Everywhere it forces the earth to bring forth a hundred fold, 

 r;o that man, no longer exhausted in obtaining a precarious 

 existence awakes under the stimulus of richer and warmer 

 blood and advances to higher thought and action. The cul- 

 tivation of any article of human consumption to increase its 

 nutritiousness and its adaptation to the human system, is so 

 much done for the advancement of man ; and the introduction 

 and naturalization of useful plants from other lands is so much 

 for the future development of the people at home. Thus we 

 find everywhere that the production and use of wheat indicates 

 the intellectual condition of the nation. It contains more 

 brain-food than other grains. It has been asserted, too, that 

 the use of tea and coffee has increased the average brain of 

 the South of Europe. We may further instance the use of 

 milk, which nourishes brain, and bone and muscle, and which 

 is greatly increased by improved cattle. There is and must be 

 one essential difference, I repeat, between peoples who live on 

 rice, potatoes and water, and those who live on wheat, beef 

 and wine. But agriculture not only gives man higher and 

 better life, but to his own children it gives longer life. 

 ** Length of days are in her right hand." This marks its 

 elevated character, for very truly, says Cicero, "by no other 

 way can men approach nearer to the gods than by conferring 

 health on man." " God made the country, — man made the 

 town." The former is in accordance with the laws of nature ; 

 the latter is artificial, and to an extent destructive. Agricul- 

 ture requires labor in variety ; it develops all the muscles and 

 brings into play all parts of the human machine, and this labor 

 is not in excess to break down the constitution ; hence the 

 larger, taller, better-formed, handsomer men, are from the 

 country, where they have pure air to breathe, simple and pure 

 food to eat, an honest earth under them, and God's sunshine 

 or the magnificence of the star-light heavens above. In the 

 town, idleness on the one hand enervates, and on the other, 

 much toil destroys; men are hived in narrow streets and 

 crowded in tenant houses and close workshops, which beget 



