HOUSATONIC SOCIETY. 263 



The address was delivered by Ensign PI. Kellogg, Esq., of 

 Pittsficld. 



On Agricultural Productions. 



All will agree, that the basis of improvement in agriculture 

 lies in a more thorough tillage. One great hindrance to this, is 

 the strong and universal tendency, among farmers, to own and 

 cultivate, — or pretend to cultivate, — too much land. To the 

 point which the committee have in view, is the apologue of the 

 vine-dresser, who had a vineyard, and two daughters. When 

 his oldest daughter was married, he gave her a third part of his 

 vineyard, for a marriage portion. Notwithstanding this, he had 

 the same quantity of fruit as before. When the other daugh- 

 ter was married, he gave her half of what remained ; still, the 

 produce of his vineyard was undiminished. The secret was 

 simply this, that the more thorough tillage he was enabled to 

 give the remaining third part, tripled his produce, while, at the 

 same time, it reduced the cost of cultivation. We would not 

 be understood to say, that no man can profitably manage a 

 large farm. All rules have their exceptions. But we do say, 

 that there are very few General Taylors in agriculture, — that 

 the great body of us are fit only to serve in the ranks. Still, 

 we may pride ourselves, as a society, both in review of the past, 

 and in prospect of the future. The growing interest mani- 

 fested in our exhibitions ; the multitudes who attend them, and 

 retire, praising our efforts; the greatly increased number of 

 competitors, and of towns thus represented, — give us a pledge, 

 that this institution will be sustained by the people, in its work 

 of agricultural improvement and reformation, and not suffered 

 to languish, till a more perfect and general cultivation shall su- 

 persede its necessity. And hence, our work, in the cause of an 

 improved cultivation, should not be restricted to the interest, 

 convenience, or supply, of a single generation, but be governed 

 by the fact, that men, no less than crops, exist in succession, 

 and that every man, in passing, ought to employ the powers 

 given him, in preparing the way for the comfort and prosperity 

 of successors. 



