114 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



was left free to wander over tlie whole earth. Now to say that 

 Mercury killed Argus, and liberated lo, is to say that when 

 rules and precepts of agriculture were introduced, mankind 

 were released from that ever watcliing care which early hus- 

 bandry had required from them, and agriculture, now reduced 

 to a regular system, went forth in freedom and spread itself 

 among the nations. This verson of the old myths finds con- 

 firmation in the fact that lo finally found a resting place in 

 Egypt, on the banks of the Nile, where the earth brought forth 

 the richest abundance. And again we are told, that the eyes 

 of Argus were transferred by Juno to the plumage of her 

 favorite bird, tlie peacock. And the peacock, our farmers 

 know, gives some indication of a change in the weather by its 

 peculiar cry ; and it is therefore in this respect intimately con- 

 nected with the operations of husbandry. So too, I might call 

 your attention to the twelve labors of Hercules, showing their 

 relation to the twelve signs of the zodiac, and of course, to the 

 twelve months of the year, and the appropriate labor for each,* 

 and also to tlie death of this hero, who finished only to com- 

 mence his life anew in the heavens, as do the seasons, the 

 emblems to the year of immortality. But of all this, I spoke 

 somewhat more at large a year ago, and may not now repeat. 

 And what was true in the early ages, of such gatherings, is 

 true to-day in our midst. The hymn, the song, the speech, 

 form now, as well as then, a part of the day's duties. The 

 sight which has gladdened your eyes to-day, has had some influ- 

 ence on your taste for the beautiful in nature and in art ; and 

 though you may not possess all that you have seen, yet you 

 have learned to enjoy with a keener relish whatever is beauti- 

 ful. Who then shall say that that labor is lost, which adds to 

 our enjoyment, though it adds not to our food or clothing ? 

 Now what is the retrospective view of this society, looking 

 back over the surface of a single year. Has a flower budded 

 and blossomed where last year bloomed a thistle ? Has a shade 

 tree struck its roots into soil last year unoccupied ? Have any 

 fruit trees been invited to make this island their home ? Have 

 any busy fingers worked in worsted or silk, specimens of beauty 



* The fact that his last labor was to gather goldeu fruit. 



