FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE. 79 



The public exercises in the meeting house were always 

 opened with prayer, usually, if not invariably, by the 

 Brighton pastor. The annual address in most instances 

 dealt with such problems and demands of the agricultural 

 art, as the stage of development reached at the particular 

 time, might suggest. But much variety of treatment was 

 possible, and so it happens that a part of the credit justly 

 due to the Massachusetts society is for contributions 

 made, through its orators, to the literature of eloquence. 

 Three specimens, one in aim and effectiveness, but diverse 

 as, perhaps, is possible in style, will illustrate this phase of 

 the society's experience, and permit the reader to decide, 

 if he can, which is the excellent orator, or, so to speak, 

 where should be awarded the " premium." 



In 1822 the address was delivered by Timothy Picker- 

 ing. In one of the society's publications it was referred 

 to in these terms; " Col. Pickering's address is said to 

 have been too practical to suit the ladies, who had come 

 in great numbers to hear him. It savored less of the 

 flowers than of the compost from which they spring. 7 ' 

 The recorder confessedly obtained his information at 

 second hand. Compost was, indeed, one of the topics. 

 There is no mention of flowers, even by allusion. Nor 

 did the orator indulge in so much as a flower of rhetoric 

 thoroughout his long discourse, and varied from an inex- 

 orable plainness only in one slight touch of facetiousness. 

 But of the chrystalline possibilities of English speech one 

 might search far for a better example. He began as fol- 

 lows : 



" It appears to be expected that at each of your anniversary meet- 

 ings, a aiscoursfcon agriculture should be delivered. The trustees 

 of the society have requested me to address you at this time. But 

 though willing to be laid under contribution to the great object of 

 your institution, it has occasioned a degree of solicitude to present 

 something meriting your attention. From the multitude of books 

 written on the subject of agriculture embracing in that word what- 

 ever should employ the thoughts and labors of the skillful husband- 

 manthe lield would appear almost boundless ; yet to select topics 

 particularly interesting to the farmers of Massachusetts, and here to 

 discuss them so as to communicate useful and acceptable informa- 

 tion, was not unattended with difficulty. My address must necessa- 

 rily be miscellaneous. 



Philosophers and practical husbandmen have for ages employed 



