72 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



can be best effected. Man is the principal animal connected 

 with the farm, and the amelioration of his mind more import 

 ant than the improvement of brute formation. Mr Buel 

 knows well the strength of prejudice existing amongst farmers, 

 the results of their isolated situation, and that youth is gene 

 rally the only season when new impressions can be made and . 

 acted on. In advanced agriculture, the mind will guide the 

 hands as well as all farm machinery, and science and art be 

 come blended together in the relation and loveliness of conju 

 gal unity. Mental illumination of farmers is not merely cal 

 culated to advance agriculture, but to enable them to see, in 

 their professional pursuits, the means of serving their fellow- 

 creatures, and the exhaustless bounty of God. 



New York is justly considered the leading state of the 

 Union, being celebrated for prison discipline, extensive canal- 

 ing, common schools, and if Mr Buel s vigour is spared for a 

 few years, it is also likely to be distinguished for its agricul 

 tural institution. 



The United States possess great advantages, from being 

 new or young countries, in which no class have exclusive 

 privileges, and where the selfishness and prejudices of classes 

 are seldom manifested. The inhabitants are a mixture of all 

 nations, or the descendants of such, in which the fetters of old 

 customs have been loosened perhaps by collision, and, in 

 measures of general utility, they can at once adopt the wisdom 

 of antiquity without its folly. Many of their public institu 

 tions are illustrative of this as well as Mr Buel s report. 



How different is Britain and Ireland from the state of New 

 York, where the &quot; tillers of the soil&quot; are regarded as the most 

 patriotic class, holding the balance of political power, and 

 alike ready in repelling foes and restraining profligate politi 

 cians. In former ages the cultivators of British soil were 

 considered mere vassals, and termed villains. At present 

 they are lightly esteemed by those who chiefly reap the 

 benefit of their exertions ; and although this is the age when 

 the schoolmaster is said to be abroad, judicious steps have not 

 been taken to improve their condition. 



Agricultural societies are to be found in almost every 

 county in Britain, but their proceedings seldom directly 



