44 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Without presuming to express any opinion which will spread 

 light upon the science of agriculture, we will briefly exhibit 

 its relation to general science, in which may be seen something 

 of its real dignity. I use the term general science, in this con- 

 nection, because it may be shown how this particular depart- 

 ment of natural science, with its attendant art, may be con- 

 nected with those departments of science in general, which 

 embrace the laws of mind and the rules of condnct. Its 

 connection with these, however, is so remote, that it would be 

 proper to treat of it under other heads. 



What then is the relation which agriculture sustains to natu- 

 ral or material science ? To what particular department does 

 it belong? How far is its success as an art, dependent on a 

 knowledge of this and other departments of science ? We can- 

 not, of course, answer these questions now, in so full a manner 

 as absolute clearness and accuracy would demand. We can 

 only briefly state our own views, and by them exhibit, what we 

 design to illustrate. 



In human government we find no power so absolute and 

 independent, that it owes nothing to other powers. Every sys- 

 tem is more or less related to every other system. Every 

 national organization must of necessity frame laws relating to 

 other kindred establishments. When civilization has reached 

 its highest perfection, and has literally conquered the world, 

 there will be a perfect system uf international law, which will 

 preserve the rights of every people. What we may hopefully 

 anticipate, in the government of nations, is now fully illustrated 

 in Nature. The mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, 

 though distinct from each other, are inseparably connected, and 

 are also joined to other departments of material action. They 

 are united by the immutable laws of chemical affinity, and are 

 also indebted to the action of those forces, revealed in the 

 science of meteorology. 



But where in this range of sciences, shall we place the 

 embodiment of those principles which constitute the science of 

 agriculture ? 



First principles evidently must be drawn from all of these 

 sciences. We may, however, assign its visible location, in the 

 vegetable kingdom. Here is its centre of attraction. Here its 

 wealth is apparent. Here its perfection is manifest. Look at 



