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so pleasant to the mind, as the discovery of anything that is at once 

 new and valuable — nothing that so lightens and sweetens toil, as the 

 hopeful pursuit of such discovery. And how vast, and how varied a 

 field is agriculture, for such discovery. The mind, already trained 

 to thought, in the country school, or higher school, cannot fail to 

 find there an exhaustless source of enjoyment. Every blade of grass is 

 a study; and to produce two, where there was but one, is both a profit 

 and a pleasure. And not grass alone; but soils, seeds, and seasons — 

 hedges, ditches, and fences, draining, droughts, and irrigation — 

 plowing, hoeing, and harrowing — reaping, mowing, and threshing — saving 

 crops, pests of crops, diseases of crops, and what will prevent or 

 cure them — implements, utensils, and machines, their relative merits, 

 and to improve them — hogs, horses, and cattle — sheep, goats, and poul- 

 try — trees, shrubs, fruits, plants, and flowers — the thousand things 

 of which these are specimens — each a world of study within itself. 



In all this, book-learning is available. A capacity, and taste, 

 for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by 

 others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved 

 problems. And not only so. It gives a relish and facility for suc- 

 cessfully pursuing the unsolved ones. The rudiments of science, are 

 available, and highly valuable. Some knowledge of botany assists in 

 dealing with the vegetable world — with all growing crops. Chemistry 

 assists in the analysis of soils, selection, and application of ma- 

 nures, and in numerous other ways. The mechanical branches of natural 

 philosophy, are ready help in almost everything; but especially in 

 reference to implements and machinery. 



The thought recurs that education — cultivated thought — can best 

 be combined with agricultural labor, or any labor, on the principle of 

 thoroug h work — that careless, half-performed, slovenly work, makes no 

 place for such combination. And thorough work, again renders suf- 

 ficient, the smallest quantity of ground to each man. And this again, 

 conforms to what must occur in a world less inclined to wars, and more 

 devoted to the arts of peace than heretofore. Population must increase 

 rapidly — more rapidly than in former times — and ere long the most 

 valuable of all arts, will be the art of deriving a comfortable sub- 

 sistence from the smallest area of soil. No community v/hose every 

 member possesses this art, can ever be the victim of oppression in any 

 of its forms. Such community will be alike independent of crov.'ned- 

 kings, money-kings, and land-kings. 



But, according to your programme, the awarding of premiums awaits 

 the closing of this address. Considering the deep interest necessarily 

 pertaining to that performance, it would be no wonder if I am already 

 heard with some impatience. I will detain you but a moment longer. 

 Some of you will be successful, and such will need but little philos- 



