SECRETARY'S REPORT. 189 



attended with the loss of that complete oversight and perfect 

 management on the part of the owner, so influential in securing 

 a good return. Within a few square rods a half million of cap- 

 ital may he gathered in a mechanical employment ; in farming 

 it niust extend itself over almost as many square miles. Thus, 

 through the loss of care and supervision, the law of agriculture 

 becomes the reverse of that of manufacture. 



Apparent exceptions existed under the slave system, where, 

 with large plantations, there were large profits. But that kind 

 of agriculture exhausted the soil, and destroyed itself. So, in the 

 West Indies, there seems to he an exception, but it is largely due 

 to the fact that an element of manufactures enters into the pro- 

 duction of sugar, and heavy expenditures are made necessary for 

 apparatus. In England, where extensive tracts are cultivated 

 under the management of a single person, agriculture is usually 

 attended with great degradation on the part of the laborers, and 

 the returns from a large area are gathered into the hands of 

 very few. 



A single family may, indeed, secure the means of luxury from 

 extended possession, but this fact does not settle the form of 

 cultivation desirable for the community, and capable of well 

 rewarding all its agents. Any business may be made profitable 

 if we oppress, with sufficient rigor, its subordinates. The inquiry 

 of present interest is, how shall farming make the best, the most 

 adequate return to the actual laborer ; how yield the largest 

 aggregate returns ? 



The first conclusion to be drawn from these contrasted laws 

 is, that agriculture is better adapted to small capitals than 

 manufactures, as the manufacturer's profits will increase with 

 capital, whereas the profits of the farmer will not. A second 

 conclusion from this law is, that the farmer must prosper chiefly 

 by his wits. The moment he ceases to devise new and better 

 methods, his difficulties begin to multiply. He can then, at 

 best, only remain stationary. If, therefore, the farmer would 

 progress, would secure greater advantages from his lalior, he 

 must improve his methods ; more thoroughly drain his soil, more 

 completely break it up, furnish new manures, or deal with the 

 old ones in new ways. In this manner, he gains power over 

 nature. So long, however, as he strives to advance by simple, 

 naked work — mere play of muscle — nature bestows on him less 



