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that the farmers of this country are the bone and sinew of the land, and 

 (hat the agricultural interests and iniluence are gaining in weight and 

 importance with the onward march of this Republic. Therefore it is 

 essential and discreet to encourage every plan that affords a prospect of 

 improving the cultivation of the soil and the condition of the cultivators. 

 And 1 will be bold enough to assert that the plan above alluded to, of 

 uniting an agricultural institution with that of the Smithsonian Bequest, 

 is admirably calculated to produce the results desired, and to ameliorate 

 and render more comfortable and secure the condition of the farmer 

 and planter. 



From the halls of this agricultural establishment will be annually 

 scattered throughout the land a large number of active, industrious, 

 and well-educated youths, who will, in their turn, disseminate the 

 results of their studies, industry, and experience far and near, 

 amongst the community where their lots shall be cast. The lights 

 of science will be brought to bear upon the subject, and a new era 

 will dawn for American agriculturists, who will be forced to im- 

 prove their minds and acquire new stores of knowledge, in order to 

 keep pace with the improvements which learned and practical men 

 are constantly inventing and introducing into use. I need hardly 

 insist upon the immense advantages resulting from this intellectu- 

 alizing a piofession, which has been charged, unjustly in most in- 

 stances, with being manual and mechanical, beside the actual and 

 pecuniary benefit for agriculturists, by teaching them how to grow 

 better and more productive grains, to enrich their soil, and improve- 

 their stock and utensils, which must necessarily be the case upon 

 the adoption of the plan of Mr. Fleischmann, or something of the 

 kind. 



In one of my preceding letters, whilst upon the subject of the 

 improvement of the Mall, in connexion with the Smithsonian Be- 

 quest, I suggested that a choice botanical garden, similar to that of 

 the " Jardin des Plantes " at Paris, should be established and placed 

 under competent management. Our ministers, consuls, and foreign 

 agents, officers of the army and navy, should be directed to make 

 collections of plants and seeds, and our citizens be requested to do 

 the same, for the use of that garden, and the Smithsonian Fund be 

 held ready to pay for their purchase and cost of transportation, &c, 

 The collection of plants, &c., of the Exploring Expedition, now 

 within the grounds of the Patent Office, should be joined to the 



