RELATION OF AGRICULTURE TO THE STATE. 47 



he eats, though it would be hard to call a man sheepish because 

 he eats mutton, or hog-g-ish because he eats pork! But it is 

 almost an axiom that a gross feeder will liave a gross mind, and 

 it is doubted if true refinement of manners can exist in con- 

 junction with an exclusive pork diet. As a people, we are too 

 much addicted to pork and pastry, and farmers, who have an 

 advantage over all others in obtaining fresh vegetables, milk, 

 cream, butter and eggs, fowls and lambs, are yet criminally 

 neglectful in providing a mixed and healthy diet for themselves 

 and families. Until we reform in the matter of eating, we shall 

 continue to have lank bodies, irritable dispositions, tendencies 

 to disease, and instead of clear complexions and plump figures, 

 our children will have leathery skins and angular frames. It is 

 a great error to suppose a meat diet is necessary at every meal 

 and at all seasons of the year. In all warm climates the rational 

 nations abstain from animal food ; irrational Saxons invert the 

 wholesome principles of nature and soon die of liver complaints. 

 In northern climates the habits tend almost exclusively to animal 

 substances. In our temperate climate we should preserve a 

 due medium, partaking more of animal food in winter, and 

 greatly of vegetables and fruits in summer. 



A popular writer has written a valuable essay under the 

 heading, " Will the coming man drink wine ? " It is to be 

 hoped he will not, nor any other beverage that may enter his 

 mouth to steal away his brains. But will the coming woman 

 drink tea and coffee, or at least as much and as strong as she 

 does now ? At any rate she will not bring up her children on 

 such exciting drinks, when she has abundant supplies of milk, 

 and keep them lean and cadaverous, nervous and dyspeptic. 

 The Chinese and Japanese, who drink as well as grow tea, 

 partake of the fluid in its weakest state, and the coffee drinkers 

 of the Old World dilute it with three-fourths of its bulk of milk. 

 We consider it necessary to take the decoction in its greatest 

 strength. Dr. Shaw, the naturalist, drank largely of green tea, 

 until, having lost the use of one arm, he says he discontinued 

 it and recovered the use of the limb. 



Now, my friends, at the same time that we, as a class, are coun- 

 teracting by simple integrity, straightforward sober industry in 

 our calling, patient waiting for successes and calm content with 

 moderate enjoyments of life, the fearful tendencies to demoral- 



