482 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



/ 

 "this partnership profitably, he should understand the elements 



of the soils, the laws of geology and of the vegetable king- 

 dom, in order that he may adapt the one to the other. The 

 laws of animal physiology it is also necessary for him to un- 

 derstand, in order to adapt his stock to his crops. The 

 laws of chemistry, of the composition of soils, of mechanics, 

 the great laws and agencies of nature, all should be known 

 and observed by him, in order successfully to prosecute his 

 calling. 



The great improvements in other arts, by the application of 

 science, were alluded to in this cormection, and the speaker 

 asked. Is agriculture the only art that is to receive no aid from 

 science ? Is she, the oldest daughter of nature, after having fed 

 her sister arts, to be dismissed without any dower ? This 

 ought not so to be; the friends of agriculture ought not to 

 allow this so to be. He came to the conclusion that it is the 

 duty of the friends of agriculture, and the duty of the Legis- 

 lature, to establish an institution independent of all others, 

 from which this knowledge and science can go forth. Estab- 

 lish it with limited means at first, and then let it grow, as the 

 occasion may demand, and its usefulness may be exhibited in 

 its results. 



Mr. Proctor said, I concur most heartily in the general views 

 of the resolutions now before this meeting. They say, in one 

 ■word, that it is the bounden duty of the government, both 

 national and state, to do something for the encouragement and 

 protection of the interests of the farmer. Is not this so ? 

 Who ar^ the farmers? Are they not three fourths of the whole 

 community ? How are they rewarded comparatively ? Look 

 at their resources exclusive of the lands they occupy, and will 

 it not be found that the one fourth^ comprising the commercial 

 and the manufacturing interests, have more than the other 

 three fourths 7 Is there any equity in this? Is not the farmer 

 as useful and reliable as any other class of citizens ? On 

 whom has the State ever relied in time of danger, if not on 

 the yeomanry of the country ? Those, then, who are her 

 main stay in time of peril, have a right to aid and encourage- 

 ment in times of prosperity. How can this aid be best ap- 



