56 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



with fifty fools at her heels, striving not to be distanced by their 

 lovely mistress." * 



In this country, we are beginning to realize similar fruits 

 from enlightened agriculture, under the fostering care of agri- 

 cultural societies. Many a noble farm in New England, with 

 its produce doubled or trebled within a few years, testifies to 

 their influence. Our farmers have been fearful that they could 

 not compete with the products of the West and South, poured 

 in upon them through the great iron sluice-ways that steam has 

 forced open. But let them unite Yankee industry and perse- 

 verance to scientific agriculture, and I will put them against 

 the world. The more railroads we have, the better ; for they 

 will only bring the market nearer. Instead of discouraging 

 the farmer, they should stimulate him to seize upon and apply 

 all the principles of science and exjDerience to improve the 

 cultivation of the soil. Why, for instance, should not the 

 almost entire surface of New England exhibit as high a state of 

 cultivation as we now witness around most of our villages ? 

 The soil is capalile of it ; nay, of much higher cultivation — 

 capable of sustaining four times its present population ; and 

 thus, if our morals and religion be preserved, of giving us four 

 times more influence upon the world. I trust that the next 

 generation will see this statement verified ; and that, too, as 

 tlie fruit of two things of which some are very much afraid, 

 viz. : railroads and book farming. 



* Soutliern Cabinet for January, 1810. p. 4. 



