54 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



greater, but that his system will bo greater and his farming 

 conducted with more regard to a strict economy of forces and 

 less waste of labor. 



It is difficult, moreover, for an American farmer to locate 

 himself anywhere without carrying with him the peculiar 

 American thirst for knowledge, and the feeling which we all 

 have that new light is in store for us, whatever may be the sub- 

 ject of our investigation. This feeling may amount to a con- 

 viction, or it may simply rise to the force of an impulse or a 

 dream. But its existence shows that the American mind may 

 find room for a careful study of all practical details, and at the 

 same time reach forward toward the most profound education. 

 We really aim at intelligent farming — farming in which the 

 natural faculties are guided by a careful education — farming 

 which is something more than mere routine — farming which is 

 based upon an understanding of the laws of nature, and which, 

 when the exact amount of any crop is balanced, and the profit 

 or loss accurately estimated, does not leave the cultivator there, 

 but opens new questions for his investigation, and rouses his 

 mind to the contemplation of all the wonderful processes of 

 nature which are going on around him. If an agricultural col- 

 lege can be of service to any people, it can be to those only who 

 are ambitious to carry the highest intelligence into their busi- 

 ness, not solely because it is most profitable, but because its 

 exercise is attended with higher virtues and with more social 

 and civil and domestic peace and happiness. 



I agree with a late governor of this Commonwealth, when he 

 says : " My own idea of a college likely to be useful in the 

 largest way to the people, most vigorous in its growth, promo- 

 tive of the progress of thrifty and intelligent farming, produc- 

 tive of scientific and exact knowledge, (which is the true basis 

 of prosperity,) worthy of Massachusetts, and able to command 

 the respect while it challenges the pride of her agricultural 

 community, is one perhaps not yet to be realized. * * * I 

 should deeply regret to see an institution which bears the name 

 of Massachusetts, and will be held to be representative of the 

 Commonwealth, especially of the highest aspirations of her 

 yeomanry, allowed, for want of generous support, to degenerate 

 into a mere industrial school. There are a hundred farmers 

 who can better teach technical farming, the manipulations of 



