FARMING IN NEW ENGLAND. 333 



as absurd for a farmer to despise scientific farming as it would 

 be for a mariner to despise scientific navigation. The same 

 storms overtake both the ignorant and the skilful mariner. 

 The one knows how to use the winds and waves to speed his 

 prayers ; while the other is wrecked by them. To the estab- 

 lishment of agricultural schools we must look for the advance- 

 ment of agriculture as a science. There accurate experiments 

 can be tried and correct information obtained. Let our old 

 Commonwealth, which is the first and foremost in every good 

 work, take the lead in this, and she will commence a new era 

 in our agriculture. 



Amidst these encouraging prospects for the farmer, he is 

 bound to afford his efficient aid in adorning and improving our 

 community. In no part of the world is there a territory which 

 has greater capacities for improvement than the old county of 

 Worcester. Where are there such glorious hills and beautiful 

 valleys as are here all about us ? Nature has done her part, 

 and man should do his. If we have not the grand scenery of 

 the White Mountains, or the unbroken view of the prairie, yet 

 we have that beautiful combination of hill and valley — of silvery 

 lakes and running streams, which neither mountain or prairie 

 scenery alone can give us. 



Let us rejoice at v/liat we have and resolve to improve it. 

 Each can do something. The whole must be improved by an 

 improvement of its separate parts. Let every man improve his 

 own homestead, and the work is done. Why should not beau- 

 tiful shade and forest trees line all our road-sides ? Is it because 

 they cannot be had, or is it too much trouble to take care of 

 them ? To such an objector let me say that he has but to go to 

 the neighboring forest to find as beautiful trees as ever grew, 

 and if he is willing to devote a few hours to removing and set- 

 ting them by the road-side, they will take care of themselves, 

 and will invoke the blessings of the traveller upon his head? 

 when he, his children, and grand-children shall have all passed 

 to their long home. Or if he will not do this, let him keep 

 ruthless hands from such trees as grow up in spite of his neg- 

 lect, and if he is not rewarded for his forbearance, the next 

 generation will be. Better — far better, is it to line all our 

 road-sides with our beautiful elm, ash, oak or maple, than to 

 fill them with rubbish, and make them the receptacles of every 



