O "T* 



76 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



succeeded quite well. Now, while I think that no profession 

 is more honorable or deserving than that of the merchant, 

 I cannot admit that there are any special reasons why it should 

 be the object of a young man's ambition. The man who 

 stands at the head of the agricultural population of the county 

 of Middlesex, is as worthy of public honor as the man who 

 stands at the head of the mercantile population of the county 

 of Suffolk. And so with each relative position in the two pro- 

 fessions. 



Some of the Means of making the Soil more Productive. 



[Extract from an Address hy Rev. H. Tracy, at the last Fair of the Worcester 



County Agricidtural Society.] 



I suppose it will not be questioned, that most of the land in 

 Worcester county, (rich as much of it is,) may be improved, or 

 rendered more productive. Observation, and a limited experi- 

 ence, confirms me in the full belief, that very many of the 

 farms in this region may be brought, in not a long period, by 

 skilful and judicious cultivation, into a more productive state, 

 and thereby their value be greatly enhanced. You yourselves 

 have seen, it may be, particular fields and farms thus improved. 

 And what has been done, can still be done and on a larger 

 scale. I have no Gluixotic or extravagant plan to propose, but 

 one that I deem feasible by all who now cultivate the farms in 

 the county. I would fain suggest an economical and profitable 

 plan ; one that, while it puts value into the soil, will put money 

 into the pocket. The farmers of Worcester county need not 

 go to California to dig gold. They have in their green hills, 

 and in their well watered and fertile valleys, a far richer mine. 

 And the same hard, unremitted toil with the plough, spade and 

 hoe, will turn up better gold. The getting of this will be at- 

 tended with less hazard to character and life ; and the enjoy- 

 ment in spending it will be greatly enhanced by the method of 

 acquiring it. 



But how shall the soil be rendered more productive ? I an- 



