WORCESTER SOCIETY. 209 



suggestions of this paper relate to the promotion of deeper in- 

 terest in agriculture, in their minds. 



The measures of political leaders suggest the means which 

 will be first proposed. Every election campaign witnesses the 

 careful selection of party orators whose voices reach the retired 

 hamlet as well as the city hall. Newspaper editors, and book- 

 sellers employ lecturing agencies to awaken interest in their 

 business. Temperance societies reach all classes by similar 

 instrumentalities. We all know the power of personal appeals 

 upon religious topics, when in the large assembly the preacher 

 brings each auditor under the influence of his voice. And ag- 

 ricultural meetings of every kind are rendered attractive to 

 multitudes by their public discussions and addresses. Then let 

 this idea be carried out in systematic effort for this express 

 object. Let lectures and discussions on the farming interest 

 abound. Reach the masses through mass meetings, on this 

 subject as well as on other subjects. Would not lectures on 

 soil, on plants best adapted for culture and for food, on animals 

 and their wants and natural habits, and on kindred subjects, be 

 well patronized ? Would not such lectures by men of known 

 worth and skill in their theme, have great influence ? Would 

 it not be well for our agricultural societies to institute, or at 

 least, encourage such efforts ? Is not the subject worthy of this 

 kind of attention ? Is there not a vast fund of practical infor- 

 mation which will not reach the masses in any other way ? 

 How powerful would be the impression of diagrams and draw- 

 ings, models, and practical experiments in the hands of able 

 lecturers. How profitable as well as interesting, the recital of 

 facts bearing upon this great subject, which have been collected 

 from extensive reading, travel, and experiment. How would 

 the combined wisdom of distant and dissimilar people, be made 

 to bear upon our gardeners and our farmers. That great 

 Roman heart which seemed to long for true progress in the em- 

 pire which it swayed, felt that imperial munificence should 

 tempt Virgil to incite all classes to agricultural pursuits. It 

 was one of the glories of the age of Augustus, that the practical 

 lessons of Virgil's Georgics were so highly and so generally 

 prized. That fact had its full share of influence in staying the 

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