ADDRESS. 19 



South, poured in upon them through the great iron sluice- 

 ways that steam has forced open. But let them unite yankee 

 industry and perseverance to scientific agriculture, and I will 

 put them against the world. The more rail-roads we have the 

 better ; for they will only bring the market nearer. Instead 

 of discouraging the farmer, they should stimulate him to seize 

 upon and apply all the principles of science and experience 

 to improve the cultivation of the soil. Why, for instance, 

 should not the almost entire surface of New England exhibit 

 as high a state of cultivation as we now witness around most 

 of our villages ? The soil is capable of it ; nay, of much higher 

 cultivation, — capable of sustaining four times its present pop- 

 ulation ; and thus, if our morals and religion be preserved, of 

 giving us four times more influence upon the world. I trust 

 that the next generation will see this statement verified ; and 

 that, too, as the fruit of two things of which some are very 

 much afraid, viz : rail-roads and book farming. 



Protracted as my remarks have been, I cannot feel justified 

 in closing without adverting to the relations of agriculture to 

 certain objects of far higher importance than any yet mentioned. 

 I refer to the mutual bearings between agriculture and person- 

 al and domestic hap.piness, morality and religion. 



The influence of moral and agricultural pursuits upon per- 

 sonal and domestic happiness, has, from the earliest civilized 

 times, been a fruitful theme for the poet's numbers and the 

 philosopher's lucubrations. In the morning of life, indeed, 

 while yet time and experience have not stripped the world of 

 its rainbow hues, men fancy that happiness dwells in more 

 public and exciting pursuits. One seeks it on the battle field 

 and in the wreaths that crown the warrior's brow. But he 

 finds at last that a sea of blood is not a sea of happiness. 

 Another aspires after distinction in political life ; nor does he 

 learn, without much bitter experience, how far away from the 

 abode of happiness, the surges and storms of public life are 

 driving him. Another labors with untiring perseverance to 

 stand high in the learned professions, and discovers not till the 

 desired elevation has been reached, how far it rises, not merely 



