18 MR. gray's address. 



the rains and the dews of heaven, cause their paths to 

 drop with fatness, and their storehouses to overflow with 

 abundance. 



Suppose an institution of the kind estabhshed in this 

 county, furnished with the best facihties which money 

 can procure, and suppose ten young men from each town 

 were to receive there a thorougli education in all the 

 common and higher branches of English literature and 

 the sciences, with a professional knowledge of agricul- 

 ture. How long would it be, after they had engaged in 

 their profession, before their influence would be felt in 

 the dchberations of these annual gatherings? how long 

 would it be before they would present so many living ex- 

 amples of the utility of the plan, as to revolutionize the 

 whole subject, and lead all to adopt more scientific and 

 profitable modes of culture. 



Suppose one of your sons, having acquired the ele- 

 ments of an agricultural education, should go out into 

 the west, and settle on the fertile prairies of Illinois. The 

 application of his knowledge to tiiat almost inexhaustible 

 soil, would soon produce so great a diiierence between 

 liis own farm and that of his less scientific neighbors, 

 that an interest would be excited there, and efforts would 

 be made by all around to found their system of culture 

 on more })roductive princi[)les. And not only so, but he 

 would possess an immense advantage over others in the 

 selection of his farm. How many men, within the last 

 few years, have invested funds in western lands, without 

 any further knowledge of the location and character of 

 the soil, than what is obtained by the paper cities which 

 the ingenuity of speculators has created; and now, all 

 over that country are to be seen the remains of half- 

 built towns, on wliich thousands have been squandered, 

 deserted for more favorable locations. But especially, 

 if he settles dovv^n in New-England, and expects to 

 gain his bread from granite rocks, and sterile sand hills, 

 will he need the aids which such an education ^v ill afibrd, 

 that he may have something to lighten his labors ; some- 

 thing to reward his toils. Your sons will many of them 

 soon take the place which you now hold, soothing and 



