480 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



showed, by alluding to Belgium and other European countries, 

 that Massachusetts, under a similar system of scientific agri- 

 cultural practice, might be made to produce a much larger 

 amount of breadstuffs than she now does. He was decidedly 

 in favor of encouragement to agricultural education. 



Mr. Dodge, of Hamilton, discussed the application of science 

 to agriculture, showing that this application is practicable. Al- 

 luding to agricultural science, as developed in Europe, he con- 

 tended that the same great principles are applicable in this 

 country. In England, science is recognized as a useful ally. 

 Chemists are employed to analyze soils and to recommend treat- 

 ment. They err sometimes, but the balance of good is in their 

 favor. The English are a wide-awake people, and from the 

 fact that they unanimously adopt scientific agriculture, he 

 would be willing to follow their lead. 



The science which answers for England, it is said, will not 

 answer for us. Why not ? The same sun shines on land there, 

 and the same rain descends; the same crops grow there, and 

 science is the same there, as here. The question is, then, why 

 is not this science shown to our farmers ? The great reason is, 

 that there are not men enough here to teach it. There are a 

 few men qualified for this duty, such as Dr. Lee, Professor 

 Norton, and some few others, but they cannot be expected to 

 •experiment, uncompensated, for the benefit of others. Here, 

 then, is seen the need of aid from the State, to extend the 

 science of agriculture to the farming community. He hoped 

 the day was not far distant when Massachusetts would con- 

 tribute at least a pittance to carry out this object. 



An agricultural bureau at Wasliington should be established. 

 Let agriculture go up before the Federal and State Legislatures; 

 — go, though reeking with sweat from the plough, — let com- 

 merce stand by for a day, and manufactures wait awhile, until 

 agriculture's voice is heard demanding this aid. But he would 

 not wait for this. The states should go on and establish agri- 

 cultural bureaus for themselves, in order that they may collect 

 statistics to be forwarded to the national bureau when that is 

 established. He hoped that the friends of this movement 

 would persevere in their work until their claim is allowed. 



