62 REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



Farmers became impoverished ; the average yield was lessened 

 in quantity, and depreciated in quality ; labor was but poorly 

 requited, and the vocation (for it was not then deemed a pro- 

 fession) fell into disrepute. What wonder, then, that the son, 

 forced to toil in the treadmill routine of his father's unthriffc, 

 should have acquired a thorough disrelish of all that pertained 

 to the business, and have sought for himself some more con- 

 genial employment ? But, thanks to the persevering energy, 

 skill, and science of a few large-hearted and philanthropic 

 individuals, agriculture has been rescued from opprobrium, 

 aud resurrected into activity and productiveness throughout 

 the country. The series of spectacles like the one of to-day, 

 now annually exhibited in every part of the land, are evidences 

 of progress made and of triumphs achieved, and are also the 

 harbingers of still higher attainments. 



The hitherto dormant energies of our agricnltural classes 

 have been successfully aroused, and the broad and deep furrow 

 will not only render earth's surface beautiful and productive, 

 but will in turn penetrate far downward into the hitherto 

 sterile domain of uncultivated mind. There are but few 

 branches of human learning that will not ere long be drafted 

 into the ranks, and render effective aid in the field operation 

 of practical, scientific farming. Men will no longer, as the 

 poet writes, follow the plow, " whistling for want of thought." 



Competition will force into use all the valuable improved 

 implements in husbandry. As the rich furrow yields to the 

 patent share, and takes its place with but trivial effort, the 

 physical science and mental faculties of the operator will have 

 a wide, margin for studying the broad volume of nature thus 

 being opened up before him. The experimental tests previ- 

 ously established by combination, comparison, and analysis, 

 will be diligently applied. Geological indicia will be 

 observed ; chemical affinities detected, and the elemental 

 ingredients, and fertilizing properties of the upturned soil 

 will be fully arranged for the class-table of seeds. Skillful 



