INTRODUCTION. Xlll 



thoroughly imbues his mind with sound principles, who 

 studies into the nature of his processes, and the reason why 

 he does this in preference to that ; who investigates the na- 

 ture of his soils, and fits them most perfectly for his crops, 

 and is moreover seasonable in his preparation. He will raise 

 the most to the acre, and have more to sell, and can sell the 

 cheapest, and make the most money. The greatest production, 

 coupled with the best, controls the pockets of the purchasers, 

 and insures to him, what is ever sought after, the earliest in- 

 dependence and the first honors in the line of a profession. 



What lies at the foundations of commerce ? What spreads 

 her sails, or generates the steam of our floating castles which 

 ply from port to port and from country to country ? It is ag- 

 ricultural production. There is no other substratum upon 

 which the business of the world can rest. Nothing else can 

 impel the mighty engines of commerce, or set in motion the 

 locomotive, with its heavy train of cars. It is not because 

 the merchant buys and sells. again. That is not production. 

 But it is because the farmer produces. The other is but a 

 transfer, and is only an incident in trade. The production is 

 the ruling cause. It is that which supports, which moves. 

 Put a stop to production, and the wheels cease to move, the 

 paddle ceases to turn, the locomotive stands still, and the 

 whistle is no longer heard. Production is the great element 

 of life in commerce and manufactures. It is because agri- 

 culture exists, that commerce thrives, that the merchant can 

 buy and sell. The earth is properly called the common 

 mother ot all. Her fruits nourish us, and supply the mate- 

 rials for the arts and manufactures, and the articles for trade 

 and commerce. The earth is the mother of all, but that does 

 not justify the agriculturist in waiting for her fruits with 

 folded arms, and to neglect to store his mind with the ele- 

 ments and principles of agricultural knowledge, or hope, in 

 inactivity, on a good Providence, or good fortune. If mother 

 earth is rightly depended upon, it will be accompanied by 

 works and the study of principles as connected with what he 

 is to do for his soils. He cannot ask much of mother earth, 

 who neglects to study elements and principles in this connec- 

 tion. I say elements and principles, for it is not enough to 



