42 MR. rrvman's addrfss. 



confidently asserted, a tliousand million of dollars are required 

 to repair the effect of injudicious and wasting culture, and to 

 restore the lands to their original fertility, it is high time that 

 an improved system should be introduced. Be it remembered 

 that this deterioration has arrived at its present point under 

 the labors of jrractkal farmers, so called. Those men, of 

 whom it has been said that they possess all the knowledge 

 which is of any value to field culture. If the only valuable 

 knowledge which we possess on this subject, produces no bet- 

 ter effects than these, then may we expect that the older re- 

 gions of the country will cease to remunerate the cultivators ; 

 the rural districts of Nev^' England will become a wilderness, 

 and be abandoned to perpetual sterility, and the plodding labor 

 which has drawn out the fine gold from her bald hills, will be 

 exchanged for a search after the dross of the California moun- 

 tains. But the evil admits of a remedy. The downward 

 process can be arrested, and stopped at the point which it has 

 reached. It is only for the community to awake to the nature 

 and responsibilities of the crisis, and comprehend the right 

 source of relief, it is only for the national and state govern- 

 ments to extend, in suitable ways, their fostering and efficient 

 care to this great interest of the country, and aid in bringing 

 the lights of profound research to the guidance of agricultural 

 labor ; and the same science which directs the track of the 

 mariner in remote seas, and almost communicates the power 

 of tliOTight to the ponderous and ingenious machinery that 

 executes the labors of millions of human hands, which has 

 brought the poles of the earth together by rapidity of motion, 

 and transmits ideas on the wires of lightning along nerves of 

 steel, will cause vegetation to spring from arid sand, and con- 

 vert the wilderness into a fruitful field, and that field into the 

 garden of the Lord. 



Massachusetts has always been distinguished for that wise 

 and liberal care which she has taken to develope the internal 

 resources of the state and promote her prosperity. It is most 

 earnestly to be hoped that she will not overlook that interest 

 which constitues the source and strength of all others that 

 contribute to the support and comfort of her citizens ; and that 



