26 TEANSACXIONS. 



all to aid it in the development of the resources of the soil, 

 and, by the aid of systematic knowledge founded on a basis 

 of unimpeachable facts, to direct its industry into the most 

 proper channels. I know of no better means of advancing 

 practical agriculture than the formation and energetic support 

 of agricultural societies of various kinds. To them we are 

 to look for improvement in the science and practice of agri- 

 culture. They bring men together engaged in the same pur- 

 suits and striving for the same object. All hearts beat in 

 unison, and men meet to learn and to communicate, to observe 

 and to show. By far the largest part of our most valuable 

 practical knowledge is gained in our intercourse with our fel- 

 low men. Knowledge acquired in this way is as much more 

 effective than knowledge drawn from books, as the impres- 

 sions made by the human voice, and the human soul, speak- 

 ing in it, are more effective than those made through the eye. 



The government very wisely encourages these associations, 

 paying annually the liberal sum of more than ten thousand 

 dollars to be distributed in premiums, w^ith the simple condi- 

 tion that every agricultural society which shall receive this 

 bounty, shall offer annually such premiums and encourage- 

 ment for the raising and preserving of oaks and other forest 

 trees, as they shall think proper and best adapted to perpet- 

 uate within the State an adequate supply of ship timber. 



Yet with all the great and acknowledged advantages of the 

 county societies, their meetings must necessarily be unfre- 

 quent. Farmers live scattered all over the country, on every 

 hillside and in every valley. They are isolated from each 

 other. They cannot act in concert and harmony. The mer- 

 chant meets his fellow merchant to discuss the state of trade, 

 to buy and sell and to keep up with his own business. He 

 studies the fluctuations of the market with the same care and 

 eagerness, that the scholar studies his books. 



But the town meeting is too often the only place, where the 

 inhabitants of a town assemble for a common object. It is 

 too often the case that neighbors have but few social ties, if 

 they happen to worship God at different altars. I ask you nW 



