72 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



peace and good will to men," the physician, the lawyer, act 

 their part and fulfd the most important duties ; and in the pro- 

 fessions men rise to great eminence and usefulness, and we 

 admire them for their learning and skill. But comparatively 

 few rise to eminence in these professions, and they are all more 

 or less crowded, especially those of law and medicine, where the 

 inducements are so small, and the chances of success so uncer- 

 tain, that it would be well for young men to stop and consider 

 before they decide. 



The greater rush of our young men is to a commercial life, 

 and in this there is the greatest danger, the most shipwrecks of 

 character and of fortune. With a superficial education, young 

 men enter our cities with high hopes of success. But what are 

 the facts ? Our cities are already overrun with the young 

 from the country, mostly farmer's sons. They enter the retail- 

 ing or jobbing stores on small salaries, expecting some day to 

 become princely merchants. 



It will cost as much to educate a young man in a good jobbing 

 store in the city, as to carry him prudently through college. 

 Scenes of vice are constantly before the one and not before the 

 other. Many are easily led astray, and the good habits learned 

 at home are lost, while but few comparatively ever rise above 

 the position of clerks, and what happens to those who do ? 



It has been ascertained to a certainty that of those who enter 

 upon a commercial life, from ninety to ninety-five out of every 

 hundred fail in business, while of those who become farmers, 

 only about four in every hundred fail to succeed. 



And why is this ? In the first place, extravagant notions are 

 entertained in the city. Men commence business with too small 

 a capital, to sustain them, with high rents, a large retinue of 

 clerks who sell, perhaps, without proper discrimination, and 

 are very soon obliged to stop, bringing distress and disappoint- 

 ment upon themselves and others. 



How different is the life of the farmer. What he produces 

 will always bring money. He has no inducements to wild 

 speculation, and he is free from the harrowing perjAcxities of 

 commercial life. 



The agricultural interest is paramount to all others, and the 

 time has come when the State, and the whole country should 

 manifest an interest in the promotion of agricultural science. 



