ADDRESS. 



265 



impart corresponding life and activity to every other de- 

 partment of business. If we look to Spain, to Portugal, 

 to a great portion of Italy, to South America, or any 

 other country where agriculture is neglected, or holds but 

 a subordinate rank, we shall find a degraded population, 

 characterized by superstitious ignorance, poverty, and 

 crime. Every class of the community, therefore, has a 

 deep interest in promoting the improvement of the soil ; 

 and all should willingly contribute their aid towards en- 

 lightening, honoring, and rewarding those who are hon- 

 estly employed in its cultivation. 



With regard to the utility of Agricultural and Horti- 

 cuhural Societies, much will depend upon the objects 

 which bring together their members. U they associate 

 for selfish purposes, merely to monopolize the spoils, and 

 withdraw whenever they are disappointed in their sinister 

 hopes, jealousies and apathy will ensue, and the associa- 

 tion will fall, as many under like circumstances have fall- 

 en, without public loss or public regret. But if the asso- 

 ciation is formed for mutual improvement, and in the be- 

 nevolent and patriotic desire to do a public good,— to 

 stimulate and reward industry and enterprise, however 

 humble their condition, — and strives, by concentrated and 

 persevering efforts, to improve the condition of a district, 

 of a county, or a Stale,— then will it inspire pubhc confi- 

 dence, obtain public support, and become a public bles- 

 sing. To illustrate this last proposition, I beg to refer to 

 some associations which have been tried, and whose la- 

 bors have been crowned with palpable and brilliant suc- 

 cess. 



The counties of Berkshire, Essex, and Worcester, in 

 Massachusetts, have each, for many years, maintained an 

 Agricuhural Society ; and they each distribute ten or 

 twelve hundred dollars a year, one half of which is paid 

 out of the State treasury, in prizes to successful competi- 

 tors in the various departments of agricultural and house- 

 hold labor. It is said, and I believe with truth, that 

 every dollar thus expended, has made a return of twenty 

 dollars, in the increase of agricultural products which it 

 has caused ; and so satisfied are the inhabitants of the 

 23 XIII. 



