OBJECT OF EXHIBITIONS. 257 



The interest of agriculture demands, and it is of so much 

 importance, that it should receive, liberal governmental aid. 

 Figures tell us that agriculture is the leading interest in the 

 country ; that forty-five per cent, of our population are engaged 

 in agricultural pursuits, — more than one-half larger than those 

 who are engaged in manufactures and the leading trades, more 

 than four times larger than those engaged in merchandise, and 

 nearly ten times larger than those in the professions. 



And our government is doing many things for our whole 

 country. There has never been a time when our National and 

 State governments were doing so much for American farmers as 

 at the present day. And although we cannot see what will be 

 the ultimate effect of this aid upon our agriculture, still there 

 can be no doubt but that a glorious success is reserved for the 

 future. 



One of the objects our government has in view, is the eleva- 

 tion of the characters of American farmers as tillers of the soil 

 which they cultivate. The mind must be enlightened in the 

 knowledge of science and arts, before we can proceed a step in 

 any improvement. For this purpose the government has been 

 expending sums of money in collecting reliable information, and 

 in diffusing it among the working farmers of the land. 



Statistics show that our soil does not produce from year to 

 year one-half the amount of grass, hay and grain that it is 

 capable of producing under scientific cultivation. And many of 

 our farmers are opening their eyes to this important considera- 

 tion, and are commencing different systems of agriculture, that 

 they may, by judicious management, raise two tons of hay with 

 less expense than they used to produce one ton. They find that 

 there is an inexhaustible resource of fertility in the soil beneath, 

 and in the air ; and that in husbanding these resources, and by 

 taking proper care of the elements of fertility, the soil may be 

 made more productive. 



Massachusetts, ever ready to lend her hand to assist in 

 every laudable enterprise, has shown a disposition to encourage 

 every branch of industry, — to open her purse for the literary 

 and agricultural education of all her citizens. By her bounty 

 to the county societies we are encouraged, and the cause of 

 agriculture promoted. In 1838 the legislature of the Common- 

 wealth passed an " Act to encourage the production of Wheat." 



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