152 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



productions are most cultivated as experience may point out to 

 be most congen al to the climate and soil. 



" When it comes to be considered, the number of years that 

 this colony has been possessed by an enlightened and industrious 

 nation, it is a matter of surprise that the progress in agricultural 

 pursuits has not been more rapid. This observation is plain to 

 every understanding capable of considering the inadequate pro- 

 portion which the increase of cultivation bears to that of the 

 population of th6 settlement. 



" His Excellency, with a lively sense of this growing evil, 

 and an ardent desire to lend his full support and countenance 

 to the support of agriculture, as well as the improvement of 

 cattle of every description — objects so highly essential to the 

 permanent welfare of this valuable and growing Colony, judges 

 it expedient to re-organize the Board of Agriculture ; and is 

 pleased to accept the resignation of the gentlemen hereafter 

 named, (members of the late board), who for the reasons they 

 have severally assigned, cannot afford such portion of their time 

 as becomes necessary to give efficiency to the institution, and em- 

 brace the various objects which must at least for some time, com- 

 mand the attention of the board." 



" His Excellency has therefore taken upon himself, the Pre- 

 sidency of the Board of Agriculture." 



These judicious sentiments ought to serve as a farther proof to 

 our cultivators, and to convince them that the change which has 

 happily been effected here, is conformable to what is universally 

 admitted as the true basis of the Wealth of Nations. It has been 

 well observed in an able Essay on the Spirit of Legislation, 

 " that without agriculture, ivJiich is the base of the prosperity 

 and power of the state, there can be neither commerce nor 

 manufacture. It is to agriculture that we ought ever to attend 



