PROF. C. U. SHEPHARD'S ADDRESS. 249 



tively unimportant appendage of the annual address, would 

 scarcely be worthy of mention, save for the purpose of explain- 

 ing the reason of our present meeting. It seems to have grown, 

 in part at least, out of a desire of persons of other pursuits to 

 meet the farmers and their happy families, face to face, in some 

 formal manner, and to assure them of their deep sympathy in 

 the march of improvement. The speaker, so far as I understand 

 it, is generally selected from one of the side pursuits of society, 

 and, being called to address a popular assembly, is not expected 

 to be learnedly didactic, or technically profound. If his subject 

 can be seen to have a bearing upon agriculture ; if his aim 

 seems honest and well intended for the public good; and if. 

 moreover, his words are few, he is generally allowed to go un- 

 scathed of censure. Deeply sensible of the honor bestowed 

 upon me, in carrying out this last feature of the Agricultural 

 Society, and conscious of scarcely any other qualification for 

 filling so delicate a position, than what may arise out of a pas- 

 sionate admiration of country life, and a high regard for the 

 cultivators of the soil themselves, I shall proceed, according to 

 the best of my ability, to lay before you a few reflections that 

 have suggested themselves as befitting the occasion. They 

 will relate to a supposed deficiency of scientific information in 

 the agricultural community, and the need of its being supplied, 

 as a first condition to a higher success. In treating these topics, 

 I am aware that I shall bring to your notice little more than 

 the echo of a wide-spreading public sentiment, and one in which, 

 I doubt not, this society itself participates : but though little that 

 is new may be presented, an impetus for good may perhaps be 

 hoped for, in the propitious auspices of the occasion. 



In attempting to describe the limited prevalence of scientific 

 information among the agricultural population, it must in justice 

 be premised, that the defect is alike shared by the people, gener- 

 ally, of all pursuits and professions. The farmer is by no means 

 singular in his unacquaintance with chemistry, natural history 

 and physiology, though, from the nature of his occupation, he 

 suffers more than others by such ignorance. Nor are sufficient 

 reasons wanting in explanation of the fact assumed. The prac- 

 tical bearings of these studies have but lately been discovered. 



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