8 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



life and activity into those about him, enervates all their actions. 

 And it will not require the second look at night to note the 

 difference in the work accomplished by these two men, although 

 the same hours have been spent by both in labor. 



But it may be claimed that energy is a natural trait of char- 

 acter, that is exhibited only in the person of a comparatively 

 few individuals ; and what God has not implanted in the heart 

 or brain of man, it is useless to attempt to ingraft for the pur- 

 pose of growth. Undoubtedly, all men are not born equal ; 

 and the advantage which God in his wisdom gives to one of 

 his children over another in energy of character, capacity of 

 mind or strength of body, will be maintained through life if 

 these greater capacities are properly used. But to nearly all 

 God has given some capacity, moral and mental, and where 

 natural power is weak there is the more necessity for nourish- 

 ing and cultivating that power. When it will not grow spon- 

 taneously, it should receive the care which we give to exotics ; 

 energy is a power which, once rooted, will throw out branches 

 with the luxuriance of a vigorous tree ; it is a trait that may 

 be educated and strengthened, and the more it is cultivated the 

 deeper and broader will be its roots, until at length, instead of 

 requiring care and nursing, it will of itself give breadth and 

 strength to all other mental capacities. By it the resources of 

 the mind become enlarged. The performance of arduous 

 labors becomes comparatively easy, and work, instead of being 

 a toil, becomes an invigorating pleasure, strengthening the 

 muscles, giving tone and elasticity to the mind ; it pulls up the 

 stumps in your mowing fields ; it makes brush fences give place 

 to substantial walls ; it drains your land, warms the earth, 

 builds large barns, and fills them too. Little incidents in every 

 day life attest its value. 



One of the most successful farmers of this county, a gentle- 

 man educated to commercial pursuits, taking up farming as a 

 matter of pleasure, but applying to it the energy which had 

 assisted him to wealth in other labors, has made his farm not 

 only a source of pleasure, but of profit also. When most farm- 

 ers were suffering loss in their hay crops by the drenching rains 

 of the past summer, his barns were stowed with sweet and 

 nutritious hay. By keeping his lands in a high state of cultiva- 

 tion, his grass was ready for the scythe before the rains set in, 



