A DISCOURSE ON AGRICULTURE 



IT is more to evidence my disposition to use every endea* 

 your to show the importance of the subject of our institution* 

 and the necessity of rousing the puhlic attention to its ad 

 vancement, than from any consciousness, I feel, of a capacity 

 to gratify the wishes of the society, that I address to it some 

 of my own, and recitals of the sentiments of others, on a top- 

 ic, on which it is difficult to say any thing new. 



Husbandry has been practiced, from the earliest times, 

 more as an art than a science. Most writers on the subject, 

 are like the collectors of family recipes — good for specific ca- 

 ses. — But no regard is had to the consequences of administer-^ 

 ing them, as they relate to the general state of the system ; 

 or how they affect the future vigour and welfare of the pa- 

 tient. The combination of science with practice, is, relative- 

 ly, of modern discovery and developement. From the days 

 of the patriarchs to our own, agriculture has been followed 

 with very little attention to its principles. At least, none 

 have been transmitted to us, originating in remote antiquity. 

 These are now only in their earliest stage of progress; and 

 by no means settled, or extensively regarded, Yet a com- 

 mencement (highly honourable to those who have begun the 

 course of inquiry, philosophical and experimental,) has been 

 made, with every promise of the most important success. 

 There is enough already achieved, to excite the zeal, and to 

 reward the labours of those, who would pursue the discove- 

 ries, and practice on the principles displayed by both practi- 

 cal and theoretical writers, on a subject, which, from the ear- 

 liest ages to this day, has been ever considered the basis of 

 the comforts and prosperity of the human race. 



J8 



