344 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tell us is not always well understood, — suppose this were the 

 subject of the lecturer ? Would the ladies feel no interest in an 

 explanation of its various phenomena ? Every farmer's wife 

 knows that when the cream is too cold, she finds it as difficult 

 to make the butter come as it was for the allies to take Sevasto- 

 pol, and that if it be too warm it is equally arduous ; and to some 

 of them, at least, we cannot doubt that the reason of this is a 

 mystery. "Would it not be interesting to all such to know what 

 the true temperature required is, and why that temperature is 

 indispensable ? Now there is a philosophical reason for this, well 

 known to the chemist, and a beautiful explanation can be given 

 that every one may understand. 



It was formerly assumed that women had no capacity or taste 

 for philosophical studies, or any thing of an elevated or intellec- 

 tual character ; but the error has been discovered, and we now 

 know tliat in all our high schools and other institutions of learn- 

 ing to which females are admitted, they are found quite equal to 

 the other sex in languages, mathematics, or any other branch 

 of literature or science ; and that ladies attend upon the lec- 

 tures of a Silliman or Agassiz with as much pleasure as the very 

 lords of creation themselves. 



In short, it would be found that all persons, professional men 

 and mechanics, as well as farmers, would attend the meetings 

 of the clubs, and it would be seen that every man who cultiva- 

 ted a piece of land, if it were not more than ten square rods, 

 would desire information on these subjects ; and, as a general 

 thing, his interest in the matter would be in inverse ratio to the 

 size of his farm, for the less land a man has the more necessity 

 he feels for knowing the best modes of managing it. 



If it be seriously urged that farmers cannot afford time for 

 such a course of improvement, I answer, they cannot afford at 

 the present day not to do it. If they cannot afford one evening 

 in a week, during the most leisure season of the year, to attend 

 upon such lectures and discussions as particularly appertain to 

 their own interest, and tend to make them well informed in 

 regard to their own affairs, their condition is indeed a sad one. 

 But it is not true. If a man is active and energetic, he can 

 find time for every thing. Most people waste a great part of 

 their lives without being even aware of the fact. They squander 

 tliose little scraps of time, those short intervals between one 



