YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 157 



to an audience of several hundred persons. He commenced 

 by stating that he had come here as a progressive farmer, to 

 lend his aid and influence to a movement which he deemed of 

 great importance, and the necessity for which he had for 

 years appreciated. We hear it said on every hand, and 

 especially by politicians, that farming is a respectable business ; 

 but he thought that no amount of honeyed phrases or plausible 

 talk would make any calling respectable. Agriculturists were 

 ahead of most others in moral and physical developments. If 

 farmers would be really respected, they must refine and culti 

 vate themselves into respectability, and not wait for it to be 

 done by others. They must carry their capital into the 

 country, and use it judiciously in advancing their farm practice. 

 Taste should be cultivated ; and rural architecture, landscape 

 gardening, and other things which render a country attractive, 

 should especially be fostered. To further this great object 

 this Convention had been called, thanks to the sagacity and 

 enterprise of Prof. Porter ; and although it would have been 

 perhaps more convenient to him (Mr. Clay) if it had held its 

 session in Kentucky, yet, it being in Connecticut, he was will 

 ing to come hither, for what tended to promote the advance 

 ment of New England farming was as dear to his heart as if 

 it were especially pointed at Kentucky interests. It is the 

 sheerest madness for farmers to drain the heart of their farms 

 and invest their funds in stocks and bonds, for the application of 

 capital to farm improvements would give as large comparative 

 profit as it would in any other business. The introduction of 

 better classes of farm stock, Mr. Allen had told us, would add 

 from forty to sixty millions of dollars annually to our wealth. If 

 we took this sum for a few years and applied it to farm improve 

 ment, what magnificent results would be attained ! Through 

 the interior of Kentucky the farmers were so sensible of the 

 profit derivable from improved stock, that they would no 

 longer purchase common scrubs at any price, nor even give 

 them standing room on their farms. For they had found, and 



