ACxRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 55 



actcr of each may be blended in that of a single individnal. Snch 

 an one can not only strengthen his muscles and invigorate his 

 vital functions, but he is in the most favorable situation for 

 moral improvement and religious contemplation. The work 

 which he engages in, may be truly the appropriate study and 

 employment of every man. It is not beneath the highest, nor 

 above the lowest. Its dignity may give honor to all who devote 

 themselves to it. Its simplicity may furnish many lessons to 

 those wliose capacities are the most limited. 



Gentlemen : The cause which you seek to promote, is the 

 perfection of this science, and its best application to labor. It 

 is not your object — or should not be — to amass wealth by your 

 toil, nor merely to earn your daily bread, but to improve in the 

 knowledge and execution of your work. 



I am addressing those who I believe have this object in view. 

 It of course requires a greater knowledge and skill to aid the 

 earth in the formation of a soil, adapted to the growth of par- 

 ticular products, than to perform the labor of the sower and 

 the reaper upon that soil already enriched and fitted for any 

 and every growth. 



The work of the philanthropist is to improve uncivilized 

 human nature ; to elevate the degraded, to refine the uncouth, 

 to enrich the poor, and not merely to labor among- those who 

 are in the most favorable situation for improvement. iVs did 

 the Great Teacher, he must " seek and save that Avhich is lost." 

 So it should be the object of the agriculturist, to make fertile 

 the wliole earth, if he would carry to perfection his science, 

 and enrich all mankind. In the great work in which you are 

 engaged, let excellence be your object, and excelsior the 

 motto which inspires you to gain it. 



