THOMAS E. PAYSON'S ADDRESS. 209 



time. One, not only an improvement in itself, but the basis of 

 all other improvements, must not be omitted, and that is the 

 diffusion of agricultural knowledge by the newspaper press. 

 Slowly, silently, almost by stealth, without the knowledge of 

 the man himself, this mighty engine undermines old prejudices, 

 and has taught the farmer that, however independent he may be, 

 he is not so much so, as that the experience of others will not 

 profit him. Most of us have become willing to seek directions, 

 even if they are contained in a book. We are becoming more 

 like liberal, free-born, and aspiring men. 



Yet, after all, agricultural improvement is in its infancy, and 

 to nurture its youth and rear it to manhood, has been left to us, 

 and to those who are to come after us. To direct how this 

 shall be done is a difficult task. I shall, however, upon two or 

 three of the most important questions connected with the sub- 

 ject, venture to give an opinion. 



All will agree, that the basis of improvement lies in a more 

 thorough tillage. Now one great hindrance to this, is the strong 

 and universal tendency among farmers to own and cultivate too 

 much land. I am well aware that I tread on disputed ground, 

 and that there are those among us whose opinions we are ready, 

 and with good reason, to esteem almost as oracles, who "have 

 no sympathy with this small-farm theory." But, with due 

 deference to their opinions, may I not start with this fact, that 

 the case so commonly occurs as to make it a general rule, that 

 our very large farms are very poorly cultivated '? To the point 

 which I have in view, is the apologue of the vine-dresser who 

 had two daughters and a vineyard. When his oldest daughter 

 was married, he gave her a third part of his vineyard for a mar- 

 riage-portion, notwithstanding which, he had the same quantity 

 of fruit as before. When his youngest daughter was married, 

 he gave her half of what remained, still the produce of his 

 vineyard was undiminished. The secret was simply this, — that 

 the more thorough tillage which he was enabled to give to the 

 remaining third part, tripled his produce, while, at the same 

 time, it reduced the cost of cultivation. Now, he that cultivates 

 the most land, or produces the greatest crop, is not the best farm- 

 er, but he that can do it with the least expense. In Massa- 

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