208 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



by a premium offered by the Royal Agricultural Society — which, even for our owd 

 country, may be turned to more valuable account for the cause of that interest 

 than all the premiums that will be given this year in the United States for fat- 

 test bullocks and swine. 



But how different the spirit which prevails in that country, among the friends 

 of the plow, from the apathy existing in this? In the case of this report, the 

 learned author acknowledges himself under obligations to not less than eighty 

 practical farmers in one county for materials. There of the 700 farmers' societies 

 and clubs, there is not one that is not known to all the others. Here, a public 

 call on their officers only for the name of their Society and its whereabouts, to be 

 answered by a single line, postage unpaid, is answered by six, perhaps eight, in 

 the whole country! We boast of our superior intelligence — the growth of free 

 institutions ! Where are the proofs of knowledge on the part of American farm- 

 ers in the statistics, the philosophy, the political claims of their profession ? In 

 Kew-York, the product of their labor is more than $100,000,000, and their num- 

 bers to that of the lawyers as 80 to 1 ; yet, in a Convention to model the Consti- 

 tution for the government and protection of their lives and property, the lawyers 

 about equal them in number ! Where are their libraries, provided to make skiU- 

 ful and accomplished men of their sons ? Why, the merchants' clerks and their 

 employers in New- York have provided for them 24,000 volumes ! How many 

 volumes make up the library of any Farmers' Club or Society in the Union ? — 

 But have agriculturists any occasion for books ? Can 't any fool measure a bushel 

 of corn, or stuff a hog or a bullock, or milk a cow, or yoke a span of oxen ? Ay, 

 surely can he ! 



HYMN* By George Lunt. 



Once more amid the harvest fields with Autumn's stores embrowned, 

 With Howers and fruits and golden grains iu rich profusion crowned. 

 Behind our steps the Summer fades ; before us all appear 

 The hues that with their glory paint the closing time of year. 



Once more we've seen the genial Earth fling Winter from her arms, 

 For us unfold her mighty heart, and give us all her charms ; 

 Once more we've met the Summer's sun amid the blaze of June, 

 And gathered Nature's bounties in beneath the harvest moon. 



The forest leaves, of late so fresh, lie strewn and withered round ; 

 The voice of coming storms sweeps o'er the naked ground ; 

 The birds that filled the living air have spread their wonted wing 

 Afar beneath another sky to seek anollier spring. 



Yet though the circling seasons change, and each resumes its reign, 

 Oh ! not for this we grieve to see the year's departing train ; 

 For hopes that flushed the vernal hour have found their rich reward. 

 And smiles should cheer the wintry hearth where plenty decks the board. 



Like men we met our honest toils with every rising mom ; 



Like men we bore the fervid beat amid the bending com ; 



And now with grateful hearts we come to bless the bounteous Power 



Whose goodness sent the ripening sun and poured the kindly shower. 



And still to seek Thy fostering hand and own Thy constant care, 



May we and ours to endless years Thy glorious name declare ! 



Thine are our fields, and flocks, and herds, and all that crowns our days ! 



And still to Thee, Almighty Lord ! eternal be the i)raise ! 



• ■Written for the public exorcises of the Essex Agricullural Society nt Lynn, Mass 

 (448) 



