MR. stone's address. & 



Agriculture is the offspring of God. It was the first em- 

 ployment of man. On the authority of these two facts, as 

 well as from the illustrious names it has in every age enrolled 

 as its votaries, 1 may, without disparagement to other pursuits, 

 pronounce it the most important, as it certainly is among the 

 most honorable descriptions of labor. 



Agriculture is the basis of National prosperity. Revolution 

 or change, though they may affect, and for a time depress, can- 

 not destroy it. Napoleon spoke as a profound statesman, and 

 uttered a merited compliment, when he said, " Finances found- 

 ed upon a skillful agriculture, can never be destroyed." — 

 Though Manufactures and Commerce add to the wealth of a 

 nation, and from the employ they give to capital and labor, 

 are blessings to the world, — neither could flourish without the 

 aid of agriculture. They are, in fact, her legitimate offspring. 

 She establishes them in business. She supplies them with 

 subsistence for their operatives and seamen, and with materi- 

 als for their industry and enterprize. They, in return, stimu- 

 'lated by generous and necessary protection, to healthy activity, 

 impart to agriculture a vital nourishment. Every factory put 

 in operation, increases the consumption of farm products, and 

 contributes to absorb the surplus in its vicinity. The farmer 

 sells his pork, butter, cheese, milk, eggs, etc. at home, at better 

 prices than he can be certain of realizing in the principal cities, 

 and saves the expense of transportation. In this country, the 

 interests of Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce, are now 

 so blended, that a blow cannot be struck at the prosperity of the 

 two former, that will not be felt by the latter. It is a favora- 

 ble augury for our country, that this relation is becoming bet- 

 ter miderstood and more widely recognized, tending, as it does, 

 to unite the friends of these several interests in the policy of 

 protection, as well as to settle the policy of our government on 

 the same point. 



The advantages of Agricultural Associations were warmly 



Tlie following persons have been Secretaries of the Society, viz. 



David Cunirains, 1 year. Daniel P, King, 2 years. 



Frederic Howes, 1 " Allen W. Dodge, 2 " 



John W. Proctor, 20 " 



