456 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



found researches into the doctrine of mechanical forces, his 

 scientific tests of the strength and durability of materials, and 

 his wise application of the laws of motion have enabled him to 

 bring to the aid of the farmer. By this means have the plough, 

 the reaper, and the rake been so much improved that work be- 

 fore impossible of accomplishment with remunerative returns 

 has now become habitual with enterprising farmers, easy of 

 performance, and highly profitable in its results. 



The benefits thus secured to agriculture by the application 

 of science are not to be disputed; there is nothing chimerical 

 or even problematical about them ; they are around us and 

 about us, on every hand, and must be apparent to any man who 

 has his eyes open, and sufficient power of memory to call to 

 mind what he saw twenty years ago in the way of farms, agri 

 cultural produce, and stock, and sufficient judgment to contrast 

 that with what he now sees. 



But the efforts of prominent and influential men do not stop 

 here ; they are not satisfied with what has been done in the 

 way of agricultural improvement, nor yet with demonstrating 

 that much more may be done. They are desirous to have the 

 knowledge upon this subject which has already been obtained 

 widely diffused over our whole country and put into general 

 practice, and as many as possible of the strong, active, and in- 

 quiring minds of our farming population enlisted in the further 

 pursuit of knowledge upon this important matter, that the 

 means of developing and applying scientific truth may thus be 

 greatly multiplied. They are therefore exerting their influence 

 upon the public mind, and through that upon the government of 

 the State, to the end that agricultural education may be fur- 

 nished by means of suitable and adequate provisions for agricul- 

 tural schools, where the practical sciences may be taught to 

 the young farmers of our State, and their application to the 

 processes of cultivation demonstrated and explained by actual 

 experiments upon the soil. Is not this a wise and worthy ob- 

 ject to strive for, eminently practical in its nature, and sure to 

 be productive of the most important public benefit if carried 

 out? Let us, then, all of us, old and young, humble or exalted, 

 farmers, traders, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, or divines, what- 

 ever be our calling in life, give the full measure of our influence 



