14 INTRODUCTION. 



tion which may be achieved by energy and enterprise in this 

 noble field of labor. They encourage him also by the impression 

 which their personal presence will not fail to make, that these 

 results are not a consequence of great intellectual superiority, 

 of freedom from doubts and difficulties, and of mysterious 

 insight into the processes of nature, but of quiet and persistent 

 labor, to which he also is equal, of science which he can attain- 

 and of enterprise which he himself can rival. 



If any one has been disposed to inquire whether the news 

 paper reports of the proceedings of such a convention do not 

 furnish a large part of the advantage which would be derived 

 from attending its lectures and deliberations, the reply which 

 we are disposed to make to such an inquiry will already have 

 been inferred. While serving perfectly its purpose of giving 

 to the public a general idea of the proceedings of an Agricul 

 tural Convention, the newspaper can furnish at best, consistently 

 with its other offices, but a small fraction of the matter of the 

 mere lectures of such a course. Should it furnish all, it would 

 supply but the mere skeleton of their value to which the life and 

 blood of inquiry and discussion and special application, and 

 the electricity of personal influence and enthusiasm, would be 

 wanting. Detailed reports, which should record the total pro 

 ceedings, including inquiries, replies, and discussions, are out 

 of the question, from the space they would occupy and the 

 expense they would involve. But if practicable, they would 

 be destitute of all the peculiar advantages which have been 

 rehearsed as belonging to the system. These are to be found, 

 if we may be allowed here to recapitulate, in the appropria 

 tion of a definite period to the work of study, in the substitu 

 tion of oral for written instruction, in the facilities afforded for 

 special inquiries, in the opportunities furnished of obtaining 

 valuable knowledge in private conversation, in the personal 

 influence of the instructor, in the intercourse with eminent cul 

 tivators, and in the complete illustration to the eye of every 

 subject which is prcsontod to the mind. 



