23 



blight in the pear, is a significant indication of waning vitality 

 and the fruit now so abundant as almost to create disgust, 

 may soon become the rarest and choicest of any upon our 

 tables. The peach crop in the Middle States has, the present 

 season, failed to a large extent, whilst that in Massachusetts 

 would have been very large if disease had "presented no inter- 

 ference. The enormous value of this crop to New Jersey, 

 Delaware and Virginia, is but imperfectly understood, and it 

 is only from statistics that we obtain correct knowledge. The 

 long train of cars loaded with the fruit brought over the New 

 England Railroad, convey not only the most delicious morsels 

 to tickle the palate, but rich odors, more grateful to the sense 

 of smell, than those which came from " Araby the blest." It 

 is known that the odor of the peach is perceptible in the 

 atmosphere along the line of the railway for a considerable 

 time after the trains have passed. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



In any statement of the benefits which science has conferred 

 upon the farming interests, the inference must naturally follow 

 that very many farmers have not secured or participated in the 

 benefits so freely and generously offered. This arises from 

 several circumstances and obstacles. Some are naturally dis- 

 inclined to examine into new methods and new discoveries ; 

 they prefer the old ways, and have little confidence in anything 

 new ; others are too indifferent to give attention to that which 

 requires a little thought and the exercise of discriminating 

 judgment. There are farmers, as well as men in other pur- 

 suits, who seem to have been born under the influence of evil 

 planets ; their dish, so to speak, is always wrong side up. 

 They come into the world the discouraged offspring of perliaps 



