156 Diffusion of Agricultural Knowledge. [March, 



occupied in this country ; and the great and varied abundance of 

 produce that is yearly given as the reward of his labors. A re- 

 flection absorbs the mind of the faiiner when contem})lating the 

 growth of animals and vegetables on his own domain, that they ap- 

 pear to exert the extremest effort to reward the labors of his 

 hand. The animal grazes the live-long day on the barren heath, 

 and foregoes that rest enjoyed by those in a more luxuriant pas- 

 ture. The plant also struggles for life on a barren soil, and seems 

 to economize every means, though feeble, to mature its seed ; what 

 faithful laborers to contribute to his comfort and prosperity. 



Again, passing on beyond the limits of a well matured and a 

 judicious system in husbandry, a farmer can enlarge the bounds 

 of his knowledge by an acquaintance with the constituents of his 

 soil, as well as those of the plants and animals which are the ob- 

 jects of his care. In this department of knowledge he learns 

 many facts, both interesting and profitable. If he is entertained 

 and instructed in beholding a perfectly organized body with all 

 the necessary and adequate functions for its development, then 

 he has it in these existences. In this field, though large, there is 

 no waste or barren heath ; every part, with all its diversity, in- 

 structs and pleases. It is the great field of mental labor, and the 

 powers of the mind become strong and stable in cultivating its 

 W'ide domain. It is the appropriate duty of man to cultivate this 

 science — these organizations are developed by his labors, they are 

 constantly under his observation. 



The agiiculturist should also be industrious and vigilant in 

 learning the principles and forms of the government of his coun- 

 try and its institutions, for on him its burdens fall ; as in its rep- 

 resentative form he has the power to correct its abuses, even now 

 in prophetic vision when paity strife verges towards its maximum 

 intensity, all eyes are turned to an intelligent yeomanry to hold up 

 the pillars of the government, to maintain the integrity of its 

 laws and to restore the fountains of justice to their wonted pu- 

 rity. Under this impression learned statesmen and philanthro- 

 pists have not withheld their strenuous efforts to devise and adopt 

 the most efficient measui'es to educate the rising yeomanry of the 

 land. Some have manifested this zeal ; hence, the common-school 

 system has been shadowed forth as the great thing desired to ac- 

 complish that object, and in their zeal they have betrayed, to a 

 certain extent, a coldness toward the higher institutions of learn- 

 ing. Now that we may not be misapprehended in our views of 

 these institutions, we state explicitly, that, in our opinion, they 

 should be sustained by the aid of government,so long as they are con- 

 ducted in reference to the object for which they were established ; 

 and it is to be regretted that they are not provided with observa- 

 tories, having a more extensive and perfect apparatus. Although 



