INTRODUCTION. ix 



the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it," and ag- 

 riculture was his his sole occupation, that his godlike intel- 

 ligence enabled him, instinctively to give appropriate names, 

 indicative of their true nature or character, " to all cattle, 

 and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field;" 

 and so just and accurate was his perception, that " whatso- 

 ever he called every living creature, that was the name 

 thereof." 



In our present imperfect condition, a beneficent Provi- 

 dence has not reserved a moderate success in Agriculture, 

 exclusively to the exercise of a high degree of intelligence. 

 His laws have been so kindly framed, that the hand even of 

 uninstructed toil, may receive some requital in remunerating 

 harvests ; while their utmost fulness can be anticipated, 

 only where corporeal efforts are directed by the highest 

 intelligence. 



The indispensable necessity of an advanced agriculture to 

 the comforts and wealth, and indeed, to the very existence 

 of a great nation, renders it an object peculiarly worthy the 

 attention and regard of the legislative power. ' In looking to 

 the history both of ancient and modern times, we find, that 

 wherever a people have risen to enduring eminence, they 

 have sedulously encouraged and protected this right arm of 

 their strength. Examples need not be given, for they abound 

 in every page of their civil polity. 



Our own country has not been wanting in a moderate re- 

 gard for Agriculture. By wise legislation in our National 

 Congress, every item of extensive agricultural production 

 within the United States, with the single exception of the 

 inferior wools, is believed to be fully protected from foreign 

 competition, by an unyielding and perfectly adequate impost 

 on all such articles, as would otherwise enter into a success- 

 ful rivalry with them from abroad. Many of our subordi 

 nate, or state legislatures, have also, by liberal provisions, 



