252 ANNUAL REPORT, OF THEi Off. DoC. 



permits the vast concourse to pass us by. The man who does things 

 to-day the same as he did yesterday is not only standing still but is 

 falling behind, which is discouraging. 



But, I hear some one ask, is agricultural pursuits and methods go- 

 ing along at as rapid a gait as other lines of work? It certainly is. 

 The last fifty years has wrought more changes for the better in agri- 

 culture than all the years before them. The brightest minds of inven- 

 tive genius have contributed their full share in this direction. Jn 

 fact, it is generally admitted that the limit in improved farm im- 

 plements and machinery has about been reached. It would be hard 

 to get better facilities to prepare the soil, plant the seed, till the 

 crops and gather the harvest than we have to-day. With all this at 

 hand the burden of further improvement rests with the farmer him- 

 self. Just as infinite wisdom has been shown in looking up the re- 

 sources of this earth and making it obligatory upon man to unlock it 

 and use it as it is needed, so has it been wise to make the mind capa- 

 ble of development. The material world does not change. The 

 flowers which bloomed on this continent when the Pilgrim Fathers 

 landed at Plymouth Rock now bloom around us in their season. The 

 stars shine with no more lustre now than when they sang together 

 in the glory of their birth. All nature is the same. For her no new 

 forces are generated; no new capacities are discovered. The earth 

 turns on its axis, and perfects its revolutions^ and renews its seasons 

 without increase or advancement. But a like passive destiny does 

 not attach to the mind of the inhabitants of the earth. For it the ex- 

 pectation of improvement is no delusion. The hope of improvement 

 is not a dream. 



These thoughts lead up to the topic which has been assigned for 

 discussion at this time. The improvement in the material things 

 connected with agricultural pursuits should not exceed the improve- 

 ment in the mental capacity of those who are most directly interested. 

 There was a time when it did. Leaders in thought recognized this 

 fact. The case was diagnosed and a remedy sought. The result was 

 the organization of farmers institutes as we have them to day. And 

 they are equal to all occasions if properly conducted. The command, 

 "Go ye into all the earth and preach the gospel," was no more divine 

 than is the call of the man to go forth and preach the gospel of bet- 

 ter farming as at the present time. So far reaching in its good re- 

 sults and so popular has the work become that within the past year 

 many men have claimed the honor of originating this method of 

 education. States and localities vie with each other in doing the 

 greatest good in the work and appropriations are made in the most 

 liberal manner by our commonwealths and general governments. 

 The brightest men of the country are employed in directing and carry- 

 ing out to full completion these institutes. Time and money are not 



