380 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



Some ideas which were not properly explained on the pre- 

 vious occasion, may now be more clearly presented ; some 

 points which were then untouched, may now be brought to 

 your notice. There is, in short, an opportunity to deepen and 

 confirm any slight impression Avhich may then have been made. 

 I say slight impression, for that is all that can be expected from 

 one of these detached lectures. The department of knowledge 

 to be treated of is so vast, and the community in general knows 

 so little of it, — at least of the scientific part, — that even if re- 

 marks upon some new course, upon some decided improvements, 

 are received favorably at first, they are apt to be soon forgot- 

 ten ; there are few who have the energy and enterprise requisite 

 for entering, to any very important extent, into experiments and 

 investments that they have never seen tried, and the reasons of 

 which they do not clearly understand. Even the best farmers 

 of this country, in most cases, venture with timidity into new 

 courses. In this they are generally quite right, for their knowl- 

 edge, as business men, teaches them that rashness is almost 

 sure to end in disappointment. It is, however, to be lamented, 

 that, in this case, they will not more freely depart from their 

 usual custom, of doing nothing but what they have done them- 

 selves, or seen others do. 



It would be better, if they could understand all that scientific 

 men say, as then they could judge for themselves ; but with 

 many, perhaps I may say most, of those mature in years, this 

 is out of the question ; they have (or, at least, think so,) neither 

 the time nor the inclination for study, and are hence rather in- 

 clined to wait, hoping that others will lead the way for them. 

 This is now the great difficulty under which we labor. Num- 

 bers of farmers may be found, who believe that there is some- 

 thing in the applications of science to agriculture, but there are 

 few who really and clearly understand what is the precise na- 

 ture of these applications. There are men enough who have a 

 desire to improve, but they do not exactly know what to do, or 

 where to begin. This is a hindrance to rapid progress, which 

 is not easily gotten over. It will not be overcome, until we 

 have persons who are capable of taking the lead in each dis- 

 trict. Our young men must devote themselves to this depart- 



