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to prepare himself for this great work. How few there 

 are that have devoted themselves to it. I never knew 

 but one graduate at a Massachusetts College who secured 

 an education for the express purpose of practising 

 agricultural pursuits, and he went there because there 

 was no school where the rudiments of agricultural science 

 were taught. 



Very few educated men comparatively, represent the 

 great interest of the farmer. This is the reason why 

 lawyers and politicians are so often called upon to speak 

 for this great body of our people. 



Who at the present day is the thriving farmer, im- 

 proving his farm, his stock, buildings displaying taste 

 and refinement around them, giving a good impulse to 

 the community in which he lives ? Who is it that calls 

 for the reaping and mowing machine, and improvements 

 in the plow and all the numerous implements of the 

 farmer ? Who is it that is making experiments in fer- 

 tilizers that he may restore the exhausted powers of his 

 land ? Who is it that is draining and sub-soiling and 

 making the old worn-out pastures and meadows green 

 and fertile ? Who is it that we look up to with com- 

 placency, delight and profit, and is a benefactor in a 

 community ? It is the refined, educated, gentlemanly 

 farmer. What encouragements here, young man, for 

 honor, pleasure and usefulness. 



Nature, how sublime are thy works ! How wonder- 

 ful to investigate thy mysteries 1 How delightful to 

 tax the energies of the mind with honorable investiga- 

 tion, and that labor which has been ordained of Heaven 

 to produce the richest fruits of earth for man and beast. 

 Say not that the agriculturist needs no great . energy 



