xxxii A Discourse on Agriculture, 



agriculture has to encounter. Nor is it a new misfortune. The 

 volumes you have published, to the great credit of your pa- 

 triotism and perseverance, contain almost every thing, I could 

 suggest, for the " advancement of agriculture." A reference 

 to them, therefore, will spare my time and your patience. — In 

 your first volume will be found, u Outlines of a plan for esta- 

 blishing a state society of agriculture, in Pennsijlvania, drafted 

 by myself, and honoured by the adoption of most respectable 

 associates, in a committee of this society, more than twenty 

 years ago. During my long service in the general assembly 

 of this state, I zealously endeavoured to procure for it, the 

 patronage and adoption of the then legislature. T was finally 

 defeated by the sottishness of some country members, (for 

 whose peculiar interests I had been labouring,) who turned, 

 in a committee, the scale of votes against me. They insisted 

 that the best mode of improving agriculture, was, "to lay 

 your hands on the plough-handles, and urge on your horses." 

 It was in vain that I combated this quaint, and as they 

 thought, unanswerable dogma. If the hands of a common sai- 

 lor were laid to the tiller, and the vessel steered without com- 

 pass, observation, or nautical knowledge and skill, her pro- 

 gress towards her port would be as hopeless, as would be the 

 advancement of husbandry under the direction of ignorant 

 ploughmen. Science , teaching intelligence in the art, is as re- 

 quisite in agriculture, as it is in navigation. To this, no 

 doubt, must be added, practical habitudes and skill. Yet, with 

 all this unpleasant appearance, our prospects are not cheer- 

 less. Most of our countrymen are remarkably capable of re- 

 ceiving instruction ; and very many willing to profit by it. 

 They have, in many encouraging instances, improved most 

 meritoriously, the husbandry of our country, in districts there- 

 tofore very unpromising. Insomuch, that great numbers of 

 our fields, will bear a comparison with tnose of the best culti- 

 vated countries. 



It is a subject of gratulation, that happy prospects seem to 

 be opening. The president of the United States, after the 

 example of his immortal predecessor, has recommended to the 

 notice of congress, the establishment of a national seminary. 



