10 HAMPSHIRE AGEICUIiTUllAL SOCIETY, 



ernment, fully and honorably represented in all State and National 

 councils. Let politicians debate and decide other questions as they 

 may, here, interest and duty, patriotism and religion, all high and 

 holy considerations require them to unite for its protection. Let 

 them not be turned aside by the currents and counter currents, by 

 the whirlwinds and tornados of party politics ; on the contrary, may 

 Agriculture ever be advanced by pure minded, honorable men, patri- 

 ots, philanthropists and christians, who free from sectional jealousy 

 and all selfish motives, shall seek in this as in other Avorthy objects 

 the highest welfare of their fellow-men. 



It might naturally be expected, that an art of such paramount im- 

 portance to society, an art coeval Avith the origin of the human race, 

 transmitted tlirough past generations, destined to descend through 

 the long vista of future ages, and yielding support to the myriad mil- 

 lions of all time, would long ago have reached* its culminating point, 

 and have received whatever aid science and legislation could bestow. 

 But how different is the fact. Progress has indeed been made, yet 

 experience hoary with age is to be systematised, and the deduc- 

 tions of science are still to furnish uniform rules for successful prac- 

 tice. 



How a result so desirable is to be secured, and Agriculture made 

 to occupy the position in the great family of arts, which the God of 

 Nature assigned it, and what are the means to such an end, are our 

 next objects of inquiry. 



The chief of these is Scientific Education, an instrumentality pow- 

 erful in its operation, certain in its results, and which should be ac- 

 cessible to all. The farmer needs something more than physical 

 strength, and practical skill. If he would elevate himself and his 

 calling; if he would rank with the Cobbetts, Tulls, Loudons, John- 

 stons, Liebegs, Thaers of Europe, or with our American Eliots, Pick- 

 erings, Lowells, Colmans, Phinneys, and other renoAvned Agricultur- 

 alists, he must be a man of large and various learning; nor must he 

 ever account his education finished, but be forever growing in ex- 

 perience and wisdom. Let us not be misunderstood, far be it from us 

 to charge our intelligent and virtuous yeomanry, with any deficiency in 

 natural endowments. We have always affirmed, and desire here to re- 



