28 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tempted the first Ethiopian to descend the Nile, until ages 

 proclaim the peaceful triumphs of agriculture there. India 

 too grev7 rich through all trials, because it constantly received 

 the tribute of three parts of the world, for its native productions, 

 — the gold of high Asia and Ethiopia, Spanish silver, Arabian 

 incense, and Phoenician merchandise. China, unchanging as 

 she is, has been able to maintain her armies for defence and in 

 civil conflict, vrithin her own territory, because she could always 

 feed and clothe them. On the other hand, Carthage, devoted 

 to commerce and war, without large internal resources, powerful 

 only as stronger than any of her well-watched colonies from 

 which she extorted heavy tribute for her own support, fell to 

 rise no more. In the earlier ages, as now, the people who had 

 the largest lands, and the most cultivators of the soil, carried 

 on the most successful wars ; and then as now commerce and 

 manufactures, from dangers and poverty, usually suffered most 

 severely from the blow. 



The experience of modern Europe also proves this to be true. 

 At the conclusion of the peace of Aix la Chapelle, almost all 

 the nations of Europe, by a sort of tacit consent applied them- 

 selves to the study of agriculture. The French found by 

 repeated experience that they could not maintain a long war, 

 nor procure a tolerable peace, unless they raised corn enough 

 to support themselves in such a manner as that they should not 

 be obliged to submit to harsh terms on the one hand, or perish 

 by famine, on the other. Even during the distresses of the 

 great revolution, the rulers paid some attention to agriculture, 

 an attention which was increased during the days of the Con- 

 sulate and the Empire. Various schools were established. The 

 convulsive shock of the revolution which had overthrown many 

 useful establishments, and retarded the advancement of many 

 improvements, did not prevent the progress of this essential art. 

 On the contrary, agricultural societies increased, and agricul- 

 tural writers increased in a very large proportion. It is her 

 lands, not her mills, nor her ships, which has enabled France to 

 carry on her exhausting foreign and domestic wars. 



If we turn to England, we may learn the same lesson of her. 

 During the last two centuries her power and wealth have 

 increased to an extent almost fabulous. During that time she has 

 passed through one revolution, and many foreign contests. Her 



