NATIONAL INDUSTRY. 97 



area is 2,963,6136 square miles, and is now ton times as large as 

 Great Britain and France combined. In 1856 the products of 

 the United States were immense. By tlie official returns at the 

 Patent Office we learn that the crop of Indian corn for that year 

 was .1360,000,000; the wheat was valued at 8247,500,000 ; the 

 hay $160,000,000 ; the cotton crop Si*136,000,000. To these add 

 the animal and vegetable products, and we have five times as 

 mucli more in money vahie to add to the siuns enumerated. 

 The United States has five times as many acres in cultivation as 

 England, and if the same skill wera used, we could support five 

 times the population which we now do, without resorting to any 

 more wild lands. 



Agriculture is the important branch of our national industry, 

 and hence wo maintain its importance in its relations to the 

 great ideas of freedom, of republican government, to universal 

 education, and to the princii»lcs of science. Institutions for 

 the study of agricultural sciences should be established in every 

 State in our Union. The public mind must be awakened on 

 this subject. Europe has schools and colleges for the education 

 of young men, who are to devote themselves to the practical 

 duties of farming. Why overlook the subject in America? 



Agriculture, when practised as an art, is an honorable pursuit. 

 When pursued as a science, it is an ennobling profession. The 

 Earl of Carlisle, in addressing an agricultural gathering of 

 Yorkshiremen, said, with evident emotions of exulting patriot- 

 ism : " I saw on the plains of Troy the clod-crusher of Crosskill, 

 the drills and the horse-hoes of Garrett, and the ploughs of 

 Howard and Ransome." 



From the shops of America issues every implement of an 

 improved husbandry. The skill and genius of the mechanics 

 of New England may be seen on the sands of Egypt and along 

 the grain-growing shores of the Baltic ; on the tilled fields of 

 England ; down the great delta of tlie Mississippi, and the table- 

 lands of Mexico. Wherever commerce unfurls her wings of 

 peace, there we send the products of our toil. 



As men of intelligence, the active merchant or overwrought 

 statesman, retire from the duties of life, how often they return 

 to the favorite pursuits of their youth. Washington laid down 

 the cares of State for the quiet shades of Mount Vernon. 

 Jetferson lies at Monticello ! Jackson sleeps at the Hermitage. 



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