f)24 State Boahd of Agriculture, &c. 



such an interpretation have made a faihire of their exis- 

 tence. Hear what the scripture eaitli : " A man's life con- 

 sisteth not in the abundance of the things he possessetli." 

 It is not all for which we come into this world to heap up 

 riches, not knowing who shall gather them. 



The question, " What is the chief good ? "' has been 

 handed down from the ancients, and the true answer never 

 comes to many until too late to avert shipwreck. I have 

 said it is not wealth. It also is not fame as the world counts 

 fame. This is an empty bubble, that may appear for a day 

 then vanish away. The chief good is to make the most of 

 time and talents while we live, in getting and doing the 

 7no8t that shall benefit humanity. We should all aim to 

 become benefactors to the race, and many are the ways 

 that the farmer can do it ; in making two blades of grass 

 grow where one grew before ; and by such close appliccV 

 tion to and experiments with the forces of nature as to 

 induce them to unlock to his gaze still greater mysteries, and 

 pour into his bosom far richer blessings ; in beautifying 

 and adorning his home and surroundings, so that all who- 

 behold will commend his judgment and admire his taste ; 

 in ways without number evincing his love for the beautiful 

 and the true, and in caring for the intei'ests of his neigh- 

 bors and in keeping down self as much as possible in his 

 public and private acts, and so living that, when his course 

 on earth is run, a vacuum shall be felt in the community 

 where he lived, and the mourners shall go about the streets. 

 This, in brief, is the chief good. 



Among the opportunities that now call the attention of 

 the young farmer may be noticed the more general diffus- 



