PLOWlNG-DOUBLE TEAMS. 15 



under its "burthen of accumulated resources, and was 

 anxious to " bring forth food for man and beast." 



Our agricultural resources already astonish the world, 

 but what will be our relative position in the vast sister- 

 hood of nations, when instead of feeding thirty millions 

 at home, that number is increased to a hundred and fifty 

 millions, and the relative surplus from our well culti- 

 vated fields shall increase in the same proportion. We 

 are told that so important is agriculture considered to 

 the welfare and prosperity of China, that even to this 

 day the Sovereign of that vast Empire, and the despotic 

 ruler of one-third of the population of the globe, in 

 order to show his high regard for its worth, once a 

 year lays aside his regal pomp and comes down from 

 his gorgeous throne, and holds the plow and turns a 

 furrow in the presence of his Court, and of all of the 

 highest dignitaries of the land. If his Imperial Majesty 

 thus honors and exalts agriculture to its proper supre- 

 macy among the avocations of life, guided only by the 

 influences of a partial civilization, what ought we to ex- 

 pect and require of our rulers and great ones ? Surely 

 nothing less than that it be recognized as the right arm 

 of the nation's hope and prosperity, and that every 

 means and facility be employed to encourage our fellow 

 citizens to engage in so safe and important a branch of 

 industry; for 



" The plow and the sickle shall shine bright in glorf, 

 When the swoi-d and the scepter shali crumble to dust; 



And the farmer shall live, both in song and in story. 

 When warriors and kings are forgotten in dust." 



The chief design of a Plowing Match is, to enconr- 

 age, and expose to view, the best acquired skill in hold- 

 ing the plow and managing the team ; for it requires 



