24 MR. gage's address. 



schools, &c. — were all once innovations, they would, 

 at least, listen attentively to the explanations of any 

 alleged improvement, before utterly condemning it as 

 an innovation. Such is, however, the power, which 

 a regard to their interest exercises over men, that 

 when convinced that changes will promote that inter- 

 est, they will adopt them. Without putting them to 

 the hazard of untried expensive experiments, you 

 are placing within their reach, well-attested results. 



Your experiments, under the direction of scientific 

 principles, based on the foundation of the soundest 

 philosophy, facts, lead to principles which the farmer, 

 while he hazards nothing, gains much, by adopting. 

 The spirit of emulation awakened by your premiums ; 

 the impulse given by your exhibitions ; the dissemina- 

 tion of useful knowledge by your publications, can- 

 not fail to reach and act upon the minds and usages 

 of many farmers, who are not members of your as- 

 sociation. The lights of your experience will thus be 

 seen and improved afar ofi'. 



Can we recommend too highly, to the cultivators 

 of the earth, the importance, not only of education 

 at large, but of that department of it applicable to the 

 theory and practice of farming ? Education will ever 

 be a part, at least, of the very breath of liberty. And 

 in addition to the advantages hitherto enjoyed by us, 

 in this relation, we have a Board of Education organ- 

 ized, and now bending its energies to the noble ob- 

 ject of elevating and improving our common schools. 

 The fidelity with which you avail yourselves, on your 

 children's behalf, of the advantages thus open to you, 

 will be rewarded by blessings, the full worth of which, 

 time alone cannot disclose. 



