the mechanic arts, the pursuits of mechandise and commerce, and 

 the learned professions draw fresh recruits to fill up the wasting 

 ranks of each ; a striking' comment, alike, on the sanitary in- 

 fluences of the one, and the destructive tendencies of the other. 



Even learning, music and poetry will take their tone, in a great 

 measure, from the success which attends this employment. It 

 would not be too much to say, that the morals and religion of 

 any community are greatly affected by the estimation in which 

 agricultural employment is held. It is its nature to lead the mind 

 to social and amiable habits and high purposes. Surrounded as 

 the farmer is, by the glowing manifestations of deity, — his calling 

 has an elevating influence scarcely to be expected in the marts of 

 commerce or in the harassing pursuits of mercantile life. But all 

 avocations are indispensable as parts of the whole. The carpenter, 

 cabinet-maker and ship-builder, all act an important part in the 

 web of life — each»is a connecting link in the great chain of human 

 pursuits. Drop but one of them, and the woof of society is 

 broken. 



A high degree of civilization requires a great diversity in the 

 trades and arts to meet its demands. The bow, the spear and 

 fishing-hook, with a few simple utensils hollowed from the rock or 

 formed from the bark of a tree, answered all the wants of 

 generations who occupied these lands before us. They lighted 

 their forest fires, and woke the solemn aisles with human tones. 

 They lived their day — fulfilled their mission, and passed on. Other 

 generations followed, and still further prepared the way for us. 

 But yet the finger of God points onward. No degree of perfection 

 attained should prompt us to pause. The Old World is plethoric 

 with human population — with men and women, whose hearts beat 

 with emotions as lively as our own, and to whom comes the 

 momentous question of subsistence with a power which we cannot 

 feel, because we have not stood face to face with starvation and 

 death. 



Other generations have subdued savage men and beasts, and the 

 boundless forests ; they were the pioneers to these fair fields, 

 these teeming hills and vales ; these spires pointing to heaven, 

 these peaceful homes where domestic love ripens into bliss. The 

 dangers and hardships incident to early settlement have been 

 endured by others, and we have entered upon the possession of a 

 fair and prolific land. It is in us, then, a high duty to progress, 



