be filled ; for, in the constitution of our natures, there will always be 

 enough unquiet spirits born into the world which the farm cannot 



hold, to keep the bustling part of it in motion. 



i 

 Another, and a prominent advantage which we should receive from 



good agricultural education, would be, that of more stability of cha- 

 racter in our farming population. It is proverbial among traveled 

 foreigners in this country, and it would be a subject of wonder among 

 our staid people at home if an American could wonder at anything 

 that we are the most changing people in the world. We, as a 

 population, have few, scarce any, local attachments. This, to an ex- 

 tent, is a true, although a severe censure. It arises, no doubt and 

 naturally enough, too from the wide extent of national domain of 

 which we are the possessors, and from the natural sterility of much 

 of the soil in our older communities, which cause an effort, and a 

 laudable one, too, to better the^r condition in our rural population. 

 But more, I imagine, from the low standard of agricultural improve- 

 ment, and a mistaken estimate of the value of the soil, and its appli- 

 cation to the products which properly belong to it. But, no matter 

 what the cause. The fact is so, and it is a defect in our national cha- 

 racter. How many among us but will, with a slightly tempting 

 offer, sell his homestead without remorse break up the cherished 

 associations of his life turn his back upon the graves of his kindred, 

 and his children his birth-spot the old hearth-stone of his boyhood 

 his family altar, even the brave old trees, which have, life-long, 

 waved their branches over his childish sports, and shadowed his inno- 

 cent slumbers when weary of his play, all all, pass out of his hands, 

 like a plaything of yesterday, unwept and unregretted, for the fancied 

 advantage of a fresh spot in a strange and a newer land. 



I must, however, in justice, make some exceptions to this general 

 propensity in American character. There are some among the descend- 



