FARMING REMINISCENCES. 11 



This illustrious patriot, after having served bravely and faith- 

 fully in the war of the Revolution, and in the early councils 

 of the infant republic, reappeared among his fellow-citizens, 

 as zealous in the cause of agriculture as he had been in that 

 of independence. For ten 3 ears he not only diligently labored 

 to advance the interests of this society, but cultivated his 

 farm at Wenham with such practical skill as won the confi- 

 dence of those to whom he recommended such improvements 

 as he had found of practical utility. " At an age when most 

 men think their labors should be ended, he was in his prime in 

 handling the plough and instituting new experiments." 



The early records of the society show the deep interest taken 

 in the society by the practical farmers of the county — an inter- 

 est which increased as the exhibitions were successively held in 

 diflerent towns, enlisting in turn the residents of every section. 

 Howes, Mosely, Parsons, Derby, Bartlett, Newhall, Pickman, 

 and other gentlemen, unknown neither to fame nor fortune, 

 manifested a deep solicitude. in the interests of the association, 

 and their efforts were crowned with such success as to entitle 

 them to the lasting gratitude of all who succeed them. " Lector 

 si monumentum reqiiiris circumspice" is the legend which meets 

 the eye of the visitor to St. Paul's Cathedral, as he halts before 

 the tomb of its illustrious architect. So we have but to recall 

 the services rendered to agriculture by the founders of this 

 society, then point to the smiling face of old Essex and say, 

 " If you seek their monuments, look around." 



Thanks to the persevering labors of the trustees of this 

 society — to the able secretaries, who have made every cog of 

 every wheel move harmoniously along — to the unequalled set 

 of Transactions, " apples of gold in pictures of silver " — to the 

 wide circulation of the New England Farmer, the Massachusetts 

 Ploughman and other sterling publications — to a more healthy 

 state of public opinion — and last, though by no means least, to 

 remunerative prices and good markets, agriculture is becoming, 

 not only a more popular, but a more profitable pursuit. This 

 success, of course, has its attendant train of reverses, and the 

 Transactions of this society show the folly of mounting every 

 agricultural hobby presented by crafty speculators, or visionary 

 theorists. 



The cultivator who expects to enrich his land by some 



