YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 99 



even the most disastrous hail-ravages could easily be recom 

 pensed, without fear of extinguishing the grand capital. In 

 considering the advantages and disadvantages of tobacco- 

 culture, Prof. Brewer thus stated the case. The sole advan 

 tage is, that an individual may grow rich from raising it. On 

 the other hand, a nation never will ; for the one man's gain is 

 obtained at the cost of his son and son's son ; in getting his 

 fortune he has taken from his children the means of future 

 gain, like the owner of the goose that laid the golden eggs. 

 The crop terribly exhausts the soil ; it is very precarious be 

 cause of weather and insect enemies ; the laborers who culti 

 vate it suffer in health ; and the land, which must always be of 

 the best quality, could be employed in raising breadstuffs to 

 more general profit. 



Mr. TUCKER'S third discourse touched more generally upon 

 the lessons which Americans may learn from the well-informed 

 farmers of Great Britain. 



Although the lectures of the succeeding week were to be derot- 

 ed particularly to the subject of domestic animals, one could not 

 pretend to speak of " English agriculture" and omit all notice 

 of the improvements effected in English breeding, without 

 placing himself in the position of the theatrical company which 

 proposed to " play Hamlet," with the part of that distinguished 

 character himself left out. The subject might be viewed in 

 two different ways with the eye of the farmer, or with that 

 of the breeder a distinction of more importance than might 

 be at first supposed. 



After a review of the breeds of cattle of Great Britain, it was 

 remarked that in speaking of the most meat, in the best shape, 

 in the least time, as constituting the highest type of excellence 

 for the butcher, it should not be forgotten that no one breed 

 could be fixed upon as universally superior to all others even 

 though there might be a " best breed," and undoubtedly there 

 is, where every condition is of the most favorable kind for 



