STATE POMuLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33 



universal interests. How we like this democracy within the Grange ! 

 How I like it ! Because while I've not a single qualification for the 

 institution, I'm 3'et admitted, perhaps because "angels and ministers 

 of grace" are supposed to be harmless, if the}- are not helpful. 



But we are here as an agricultural gathering, and I want to say a 

 few words upon this great industry, that is really the fibre and 

 sinew of the world ; for how would any business or vocation flourish 

 but for the support that comes from this particular department? 

 All classes of occupation do reverence to this I 



Somewhere I've read of commerce, that branch which is so 

 luxurious in many of its methods, I've read that she is "the younger 

 sister of agriculture," because she must look to this for all the 

 sti'eugth that carries on her enterprises. 



Trade increases the wealth and glor}- of a people, but the stamina 

 of a country comes from the soil, which the agriculturist renders 

 fruitful. Not long ago I read of a speaker before a Grange who 

 said "This department, with its potato gospel!" and I thought 

 why isn't the potato scriptural ! It can feed, and it does feed hungry 

 multitudes and that without any of that controversy accompany- 

 ing so much ot the testament gospel. Let us be glad that some- 

 body outside ascribes a sufficient value to any of our productions as 

 to call this rude groundling an evangelist. 



Nor do we forget that the feature of fruit growing is the special 

 reason of our being in session at this time. If that same man, with 

 his vegetable text, was to stand before this display of fruit he would 

 wonder if it did not all grow in the Garden of Eden ! And yet, he 

 would find none that could work the ruin of that mystic apple for 

 these are every one healthful, with no attributes of good and evil but 

 all superlatively "good " How much the fruits have become the 

 chief food of many classes engaged in sedentary life in business, 

 under cover ; and how many of the people look to fine fruits as 

 their luxuries. They all come from the soil, and the soil is "the 

 mother of the world," nourishing from herself not only all occupa- 

 tions by feeding the people so engaged, but she cherishes every grade 

 of sentient life. Agriculture is the basic industry, the foundation 

 department of the whole world's thrift, with the farmer as lord and 

 king of all enterprise. 



Daniel Webster called the farmers "the founders of civilization," 

 giving for his opinion that who could make two ears of corn or two 



