576 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



nursing mothers," — and the mightiest monarchs saw and felt 

 their highest glory to be found in honoring the plough. Egypt 

 ascribed its introduction to mortals, as the great work of her 

 gods, and Greece and Rome dedicated temples and erected 

 statues in its honor. The greatest geniuses and the noblest 

 intellects of antiquity threw the whole force of their minds, in 

 extolling its praises, in advocating its importance, and even, 

 like glorious Virgil, in giving practical directions in all its im- 

 portant details, — and many of these details furnish not only 

 curious, but really useful information. Some of the maxims 

 of the Roman farmers are almost identical with those recently, 

 if not still in use among the best modern English farmers. It 

 could not be uninteresting to the studious farmer, nor "alto- 

 gether useless," as Dickson rightly observes in his elaborate 

 work on " The Husbandry of the Ancients," to communicate 

 to him a knowledge of the practices of ancient nations, famous 

 for their wisdom, and whose greatest men applied themselves 

 to the study and practice of agriculture." 



I have said thus little in reference to the husbandry of anti- 

 quity, that I may not be misinterpreted in being said to have 

 spoken lightly of it. It is not that I esteem or love ancient 

 husbandry, its old modes and old tools and devices, less, — but 

 that being nearer and more interested in things of my own 

 day, and desirous of their good, I love modern husbandry more, 

 and greatly desire its further improvement. In securing that 

 improvement, you will take all the good you can find in the 

 store-houses of former days, and add all the good you can get, 

 from the studies, the researches, the suggestions and the im- 

 plements of modern times. 



Be, then, more liberal and enlarged in your views ; more 

 ready to examine into what is going on in your line of life in 

 other localities ; more earnest to test alleged improvements ; 

 more willing to examine, than to sneer at them, when proposed 

 for your consideration ; more willing to let your natural good 

 sense, by its own unimpeded action, deliver you from the 

 shackles of old prejudices and old obstinacy against progress, 

 and you shall find light shining upon your way with a brillian- 

 cy before unknown to you, and guiding you to the attainment 

 of results that your best imaginings had never conceived. 

 Everything about you will be bettered. That tasteless, un- 



