410 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



der our own observation, create a demand, which I only reiter- 

 ate, when I say that our farmers must be educated, 



" But our fathers were not educated, yet they were successful 

 farmers." True, but they possessed advantages which we can- 

 not enjoy ; then, the soil was new, and of course more produc- 

 tive ; now, when its fertility has been diminished by successive 

 crops, it must be restored and increased by artificial processes, 

 to the success of which, knowledge is indispensable. Besides, 

 the progress of the other arts enables men to realize better 

 profits than they then received ; and corresponding improve- 

 ments not having been made in agriculture, labor has here been 

 less liberally rewarded. 



" But we have seen your book-farmers, your deep ploughing, 

 your highly recommended subsoil plough, turning up the stones, 

 clay, and gravel ; we have seen your recipes for manufacturing 

 manure, and have tried your nostrums for the destruction of 

 insects, with fatal effect, for they destroyed not only the bugs, 

 but also our vines." What do such ridiculous incidents prove ? 

 Simply, that there are men of little sense, and men of no sense, 

 in this, as well as in every other vocation ; and they are painful 

 illustrations of the necessity of a thorough education in agri- 

 culture ; they teach us that a little learning is a dangerous thing, 

 and exhort us to drink deep at the Pierian spring. 



Others insist, that common setise alone is needful. But com- 

 mon sense, such as they recommend, is a very uncommon thing ; 

 yet, if it were possessed by all, why not rely upon it to make 

 skilful mechanics, artists, and teachers, as well as farmers ? 

 When common sense can manufacture a steam engine, construct 

 a railroad, or teach mathematics, we may expect it, without the 

 aid of science, to conduct successfully the operations of the 

 farm. 



Till then, let us not rely upon common sense for miracles, 

 nor off"er it as an apology for ignorance or idleness. Common 

 sense is as valuable as it is rare ; but let us remember that it 

 never yet made a plough, or planted an orchard, till it was prop- 

 erly instructed. 



The standard of agricultural education, then, must be raised 

 at least to a level, with that of other professions. Individual 



