EXPERIENCE OF A PRACTICAL FARMER. 7 



hands. Neither can do without the other ; but both united and 

 working for the same end, can make much greater progress. It 

 is time all jealousies should cease. The scientific man may, 

 from his profound learning, advance theories ; but the practical 

 man must work them out, and prove their truth or error. I 

 believe that the Agricultural College, with its noble farm, is es- 

 pecially adapted to bring about this concert of action ; and no- 

 where else can our young farmers so well become acquainted 

 with the results of science applied to farming. 



Moreover, I know of no way by which the farmers can be so 

 well and economically protected from unscrupulous manufac- 

 turers and vendors of worthless fertilizers, as by having them 

 there honestly and carefully tested, and their real value made 

 known to the community without fear or favor. But few farm- 

 ers can afford the time and expense for the necessary experi- 

 ments, or have the ability to conduct them in a way to show 

 fairly the comparative value of such materials. I trust that an 

 especial effort in that direction will be made in that institution, 

 established as it is by the bounty of the United States and of 

 Massachusetts. I think we have a right to expect this work 

 faithfully performed. It would do much to insure continued 

 confidence and future support for the only institution dedicated 

 to the cause of agriculture in the State. Let us therefore give 

 the Massachusetts Agricultural College our encouragement, as 

 I believe great good to our business will grow out of it. 



To be a good modern farmer, one must have mechanical skill, 

 in order to manage well the various machines now used on the 

 farm, to enable him to detect and remedy their faults and im- 

 perfections as they come from the hands of the inventors and 

 mechanics. It has required years of experience and close ob- 

 servation to bring the plough, the mowing-machine and horse- 

 rake to their present state of perfection. Who but the intelli- 

 gent farmer that uses them can so well suggest improvements ? 

 Scarcely an implement has been introduced that has not thus 

 been improved. The old couplet, — 



" He that by the plough would thrive, 

 Himself must either hold or drive," 



may not be as literally true to-day as when Timothy Pickering 

 took the first premium, at the first ploughing match made by 



