10 MR. MOSELET's address. 



particular soils, the regular and systematic rotation of crops, im- 

 proved modes of tillage, the different breeds of cattle, sheep and 

 swine, and the different kinds and qualities of fruit and fruit trees. 

 Yet these are subjects, which the skilful farmer will deem it ne- 

 cessary to understand, and he will devote liis attention to them, 

 as to the study of an important and difficult science. 



It is not many years, since an application was made to the Le- 

 gislature of this State, by the Trustees of Dummer Academy, in 

 this county, for aid in founding a professorship of scientific aad 

 practical agriculture, as connected with the institution. Perhaps 

 no institution in the state could be found more favorable for this 

 object. There is a farm connected with this institution, and 

 under the direction of the trustees, consisting of several hundred 

 acres, and embracing a great variety of soil. This institution is 

 exceedingly well adapted for an agricultural school, and with 

 but small aid from the Legislature might be rendered highly 

 useful to the community. Young gentlemen might here come 

 and study agriculture as a science, and be prepared to follow it 

 through life as an honorable profession. This application was 

 deemed of so much importance, that a committee from the Mas- 

 sachusetts Agricultural Society came to the farm, examined it 

 and made a favorable report to the Legislature, recommending 

 that the petition of the trustees should be granted. It it to be 

 regretted that the application did not meet with success. Yet 

 I am not without hope that the Legislature will feel the impor- 

 tance of the subject, and will extend its aid to establish some in- 

 stitution for learning scientific and practical agriculture. Shall' 

 schools and colleges be deemed important to diffuse general know- 

 ledge, shall military and naval academies have the fostering hand 

 of government to impart knowledge in their departments, shall' 

 the sciences and fine arts have teachers for their objects and' 

 agriculture alone receive no aid ? This art or science which is 

 more important to the prosperity, wealth and happiness of our na- 

 tion than all others ? The loss of which for one year would 

 probably exceed in value, and produce more poverty and dis- 

 tress than the loss of all our manufactures and commerce ? 



But because all our requests are not granted we must not 



