36 



procuring and encouraging them.* This patonrage 

 should not be withdrawn or withheld ; and the with- 

 holding of it could arise only from a want of a just 

 appreciation of the value of these branches of sci- 

 ence. He alluded with much respect to the late la- 

 mented Judge Buel, whose skill in the science and 

 application of manures was a just subject of eulogy, 

 and whose success, in converting a portion of the 

 barren and unpromising soil in the vicinity of Albany 

 into fertile and productive fields, was well known and 

 honored. 



He pressed the importance of a Board of Agricul- 

 ture, and congratulated Massachusetts upon the spir- 

 it and liberality with which she had regarded the im- 

 provement of her husbandry. The subject could not 

 receive too much of her concern. It stood second 

 to no interest but those of a moral and religious char- 

 acter, and indeed it might be said to be nearly allied 

 to them also, since habits of rural industry are the 

 most favorable to good morals. The value of sci- 

 ence, in this case, could not be too highly estimated. 

 Here science might be regarded as the eye, and prac- 

 tical skill the hand, by which this great art was to be 

 carried forward to perfection. 



* See Appendix, — Note I. 



