00^3 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



■who will guide such an institution into successful operation need 

 have no fear that his lig-ht will be "hid under a bushel;" his 

 candle would tlame from every house-top in the country, beneath 

 ■whose shelter the farmer, and g-ardener, and lover of the land and 

 animals, finds repose. To that altar all explorers mig-ht bring- their 

 gifts. The geologist with his strata and soils, the chemist with 

 his laboratory and tests, the natural historian with the laws of 

 the animal and vegetable kingdom written down in his scientific 

 statute-book — all might find there a common hearthstone around 

 which they might gather, and find a common object of interest — 

 the subduing and utilizing* the earth on which they have made 

 their investigations. And if there are those who believe that the 

 great minds of this and all time would find no home on such a spot, 

 let them remember that for such a purpose as that to which this 

 institution would be devoted, labored those wise and thoughtful 

 statesmen and philanthropists, who, while they toiled for man's 

 civil and social elevation, remembered that man is but Antfeus, 

 drawing strength frorti the earth on which he treads; let them 

 remember that it has been found easier to organize churches and 

 schools and found States, than it has been to construct a system of 

 -•agriculture ; let them remember that the division of landed estates 

 .and the modes of farming adopted by any people are as indicative 

 ■ of their social condition as their churches and school-houses — per- 

 haps more so ; and if they are citizens of Xew England, let them 

 remember that around such an institution stands an intelligent, 

 •inquiring, investigating, fi-ee and equal, rural population, ready to 

 seize and apply all the practical information which the profoundest 

 iStudent can ofier for their benefit, and capable, moreover, of teach- 

 .ing. in some measure, those by whom they are to be taught. 



I have said that every mode of improving agriculture by process 

 of mental discipline has had immediate reference to the pracfical 

 business of the farm. This is especially the case in Massachu- 

 setts, and in this respect her example is worthy of being followed. 

 The board of agriculture organized by Sir John Sinclair was not 

 more perfect in its design than that established in that State in 

 1S51, and has since been in successful operation. Every provision 

 of the acts defining the duties of this board, and besto^ning con- 

 ditional boiuities on agricultural societies, is marked by a thorough 

 appreciation of the wants of the community, and a true under- 

 standing of the best means of acquiring and using agricultural 

 knowledge. I think we cannot be too grateful to those men who 



