106 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



than all the gold which dusts the valley of the Sacramento 

 could purchase. But their age passed away, and then fol- 

 lowed the age of warm-blooded animals, through whose agency 

 were amalgamated and stored away all the organic elements 

 suited to our agricultural propensity ; and finally, the decom- 

 posed materials of amphibious races and sea birds has been for 

 ages accumulating on the solitary islands of the Pacific and 

 Indian Oceans, now forming those vast storehouses of guano, 

 which whole navies of vessels are transporthig wherever ex- 

 hausted soils require fresh fertility. Such has been the fore- 

 thought, the provision made for God's great garden, the 

 World. 



Throughout these several ages do we see this plan of saving 

 for future use every thing that would fertilize, practically car- 

 ried out. The fragments were gathered up, so that nothing 

 was lost. 



This must be one rule in a provident farmer's pursuits. Not 

 merely a few days' forethought, when the warm spring days 

 begin to call out the spring work, but throughout the year and 

 during life. 



And yet provident forethought, without corresponding action 

 or labor, will never make the productive farm or the blushing 

 garden. The hands that do work may belong to the head that 

 plans every movement, or they may belong to other bodies and 

 forces, such as horses, cattle, or wind, water, steam, and the 

 like natural elements. These latter will do man's work, if he 

 will only think and plan for them. And using them, one man 

 will be a host. And what has not the continued work of man 

 accomplished ? We have already contemplated the works of 

 Him who made the world, and fitted it for our labor, and you 

 all know how vast the plan He formed. 



Now let us for a few moments look at the works of man, and 

 thence draw our inferences as to his power ; and in so doing, 

 we will direct our attention more especially to vegetable pro- 

 ducts. What we are to eat and what we are to wear, are and 

 always must be, the staple products of the world, and whoever 

 will discover any new materials for wearing, eating, warming 

 and lighting, as cheap, or cheaper than what we now have, will 

 prove a blessing to his race, and make a fortune for himself. 



With the exception of furnishing light, the privilege of sup- 



