ADDRESS. 



BY MILTON p. BRAMAN. 



Mr. Colman observes "that to no profession has Agriculture 

 been more indebted for its improvement" than to that of the 

 ^'clergymen." A fact of which i was quite unaware, until I 

 saw the remark in one of his valuable publications, and which 

 my sympathies would sufficiently incline me to accept without 

 much examination, even if the truth of it were supported by 

 less unquestionable authority. His extensive acquaintance 

 with the subject of Agriculture, afforded him the means of 

 forming a very correct opinion of the proportions in which the 

 professions have contributed to advance its interests ; and mak- 

 ing all due allowance for partiality to the employment up- 

 on which v^ere expended the energies and enthusiasm of his 

 early years, I suppose his testimony will be allowed to be as 

 just, as it is honorable, to that class upon whom he has bestow- 

 ed his commendation. How large a share of the tribute was de- 

 signed for the clergy of New England, or Massachusetts, or 

 Essex County, has not been told us. 



I am aware of the fact, that, in the early periods of our history, 

 the customs of the times in the rural towns made it as much a 

 part of the ministerial profession to cultivate a farm as to over- 

 see the flock. Its members were hardly considered as com- 

 pletely furnished for their vocation until they had added a few 

 acres of ground to their spiritual gifts and theological attain' 

 ments. Upon the production of their own cultivated fields, 

 they depended in part for their maintenance, and for ability 

 to extend accommodations to those travelling brethren, who, 

 ■considering economy as one of the christian virtues, sought 

 a'efreshments for the outer maji, ajiad the beast, from the laxdei 



