396 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



her rough places, and leave them to dry and blast and parch in 

 the snn, and ultimately die and become worthless ! It is an abuse, 

 an outrag-e, — our treatment of this earth. We ought to be ashamed 

 of it. Let such suggestions as we have had brought before us this 

 afternoon, stimulate us to qualify ourselves to give it, hereafter, a 

 better treatment. 



Prof. Peckham, of the Agricultural College, was then introduced, 

 who occupied the remainder of the afternoon with an account of 

 his recent journey and stay in California, giving a very vivid and 

 interesting description of that country, whose agricultural and 

 other peculiarities are so remarkable. The address was highly 

 gratifjnng and instructive, and elicited warm commendation. 



Adjourned to T| o'clock. 



EvEMNG Session. 



The Board again met at 71 o'clock, the Vice President in the 

 chair. 



Dr. BoTNTON, of Vermont, was announced as the first speaker of 

 the evening, who gave the following lecture on 



THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — I propose to invite your 

 attention to some thoughts relative to the 



Influence of Climate upon Man. 



It may be necessary for me to state at the outset, that I under- 

 stand climate to include all those conditions, both physical and 

 artificial, external to man, to which he is obliged to conform his 

 actions. Among the former, may be mentioned heat and cold, 

 land elevation, proximity to lakes and large bodies of water, the 

 nature of the soil and its productions. Among the latter, which 

 may be termed the secondary influences of climate, are to be in- 

 cluded such pursuits as are prescribed for man by the primary 

 climatic elements — or such branches of human industry as spring 

 up in given localities, dependent upon the pre-existing conditions 

 of nature. xVnd as his pursuits constitute a powerful agency in 

 moulding the character of the man, it need occasion no surprise if 

 due investigation should show us tliat iiot only physically, but in- 

 tellectually and morally as well, we are acted upon, Olintrolled and 

 moulded by those conditions of nature external to ourselves, which 

 we denominate climate. 



