I. S. SMITH'S ADDRESS. 413 



In France, and some other countries, agricultural institutions 

 can be found, supported by government, and provided with ex- 

 tensive hbraries, and with competent professors, \vho, in addi- 

 tion to the instruction which they give in their professional 

 chairs, go into the surrounding country, call together the farm- 

 ers, and instruct them in their various pursuits. The president 

 of the French Republic, in a recent communication, commends 

 such institutions to the particular care and patronage of the 

 government, and announces, that a special commissioner has 

 been appointed, on the subject of agriculture. There are, in 

 that country, one hundred and twenty-two agricultural schools, 

 and three hundred minor institutions, for the promotion of this 

 art, sharing the patronage of the government. 



We must have agricultural colleges and schools, or we must 

 have departments in our institutions of learning, devoted to 

 this art and science. Let our agricultural papers, and periodi- 

 cals, continue their noble advocacy of this cause ; let the pen 

 of the learned write for these, and our journals ; let the voice 

 of the eloquent advocate this cause, in the halls of legislation, 

 and throughout the length and breadth of our land ; let efficient 

 hands and warm hearts engage in it, and then the public mind 

 cannot slumber ; agricultural education will advance ; our sem- 

 inaries of learning, from the common school to the university, 

 will provide a place for it in their processes of instruction, and 

 we shall have among our yeomanry, such farmers as the world 

 never before witnessed ; men who will honor their vocation, 

 and therefore be honored by society ; the chiefs of our land, 

 the glory of our nation. 



Some of the Defects of Farmers, and the Means 

 OF Remedying Them. 



[Extracts from an Address by Increase S. Smith, Esq., at the last Fair of the 

 Plymouth County AgricvJ.tural Society.] _^ 



Massachusetts, from her first settlement, down to about 1S20, 

 was mainly an agricultural State. Since then, other interests 

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