336 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



hard times, causing in cities much destitution and misery ; 

 but, beyond a shrinking in the vahie of their property and a 

 need of a little closer economy, the farmers have not greatly 

 suffered. In view of all this, with the experience of the past 

 two years before them, it seems to me that farmers ought to 

 be thankful for the favorable conditions which surround 

 them, and to take courage. 



It is true that we have a system of bounties and govern- 

 ment aid to agriculture ; but this is not offered as alms to 

 individual farmers, but for the purpose of forwarding an 

 industry which in turn will be a guarantee of the govern- 

 ment's stability. This thought lies, or should lie, back of 

 all government aid. Washington had it in mind when in 

 1794 he wrote : "I know of no pursuit in which more real 

 and important service can Ije rendered to any country than 

 by improving its agriculture." In his last message to 

 Congress he says : "It will not be doubted that, with refer- 

 ence either to individual or national welfare, airriculture is 

 of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance 

 in population and other circumstances of maturity, this truth 

 becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the 

 soil more and more an object of public patronage." The 

 State and national governments have recognized this truth, 

 and have generously endowed agricultural colleges and es- 

 tablished experiment stations. I count it as a good omen 

 that farmers are more and more studying the science of 

 farming, and are seeking the information which these 

 scientific schools can give. 



Again, it can be said of farming as an occupation that it 

 develops and stimulates individual freedom and independ- 

 ence. In the atmosphere of the farm the tyranny of capital 

 on the one hand and the tyranny of the trades unions on 

 the other cannot flourish. The farmer, combining in himself 

 both, labor and capital, can say to these warring forces, 

 " A plague on both your houses." Let the walking dele- 

 gate come to him and tell him how many hours he may 

 work, and whom to hire, and he will find himself consigned 

 to a warmer climate than that of our New England. 



I should miss the best feature of farm life if I omitted the 

 opportunity it gives of establishing and maintaining an ideal 



