242 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



of feudalism for a thousand years, when wars and crusades 

 and superstition flourished, and arts and science and letters, 

 religion and husbandry languished. The turmoil of ten 

 centuries went on, till out of the crucible of tierce unrest 

 Europe came, disenthralled at last, in the awakening of the 

 sixteenth century. Then husbandry as well as all other 

 laudable callings began to feel the invigorating influence of 

 the new era, and, as the new forces came into line, govern- 

 ments and people came more and more to feel they existed 

 for each other. Since then governments have been learning 

 some useful lessons from painful experience, and have found 

 paternalism to l)e a paying factor. There is France, for in- 

 stance, which has exchanged nine-tenths of her population, 

 which were held in practical slavery during a long period 

 of the feudal ages, for the contented and prosperous peas- 

 antry of to-day, who constitute more than half of her pop- 

 ulation, and are directly supported by the various pursuits 

 of agriculture. The government directly looks after their 

 best interests, and endeavors to encourage their advance- 

 ment by every worthy means. What a contrast, when sec- 

 tion preyed upon section, and all existed in abject terror of 

 the over-lord ! 



Germany, grown powerful by unifying her interests, has 

 also learned wisdom from the past, and is devoting much 

 attention to the advancement of her increasing agricultural 

 aflfairs. Her scientific men are patiently delving into the 

 mysteries of the vegetable kingdom, and are constantly solv- 

 ing problems which will be of the greatest value to the farm- 

 ers of the world. 



Little Holland has shown us how to tame old ocean and 

 wrest grand trophies from his grasp, and transform bogs and 

 fens and sea-washed inlets into smiling fields and gardens of 

 wealth and beauty. 



And England is not forgetful of her toiling sons, who 

 subsist upon the productions of the soil ; there the fawning 

 retainer of feudal days has been replaced by the prosperous 

 and contented tenant of to-day, whose well-tilled acres bring 

 him comfort and plenty. 



Our own country, the youngest of the nations, has made 

 rapid strides in all departments of agriculture ; our methods 



