10 tKANSACtlOXS. 



our yet distant goal. Such a survey, I think, will be foUnd 

 to be both interesting and instructive. 



I had proposed to pass over those countries where agricul- 

 ture may be said to liave had its birth, and, beginning with 

 times of which we have an authentic history, to introduce you 

 to a Greek farm house, as it existed twenty-five centuries ago, 

 within sight of the most civilized and highly cultivated city 

 then on the globe — to inquire what its inmates are about, 

 what they know of their calling, be it more or less than the 

 aggregate of our own knowledge, — to lead you, perhaps, to 

 sympathize with their toils, their struggles and their joys, and, 

 leaving them with a few practical hints for our own improve- 

 ment, to trace briefly the progress of agriculture to our own 

 times, showing in what w^e have improved, if we have im- 

 proved at all, and pointing out the present wants and the 

 future prospects of agriculture in New England. 



Time, however, will not permit us to dwell at any length 

 upon the early* history of this art, as I wish to call your at- 

 tention more particularly to our own times and our own 

 country. 



In the early ages of the world, agriculture was honorable 

 and dignified enough to engage the attention of men of the 

 highest rank and greatest talent. The history of Greece 

 shows us numerous examples of this. Her great men are 

 associated in our minds with glorious struggles for liberty, or 

 with such writings as will never cease to command the admi- 

 ration of the world. The scholar of all ages has loved to con* 

 template both the men and their works, but it has too often 

 been forgotten, that they found afar higher satisfaction in the 

 cultivation of the soil and the improvement of agriculture, 

 than in the management of armies and the intrigues of the 

 court. Let us turn from the contemplation of their public 

 life and see them at home. 



The farm house stands well back from the road, and we 

 wind up an avenue of silver firs or other graceful trees and 

 find a building, large but by no means elegant or beautiful. 



We are met at the door by a plain, unostentatious man, 



