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systematically to the further development of agricultural science, 

 or Benjamin V. French, who gives his time and his means to his 

 farm, where all the new discoveries, all the new imp»'Overaents in 

 the art are submitted to the test of practical experience, guided 

 by scientific principles ; and so of many others, all of whom 

 would come under the description of those styled amateur farmers. 

 But it behoves the practical farmer, using that term not so much 

 to express a distinction, as to describe those who follow farming 

 as an occupation, that gives them the means of a livelihood, while 

 they take advantage of all really valuable discoveries and improve- 

 ments, made by those who are devoted to the art from a love of 

 its pursuits, to be cautious in following, at all times, the example 

 of those who look less perhaps to means, than to results, and 

 who, having made two blades of grass to grow, where but one or 

 none grew before, careless of the cost, are satisfied with such 

 reward. 



Agriculture is a business, and success in it, as in any other 

 business, is only to be insured by skill, the exercise of judgment 

 and discretion, together with the practice of industry, and of an 

 economy more strict, than is sometimes required in pursuits 

 more frequently attended, if with less certain, more brilliant 

 results. Not that the farmer should debar himself from every 

 gratification, and devote himself to constant toil, for this would 

 but defeat the higher purpose of every pursuit, physical comfort, 

 rational enjoyment, and intellectual improvement. Neither for 

 him does a proper regard for the useful, consist in the entire 

 neglect of the ornamental and beautiful ; he may have fruits, he 

 may have flowers, trees for shade, and shrubs for ornament, the 

 farm approaches may be arranged with some regard to taste and 

 with some reference to the landscape, and in the farm buildings 

 some architectural skill be exhibited, and this too without any great 

 addiional expense, or neglect of more important interests. 



That agriculture, essential to human existence, indispensable to 

 social improvement, and conducive to national greatness, is a 

 most honorable pursuit, is evident from its results ; if farther 



