AS RELATED TO WEALTH. 121 



days merely as a matter of profit, but because they 

 found in it the best sphere of refined and intellect- 

 ual pleasures. Thus, when Cicero introduces Cato 

 in his De Senectute, he causes him to say that he 

 cultivates the earth not only as a matter of duty, ' 

 because it is beneficial to the whole human race, 

 but because it is a source of delight. He is de- 

 lighted with that secret power which, from the mi- 

 nute seed brings up the tall trunk and wide-spread 

 branches. The preparation of soils, the pruning 

 and grafting, are to him sources of pleasure, and are 

 deemed honorable employment for kings them- 

 selves. We need only raise the cultivation of the 

 soil to its former comparative position with the 

 learned professions, to make it as highly esteemed. 

 This can never be done by praises at every agricul- 

 tural fair, but it can be done by encouraging every 

 department of Natural History, until they shall 

 make it as fine a field for intellectual enjoyment as 

 either of the learned professions. What is now a 

 mere drudgery might become a delightful employ- 

 ment, and the labor receive a more certain and 



abundant reward. 



11 



