MARSHALL P. WILDER'S ADDRESS. 683 



It might naturally be expected, that an art of such paramount 

 importance to society, an art coeval with the origin of the hu- 

 man race, transmitted through past generations, destined to de- 

 scend through the long vista of future ages, and yielding 

 support to the myriad millions of all time, would long ago have 

 reached its culminating point, and have received whatever aid 

 science and legislation could bestow. But how diiferent is the 

 fact. Progress has indeed been made, yet experience, hoary 

 with age, is to be systematized, and the deductions of science 

 are still to furnish uniform rules for successful practice. 



How a result so desirable is to be secured, and agriculture 

 made to occupy the position in the great family of arts, which 

 the God of Nature assigned it, and Avhat are the means to such 

 an end, are our next objects of inquiry. 



The chief of these is scientific education, an instrumen- 

 tality powerful in its operation, certain in its results, and which 

 should be accessible to all. The farmer needs something more 

 than physical strength and practical skill. If he would elevate 

 himself and his calling ; if he would rank with the Cobb^tts, 

 Tulls, Loudons, Johnstons, Liebigs, Thaers, of Europe, or 

 with our American Eliots, Pickerings, Lowells, Cohnans, Phin- 

 neys, and other renowned agriculturists, he must be a man of 

 large and varied learning ; nor must he ever account his edu- 

 cation finished, but be forever growing in experience and wis- 

 dom. Let us not be misunderstood; far be it from us to charge 

 our intelligent and virtuous yeomanry with any deficiency in 

 natural endowments. We have always affirmed, and desire 

 heie to repeat, the contrary. Our farmers are among our most 

 benevolent and patriotic citizens, ardently devoted to our free 

 institutions, reliable for the support of the same, and for the 

 preservation of our American Union. They are the ballast of 

 our national ship, keeping her upright and steady amidst the 

 winds and waves which agitate the political ocean, and as con- 

 servators of the republic, they hold with unwavering hand the 

 balance of political power. As a class, they have intelligence 

 and talent ; many of them possess genius which would improve 

 and adorn any vocation or station in society. What they need, 

 is a wise direction of their energies to their profession, and this 

 it is the object of scientific education to furnish. 



