412 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



eclipsed, by any other state in the Union ? New York is al- 

 ready in the field, and vigorously at work. Her governor, in 

 his address for January, 1849, says : " I cannot too strongly 

 recommend the endowment, by the state, of an agricultural 

 school, and an institution for instruction in the mechanic arts." 

 The assembly, then in session, responded to his excellency's 

 call, and a board of able commissioners was appointed, to report 

 a plan for the establishment of an agricultural college, and an 

 experimental farm. A similar recommendation, also, distin- 

 guished the recent message of the governor of Maine. 



In this struggle for improvement, Massachusetts will not be 

 behind her sister states. She is already waking up and mov- 

 ing, and when she puts her hand to the plough, there will be 

 no looking back. The attention of her sons is already turned 

 to her neglected soil, and they are beginning to renovate their 

 orchards and forests, to drain their meadows, to cultivate their 

 farms, and to repair their barns and granaries, in expectation of 

 years of plenty. We would aid and encourage them in this 

 work, by legislation, by education, and by every means in our 

 power. 



Why should we not have an agricultural department in our 

 national and state governments, as well as one for the military? 

 Surely, the earth has been sufficiently fertilized by blood, to 

 yield extra support for those whom the sword has spared ! Why 

 are not agricultural schools as intimately connected with the 

 welfare of the Commonwealth, as normal schools ? The latter 

 we cheerfully sustain, for the education of a few hundred 

 teachers. But who are to educate the thousands of young 

 farmers, who, in their turn, are to teach agriculture to the next 

 generation ? 



We have well-endowed colleges and academies, institutions 

 for the promotion of the arts, and for the amelioration of the 

 various ills that flesh is heir to ; yea, the means of education in 

 other branches, are so accessible, that no young man of talents, 

 and thirst for knowledge, need remain in ignorance. But, un- 

 accountable as it may seem, there is no institution in this Com- 

 monwealth, or in the country, where a young man can acquire 

 the important art of becoming a truly intelligent and skilful 

 farmer. 



