44 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the composition of the soil in which it grew, we might hesitate 

 hefore we believed it ; but more strange statements are true. 

 The history is written there, I have no doubt, but shall we learn 

 the language in which it is written ? Not by quietly farming, 

 precisely as our fathers did ; not by shutting our eyes and 

 turning a deaf ear to science. The studious, observing farmer 

 can now read imperfectly the language written upon the surface 

 of the soil. lie can spell a few words in the tree's own history. 

 He can tell you their age — can understand the fruit trees, par- 

 tially ; but to be eminently successful, we must understand 

 better. Science is not all learned at school or college. To a 

 certain extent it may be learned in the field, and all farmei's 

 may study their farms, and profit by it. The skilful, educated, 

 scientific farmer, ought to so study and understand his farm, as 

 to be able to know the wan^s of his meadow, his pasture, and his 

 tillage land ; to know where to plough, when to plough, what 

 to plant, what to sow, what fertilizer to use ; to put ashes here, 

 manure there, and lime and bone dust to be scattered just 

 where they are needed. I do not suppose that all can avail 

 themselves of the advantages of an agricultural school ; but 

 many may, and all may profit by it. And I desire to urge upon 

 you the importance of the subject, and also to urge upon you the 

 great propriety of giving those sons a good education who are 

 designed for farmers ; for the farmers do not hold such a posi- 

 tion in the political and literary world as they deserve to. They 

 do not hold such a position as their useful, honorable, and 

 necessary employment and business fairly and justly entitle them 

 to. We can ascertain from books and newspapers the knowl- 

 edge and experience of others, and if farmers would but make 

 the effort, they might not only manage their farms with eminent 

 success, but might govern the state and the nation, for they in 

 reality are the " lords of the land." 



While I would urge the necessity of educating your sons to 

 be farmers, I would not have the farmer's daughters neglected. 

 They should be so educated and trained that they may be able 

 to do the duties of a farmer's daughter, or a farmer's wife, if 

 that should be their good fortune. While I would admire their 

 skill in ornamental work and drawing, I would also be pleased 

 with specimens of good butter and cheese worked by their own 

 fair hands. And at a farmer's house his guests might be well 



