576 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



is no other class of men in our land that do this at the present 

 day. The merchants, the manufacturers, the mechanics, have 

 every sense alive ; they never stop to say, my father or my 

 grandfather did so and so, and I guess it is good enough for 

 me ; they look at a machine, or a process, or a mode of doing 

 business, and say, how can we improve upon this, how can we 

 obtain a more thorough insight into its nature. This should 

 be the spirit of the farmer ; this is his spirit in some respects, I 

 am thankful to say. 



In implements, probably no nation has made greater im- 

 provements within a few years than our own. Our plouglis, 

 and our reapers, are at this moment calling forth the admira- 

 tion of the world in London. The energies of the mind have 

 been elevated to their construction ; the plough in its present 

 most improved form is not the result of some happy blunder, 

 but of real study ; its best shape is found by the application of 

 abstruse scientific principles ; the line of its draft is in the 

 most advantageous direction ; every part is light and yet strong 

 enough for the work it has to do. Economy of material, per- 

 fection of shape, and the greatest possible ease of draft, consis- 

 tent with a due performance of its purposes, have been all at- 

 tained by study and perseverance. 



In the department of stock too, there has been an evident 

 increase of real study within the past few years. The improve- 

 ment of our stock, the introduction of the best foreign breeds, 

 and the peculiar excellencies of each, have engaged a great de- 

 gree of general attention, and farmers have discussed every 

 point in relation to this subject with a real determination 

 worthy of all praise. Everything has combined to show, that 

 the agricultural mind has been fully awake on this subject ; 

 and what has been the result ? Just such an improvement as 

 might have been expected. We have now not merely indi- 

 viduals, but whole herds, and flocks, equal to the best stock of 

 Europe, and our shows all bring out samples of pure blood in 

 the various departments, which indicate the deep conviction 

 that rests upon the mass of the community, as to the impor- 

 tance of attending to this matter. 



Thus we have before our eyes in improved implements, and 



