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country's agriculture, he investigates the foundations of his 

 country's greatness. From the acres of his farm, lead the 

 avenue of science, to the whole realm of nature — a realm of 

 knowledge, wonder, mystery. With science he may descend 

 into the sepulchre of growths and races that have perished. 

 With science he may read with awe from the rocks the record 

 of the globe's long agonies. With science he may explore the 

 kingdoms of the earth, the sea, and air, their infinite variety 

 and perfect harmony, and may pass to the verge of that fath- 

 omless gulf, the mind of man can neither sound nor cross, 

 that separates organic from inorganic nature. With science 

 he may raise his eyes to the heavens, and survey the wilder- 

 ness on wilderness of lighted worlds, drifting in their track- 

 less, destined courses in the shoreless universe of God. These 

 studies of the farmer are most appropriately described by that 

 famous passage of Cicero in which he celebrates the charm of 

 letters. "Ha;c studia adoiescentiam acuunt, senectutem oblect- 

 ant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium ac solatium pra3- 

 bent ; delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobis- 

 cum, peregrinantur, rusticantur."* 



While, however, this institution may hope to receive the 

 general good will and favor of the people of the common- 

 wealth, it should especially receive the encouragement of 

 farmers. To "promote their interests, it has been established 

 by the nation and the state. Let them regard it as peculiarly 

 their own. Let them insist upon its proper organization and 

 maintenance, and co-operate in all efforts to insure for it the 

 beneficent career of which it is capable. Let no lurking sus- 

 picion or distrust that science has no benefits in store for agri- 

 culture, chill the cordiality of your support. Still less let the 

 old wrangle between the man of science and the man of prac- 

 tice, in which the presumptuousness of the one was met with 



* These studies are a discipline to youth, a pleasure to old age, an ornament 

 to prosperity, a refuge and a solace in adversity; they delight in the house, 

 out of doors they are not in the way ; they are companions by night, they 

 travel with us in foreign lands, they stay with us on the farm. 



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