37 



their state entomologist, Prof. Riley. It is rare 

 to find so much practical science as has appeared 

 here, and this effort of an individual sheds luster 

 on the state. 



About 1868 Nebraska must have established 

 her State Board of Agriculture, tor we find her 

 Third Annual Report tor 1870. We have never 

 met with any agricultural publicatipns from 

 this state. 



The Board of Agriculture of Vermont was 

 established through legislative act, March 22, 

 1870, and was organized Jan. 19, 187L Its first 

 annual report appeared for 1872, and the second 

 for 1873 and '74. These reports afford pleasant 

 reading and offer a little information, and are 

 rather good. We are at fault, however, to refer 

 to the common place in enough different terms to 

 prevent tautology. Yet these reports of Ver- 

 mont a re not discreditable; they show evidence of 

 youngness, but yeta power of growth, and we ex- 

 pect shortly to see them attain that maturity of 

 which they offer promise. The titles of their sub- 

 jects are encouraging and hopeful. In their 

 treatment we find traces of much dependence of 

 the authors upon others. It is one thing to write 

 to order ; it is another to write because we have 

 something to tell. The educated public call 

 these two things different. 



In 1871 the Northwestern Dairymen's Associ- 

 ation published the report of their proceedings 

 at their fifth annual meeting, 8vo., Elgin, 1871, 

 pp. 72. The literature represented by these re- 

 ports up to date is American, and has been 

 largely educational. In 1872 the Kansas State 

 Board of Agriculture published a volume of 

 transactions. The Fourth Annual Report for 

 1875 is mainly occupied with a census of the 

 state, yet it is a strong move in the right direc- 

 tion, as it endeavors to educate the farmer 

 through the eye, to the connections between 

 statistics an i practical agriculture. While crude 

 and incomplete, this etf ort of Kansas deserves 

 most hearty commendation. In 1862 a State 

 Agricultural Society was organized, but we 

 learn of no publications. 



In 1874 the First Annual Report of the New 

 Jersey Board of Agriculture appeared, but we 

 have seen no copy. The New Jersey State Ag- 

 ricultural Society was founded many years be- 

 fore, for we find that in 1865 or 6 it was changed 

 into a joint stock association. We find mention 

 of a report in 1858, another 1859, as also in 1860. 

 Then a break. In 1873 a report was published, 

 8vo., Newark, N. J., 1873, pp. 188. 



We have now completed our unsatisfactory 

 task. We have endeavored to use our best lit- 

 erary and agricultural judgment, and we feel 

 conscious of a freedom from envy or malice. It 

 we have judged harshly, no one will feel it 

 more acutely than ourselves. If we have spoken 

 unwisely, yet truthfully, we shall seek support 

 from our own consciousness of rectitude. 



It ill behooves any one, however, to approach 

 this task with as little preparation as we have 

 given; yet it seemed proper that something 

 should be done this Centennial year, which would 

 serve ut least as a nucleus; or say as a spur to 

 further work caused by a revolt against its de- 

 ficiencies. If this is accomplished by us, it will 

 be reward sufficient. 



What is an American Agricultural Literature, 

 and what should it be? is a very pertinent in- 

 quiry and a very fit conclusion to our essay. We 

 should reply that such a literature is a product 

 of the American fields and American life and 

 American surroundings, as distinguished from 

 an imported article, with a counterfeit trade- 

 mark. The literature which springs from a for- 

 eign source can never be the same as that origi- 

 nating from home. The author who seeks ma- 

 terial (inspiration allowable) wholly from foreign 

 results, can scarcely hope to produce work ap- 

 plicable to the cunuitions of his home. The wor 

 should be boru 01 tue uian as he is, not as a poor 



judgment would have him be. American Dairy- 

 ing has given us an American literature. Amer- 

 ican Pomology is another instance of a national 

 pursuit furnishing national writings. So also in 

 gardening and floriculture, we have a recognized 

 American standard. In agriculture proper, in 

 stock raising, etc., we desire just such a result. 

 We require a nationalized literature, and the in- 

 dications are that this Centennial year may af- 

 ford a commencement time. We do not require 

 to reject foreign thought or foreign influence ; 

 all that is good should be ours, wherever pro- 

 duced, and the American citizen, filled with the 

 pride of worth and self respect, should ever be 

 willing to seek aid wherever it may be found, 

 without regard to geographical or social or lit- 

 erary lines. But what we learn from outside, 

 should be carefully fitted into its new surround- 

 ings, and take on that adaptability which is the 

 secret of success. When our literature connects 

 science and practice, it will be a success. When 

 it connects all science with American practice, 

 and predicts results which prove successful, then 

 it is a successful American, as distinct from a 

 foreign literature. 



In our society and government publications 

 we have much to hope from in the future. These 

 will advance step in step with the population, 

 and act as a school for the most forward minds. 

 Let us hope that the men in charge will recog- 

 nize their true province to shape agricultural 

 thought so that it may become Americanized, 

 i. e., adapted to our circumstances. Let us hope 

 that they shall see fit to relegate to the news- 

 paper all that which is but temporary in its in- 

 fluence and interest, and keep their publications 

 for articles of more than temporary use ; arti- 

 cles which mark progress and have a historical 

 value. 



The Secretary of a Board of Agriculture occu 

 pies a most honorable position, and a responsible* 

 one. Of him much should be required. Our ag- 

 riculturist should ever ask, is he doing his whole 

 duty? If not, let him be replaced by he who 

 will. This office is at the front of our agricult- 

 ural progress and has a large and enduring in- 

 fluence. If this influence is not being excited, 

 or if it is excited in the wrong direction, agri- 

 cultural reformers should see it, know it, act on 

 it. 



I would that all could feel with me the neces- 

 sity for a higher agriculture. I would that jeal- 

 ousy could be sunk in the nobler inspiration of 

 true agricultural work. I would that our lead- 

 ing minds could act together for the common 

 good, and that agriculture could occupy the po- 

 sition by right hers the first of the arts, the first 

 of the sciences. It is not locality, but brain 

 work, which is to secure agricultural followers 

 the rights which are theirs. The agricultural 

 papers, the agricultural societies, our agricult- 

 ural colleges, our better farmers, our intellect- 

 ual men fond of a country life, all have much in 

 common, can receive mutual help, and be 

 brought into closer relationship. The question 

 must be not can we do it ; but do we wish it. All 

 rights are secured through knowledge. He who 

 knows the most has the greatest power. The 

 intelligence of the farmer must be a high one, 

 to properly use many-faced nature; to properly 

 subdue her opposing forces py the offsetting 

 against them her own favoriug forces. And 

 finally our agricultural literature has a close 

 relationship with agricultural conquest, and a 

 higher agricultural living. 



