ADDRESS. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Society: — 



I thank you for the honor conferred on me, by the appoint- 

 ment to address you on this occasion. "When I recall the long 

 list of able men who, in the sixtj'-nine years of the life of the 

 society, have at its annual meetings, laid before it the results 

 of extensive research, scientific study and practical knowledge, 

 I regard it as the highest mark of confidence and esteem, on 

 the part of the society that I should be asked to stand before 

 you to-day and deliver the address. 



The selection of a subject is somewhat difficult, both because 

 the address should be of interest to those not directly engaged 

 in farming, differing in this respect from the essays read at our 

 Institutes, and also because so many interesting themes have 

 been already presented on former occasions. I have concluded 

 therefore not to give instruction in growing corn, cabbages or 

 cattle ; neither shall I engage in a political discussion. My 

 subject is " Agriculture in History." I ask your attention to 

 some facts gleaned from ancient and modern authors showiug 

 the advantage that agriculture confers upon a nation, not only 

 by producing the materials that make commerce possible, but 

 also in developing a noble type of manhood capable of enjoy- 

 ing the privilege of citizenship and upholding the prosperity of 

 their country. 



We shall see the great progress made in our calling since 

 early times to the best advantage, if we glance at the primitive 

 method of producing farm crops. Take grain for example. 

 The oldest known way of raising this crop was that used in 

 Egypt, where the seed was sown on the mud left by the over- 



