186 Gov. Wright's Address. [Oct., 



riculture of this country, by furnishing these markets to he ex- 

 tent of the demand, with the best articles, at the fairest price, to 

 show to those countries, and their respective governments, that 

 reciprocal commercial regulations, if they otfer no other and high- 

 er attractions, present to their people a safeguard against starva- 

 tion. 



Such is the connection, now, between our agriculture and the 

 export trade and foreign market, and these relations are to be ex- 

 tended and strengthened, rather than circumscribed and weakened, 

 by our agricultural advances. The consumption of the country 

 is far short of its production, and cannot become equal to it with- 

 in any calculable period. On the contrary, the excess of produc- 

 tion is to increase with the increase of population and settlement, 

 and the improvements in agriculture and agricultural education. 

 These appear to me to be facts, arising from the condition of our 

 country, and the tastes and inclinations of our people, fixed beyond 

 the power of change, and to which theories and principles of po- 

 litical economy must be conformed, to be made practically appli- 

 cable to us. 



The American farmer, then, while carefully studying, as he 

 should not fail to do, the necessities, the wants and the tastes of 

 all classes of consumers of his productions in his own country, 

 must not limit his researches for a market within those narrow 

 bounds. He must extend his observations along the avenues of 

 commerce, as far as the commerce of his country extends, or can 

 be extended, and instruct himself to the necessities, and wants and 

 tastes of the consumers of agricultural productions in other coun- 

 tries. He must observe attentively the course of trade, and the 

 causes calculated to exert a favorable or adverse influence upon 

 it; watch closely the commercial policy of other countries, and 

 guard vigilantly that of his own; accommodate his productions, 

 as far as may be, to the probable demands upon the market, and 

 understand how to prepare them for the particular market for 

 which they are designed. Next to the production of the best ar- 

 ticle at the cheapest price, its presentation in the market in the 

 best order and most inviting condition, is important to secure to 

 the farmer a ready and remunerating market. 



So long as our agricultural shall continue to be an exporting 

 interest, these considerations, as second only to the science of pro- 

 duction itself, will demand the carefvd attention and study of our 

 farmers, and in any well digested system of agricultural education, 

 its connection with manufactures and the mechanic arts, with 

 commerce, with the commercial policy of our own and other 

 countries, and with the domestic and foreign markets, should hold 

 a prominent place. A thorough and continued education in these 

 collateral, but highly necessary branches of knowledge to the farm- 



