u 



a false issue on this subject, or to secure honor and behind 

 success in a pursuit so respectable and so difficult as that 

 of farming. In one of his admirable and instructive An- 

 nual Reports, Mr, Secretary Flint quotes the saying of a 

 celebrated painter, who, on being asked what he mixed 

 his colors with to render them so perfect, replied : " I 

 mix them with hrainsr That is the material with which 

 every man should " mix his colors, " and the farmer no 

 less than any other man. He should rear and use his 

 animals, fertilize and cultivate his fields, select and dis- 

 pose of his crops, " with brains ;" and for these purposes 

 he should use both his own brains and those of other 

 men, to as great an extent as possible. Let him, there- 

 fore, co-operate in the establishment of Farmers' Libra- 

 ries and Reading Clubs. Let him take, and read, the 

 best agricultural journals; let him use wisdom in se- 

 lecting, and industry in studying the best works on ag- 

 ricultural chemistry, horse, cattle, and sheep raising ; on 

 bees, and on grapes, and other fruits ; also the vari- 

 ous writings of practical formers, gardeners, and nurs- 

 ery-men. If he can, let him procure, and carefully 

 read the Annual Reports of the Massachusetts State 

 Board of agriculture, and especially the discussions of 

 that Board. Let him pursue such a course of reading, 

 meanwhile not neglecting his Bible. In other words, let 

 him 1)0 a thorough, intelligent New England farmer, and 

 a good, intelligent New England Christian, and he may 

 enjoy as much of Eden, here, in Essex County, Massa- 

 chusetts, as any of Adam's race have enjoyed since the 

 gates of Paradise were closed. 



With many thanks for the attention 3^ou have given 

 to these remarks ; with sincere wishes that each of you 

 may live to see many returns of this Annual Festival of 



