42 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



these things he must know and must judge, and, right or wrong- 

 so must he win or lose. 



Sixty-two elements, it is computed, enter into the formation 

 of our globe. Of these forty-five are mineral. The combina- 

 tions and influences of which these elements are capable, are 

 limitless. What one combination will strengthen, another will 

 counteract, and what, in animal or vegetable growth, one will 

 promote, another will destroy. By these different combinations 

 and influences, one soil is made to differ from another, and one 

 species of grain and fruit has this character, and another that. 

 By this, too, composts, and the modes of applying them, vary. 

 On these depend other diversities, as those of preparing the 

 ground, ploughing and sub-ploughing, draining and under- 

 draining, time of sowing, and of reaping, and garnering, and 

 the like, which rise in the ratio of compound multiplication, 

 each diversity being ever fixed and effective. What an involu- 

 tion upon involution of agents and influences, means and ends, 

 is here presented to the use of mind ! A chaos, it might seem, 

 made by chaos more chaotic, defying alike and forever all 

 analysis, distinction or classification. 



But notice, gentlemen, in all this diverse diversity of elements 

 and of combinations of influence, law, as in all things else of 

 God's ordaining, reigns. Law, which is sure and far-reaching, 

 as that which guides the rain-drop in its fall, the eagle in its 

 flight, and worlds in their orbits. Law, which every blade of 

 grass, leaf of tree, kernel of wheat, corn and rye, flower, shrub, 

 berry and fruit obeys, and obeying becomes itself. Distinctive- 

 ness of species comes by obedience to law, which, acting, regu- 

 lates the chaos of diversities, and from the same draws forth 

 the endless variety in the productions of this teeming earth. 

 By this obedience to law, amid all this internal and external 

 surface action of antagonistical agencies, it happens that all is 

 harmony and peace, sunlight and love, over the habitable world. 

 In his use of mind, man goes out and comes in, sows and reaps, 

 plucks the flower and the fruit, fattens his flocks and his herds, 

 and, amid golden harvests and autumn's smiling day, brings in 

 his sheaves and sends up his exultant thanksgivings unto the 

 God of goodness and of love. 



Wonderful, and often unappreciated, is the knowledge which 

 the successful farmer, by daily study, gains of these surface 



