67 



fertility in every field, possess themselves of sufficient faith in their 

 profession to put their capital into it, accept the aid mechanics and 

 science offer, — bring every mental power to work in unison with 

 their physical, and at the end of a score of years, they would at the 

 same time, have shown our defects and applied the remedy. They 

 would not only be richer in mind, honors and pocket, but their 

 county would be the Eden of Massachusetts. AVhere individual 

 examples have failed, their united influence could not but stir up 

 the " dry bones " of our old fossils, who on such farms as we first 

 described, look with sovereign contempt at any innovation upon 

 broad back and hard muscle, and furiously hurl rude wit, sarcasm 

 and tobacco spit at " book larnin'," and '' book farmin'," To what 

 state can we more properly look for a true system of agriculture 

 than Massachusetts V 



Can her farmers at present show results commensurate with those 

 attained in other pursuits ? Have those in th is county expended 

 on their farms one tithe of the mental activity which has dammed 

 and bridged our streams, founded our institutions of learning, or 

 built and carried on our numerous manufactories. Can it be that 

 we do not need it in a business which in its varied manipulations 

 combines the application of almost every science and art ? If by 

 enterprise and industry with skilled, scientific thought and observa- 

 tion to guide we can increase our crops, — develop and strengthen 

 «ver^' latent energy of the soil, making our farms attractive to 

 refined taste, and thus productive of a higher mental standard in 

 our families and profession, it is not only pecuniarily but morally 

 wiong not to do so. For we are not serfs to any prince or emperor, 

 feut as a Commonwealth of free citizens, whatever increases the 

 resources and fertihty of our lands, adds to our united prosperity. 

 This subject cannot be too strongly urged. Although presented in 

 agricultural papers and lectures until it appears as one-sided as a 

 mirror, still oiu- New England farms clearly prove the need and 

 eontinued need of these exhortations. Let us labor to bring our 

 farms back to their natural fertility, and to accomplish this, carry 

 nothing from our fields to the granaiy or the market without return- 

 ing its equivalent in fertilizing matter. 



In connection with this subject, the question of large, vcrsi'x 

 small farms, might form an important item, did time permit. 

 We read that Cincinnatus was as dihgent and as successful at 

 the plough as in the senate and army, but he refused a prof- 



