20 HAMPSHIRE AGEICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



suggestive of such institutions as we need. If they have been suc- 

 cessful in Europe, they will be much more so in this country, where 

 all enjoy the advantage of common education, and where the institu- 

 tions of the country, and every circumstance favor their success. No 

 doubt can remain that greater benefit will result from them in the 

 United States, than has ever been realized from almost any other ap- 

 propriation of Government. 



Congress appropriates annually fifty millions of dollars for current 

 expenses, and occasionally large additional sums for special purposes, 

 but she has not yet appropriated directly the first dollar for the ad- 

 vancement of Agriculture ; for that art which our immortal Washing- 

 ton in his first message commended to her particular care ; and yet 

 since the publication of that memorable document, she has expend- 

 ed in war, and its preparations, more than five hundred millions of 

 dollars ; (and is not the art of preserving life as valuable as the art 

 of destroying it?) But this policy is not long to continue. America 

 will yet educate the sons of her yeomanry, for their favorite pursuits. 

 Nor is this all, the daughters of our farmers, the future wives of those 

 sons, must be educated ; not only in refinements and accomplish- 

 ments of polished society, but in the more solid and useful branches 

 connected with rural life. They must be trained physically as well 

 as intellectually, but on this point we cannot and we trust need not 

 enlarge in this place. 



Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions are another powerful means 

 of improvement. Individual exertion can do something ; associat- 

 ed action much more. Agricultural Papers and Periodicals have 

 wrought wonders in the dissemination of knowledge. Where there 

 was only one, ten years since, there are a dozen now, urged on in 

 their noble cause by a generous rivalry and competition. Let no 

 farmer deprive his son of the advantage of at least one paper devoted 

 wholly or in part to Agriculture. 



Much good is to be anticipated from the Society, whose Anniver- 

 sary we this day celebrate. The individual exertion and enterprise 

 necessary for its support evince a zeal and energy most hopeful to 

 the cause and most honorable to those engaged in it. But man acts 

 not alone in these Avorthy objects. Woman is still his help meet. 

 We are happy to see here to day so many of the mothers and daugh- 

 ters of Old Hampshire. The action of woman in industrial occupa- 



