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well educated young farmers in our county and in the 

 Commonwealth, and as they grow older, and as the num- 

 ber increases, as I doubt not it will, they will surely come 

 to be recognized, as they ought to be, as important forces 

 and factors in all that goes to make the best society, the 

 noblest state, in education, in legislation, in morals. 



Of course I do not mean to say that all the students 

 and graduates of the college have become farmers ; but a 

 large proportion of them have, or have entered upon pur- 

 suits closely connected with agriculture. Those who 

 have not, have gone out with a high respect — much dif- 

 ferent from what they would have had but for their con- 

 nection with the college — for the farmer's life and pur- 

 suits ; and ready, as they grow into influential positions 

 in life, to identify themselves with their interests and to 

 recognize their rights in society and in the state. 



There have been thirty-eight young men connected 

 with the college from this count}', since its establishment. 

 Of this number nineteen have graduated ; others have 

 taken a partial course ; four are now in college ; ten are 

 engaged in farming pursuits.' 



The best farmer does not cling to, nor discard, old ways 

 and appliances because they are old ; nor sneer at a thing 

 because it is new, nor lose his head and run wild over 

 every new invention, or new seed, or new feltilizer. He 

 carries on his farm, not for the poetry or romance of the 

 thing — as a mere sentiment — but as a profession, a busi- 

 ness, from which to get a living and something more ; 

 but he is not therefore insensible to the charms of nature 

 — neither his ears or his eyes are closed to her beauties or 

 to her voices. 



Have you ever stood by a potter's wheel and seen what 

 will come out of a lump of clay ? If not, go over to 



