C. T. RUSSELL'S ADDRESS. 397 



neglected. It must be confessed that we have done but little 

 for the advancement of agricultural science in this country ; 

 and its friends every where look to Massachusetts to take the 

 lead in establishing institutions for the promotion of this object. 

 Your good example in this educational field will soon be imi- 

 tated in all your sister states, and in the end redound to the 

 honor and true glory of a nation of farmers. 



Agricultural Progress in Massachusetts for the Last 



Half Century. 



[Exlrad from an Address by Charles T. Russell., Esq., at the last Fair of the 

 Hampden County Agncultiiral Society.] 



There has been awakened, within the last half century, an 

 urgent desire for agricultural progress, extensive enough to be 

 general. This desire evinces itself in legislation, in laws for 

 the more useful collection of agricultural statistics, in grants 

 for agricultural surveys, and in aid of agricultural societies, 

 and in schemes for model farms and agricultural colleges. It 

 is indicated in the fact that such legislation may be made a 

 hobby even, and rode with excellent success. It is shown in 

 the current of agricultural addresses, in the publication and 

 success of numerous agricultural periodicals and papers, and 

 the large space this subject engrosses in the political and relig- 

 ious journals. It is seen in the increased demand for agri- 

 cultural books, and the translations and republications of for- 

 eign works. In a word, it manifests itself everywhere, in 

 efforts made to realize it. I apprehend its existence, in any- 

 thing like its present extent, has been the result of the last fifty 

 years. 



But not only has a desire for improvement been originated, 

 but its practicability has been demonstrated. Men have come 

 to believe that the perfection of farming was not achieved in 

 the days of the Puritans. They begin to perceive that agri- 

 culture is a progressive ^rt, and not an imitative drudgery. 



