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prostrating influence of winter life. They do not come out 

 well in the spring, the nerves are weak, the digestion is 

 impaired, and the mind is cloudy. There is really no valid 

 excuse for this unmanly, unstrung condition. The times have 

 changed, progress has certainly done away with old employ- 

 ments and industries, but it has not closed up avenues to new 

 ones. The trouble is, in the changing of the times, farmers 

 have not changed with them. Every hour of winter could be 

 profitably employed if they would properly understand their 

 resources and capabilities. A higher education is what is 

 needed. 



MATERIAL INTERESTS PROMOTED BY SCIENCE. 



The material interests of the farmer have been most signally 

 benefitted or promoted by science, and specially so in recent 

 times. It has pointed out better methods of tilling our lands, 

 increasing dairy products, better methods of fattening cattle ; 

 it has given us improved breeds of domestic animals, im- 

 proved implements, improved grasses and cereal products, 

 improved fruits of all kinds, and an immense number of new 

 varieties ; it has taught us the importance of underd raining, 

 and how to reclaim bogs and wet meadows ; it has given us 

 hay caps, and silos, poisons for our insect pests, and a thou- 

 sand other things little and great, which I will not attempt 

 to enumerate. Perhaps the greatest service of science is in 

 the direction of providing new forms of plant food from new 

 sources of supply. No matter with how much enthusiasm and 

 intelligence a farmer pursues his calling, he can liave but in- 

 different success unless he provides for his crops ample sup- 

 plies of foods suited to their wants. He may dig and pul- 

 verize his soil, furnish plenty of water, and sow the soundest 



