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once removed no impediment to cultivation exists, the soil in 

 both cases, from its nature being fine and thoroughly disintegrated 

 a very much less amount of cultivation is necessary than that 

 required, for the hard, stiff, stony soil of New England, where 

 the process of ploughing and harrowing must be repeated, in 

 order to pulverize it and render it sufficiently fine for the purposes 

 of vegetation. 



Agriculture like every other science is one of progress ; and 

 that too in accordance with the greater or less advancement of 

 society. At first rude, and marked by feeble or ill directed 

 efforts, it obtains at length under the teachings of research, aided 

 by discoveries in other sciences a somewhat perfect develop- 

 ment. This progress in the science must necessarily be 

 accompanied, by the mental progress and intellectual advancement 

 of those devoted to it. In the infancy of the art the farmer is 

 almost necessarily but a mere laborer, hardly more than a mere 

 mechanical power. He needs strong sinews and powerful limbs, 

 while scarcely an occasion arises to call into exercise his 

 intellectual faculties. This will answer but for a time ; circum- 

 stances change ; improvements are introduced, and discoveries in 

 the science are made, requiring a corresponding advancement in 

 the husbandman himself, until at length agriculture, taking its 

 proper position among the sciences, those engaged in its pursuits, 

 must in order to succeed, become educated and cultivated men. 



Organized bodies may be defined as " having several constit- 

 uent parts which united, form a whole, capable of increase and 

 nourishment." All plants come within this condition — and thus 

 vegetable existence is an organized existence ; and a constant 

 supply of nourishment is essential to its continuance and increase. 

 This afforded in very small quantities may allow of a protracted 

 life, with a feeble and sickly growth. But without an ample 

 supply of proper food, in a fit state to be absorbed by the plant, 

 a healthy and vigorous vegetation cannot long be maintained. 

 Plants obtain their nourishment from the soil and from the 

 atmosphere : while that derived from the latter is beyond the 



