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favorable time to invest money and labor in farming. I 

 am persuaded that for some years to come agriculture 

 will be the leading interest of the country — not only in its 

 extent and the amount of its productions, for that is al- 

 ways the case, but in regard to profit. There is no prob- 

 ability that the prices of produce will ever rule as low 

 as they did years ago. Money being more abundant will 

 be Avorth less, and all that money buys worth more. He 

 who takes the flood tide in the present state of affairs 

 and guides his bark by knowledge, will be carried on to 

 fortune. 



In considering the profitableness of farming in this 

 vicinity we should remember these things ; first, — that 

 no farmers live so well and spend so much on themselves 

 and families as New England farmers, — none that make 

 the soil contribute so much to the soul and character, — 

 none who use such excellent implements, — none who 

 have more convenient buildings, better furniture and 

 houses, — none who educate their children better and 

 contribute more to those religious and moral institutions 

 that perpetuate their blessings, — none that identify them- 

 selves more intelligently with the government and laws 

 of their country, — none whose real manhood is more 

 purely developed in all the important relations of life, — 

 none whose character inspires more confidence and re- 

 spect. Even the common laborers earn three times as 

 much as in the most prosperous countries of Europe, and 

 have every facility which such men can have of rising 

 into the class of land-holders and employers. We would 

 not have it otherwise. No money is better spent than 

 that which multiplies the comforts and conveniences of 

 home and secures the maintenance of institutions, which 

 so largely promote the virtue and happiness of the peo- 

 ple. Out of the farmers' homes come the men whose 

 character dignifies our social life, and the women whose 



