A.DDEK33. 7 



ral life. The rewards of this art have blessed the past and its prom- 

 ises gild the future. It is the almoner of heaven's bounty, distribut- 

 ing to all with liberal hand. How has it converted the noxious bog 

 and barren waste into highly cultivated fields, and made the dreary 

 wilderness to bud and blossom like the rose ! How have Jits benign 

 influences illumined the dark abodes of want and misery ! Oft has 

 it fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and caused the desolate heart 

 to shout for joy! How have its blessings clustered around the social 

 fireside, making the domestic altar vocal with praise and thanksgiving ! 

 Well did the muse of our lamented Fessenden sing : 



" Hail Agriculture ! Heaven ordained, 



Of every art the source, 

 "Which, man has polished, life sustained, 



Since time commenced his course. 

 Where waves thy -wonder-working wand, 



What splendid scenes disclose ! 

 The blasted heath, the arid strand. 



Out-bloom the gorgeous rose !" 



Agriculture, as an Art, relates to the successful cultivation of the 

 soil, to such care of the field and herd, as will enable the husband- 

 man to realize the largest and most perfect products with the least 

 labor and expense. The Science of Agriculture treats of the ration- 

 ale of these processes, and of the principles which govern practice. 

 In different localities and climates, the Art may vary, but Science is 

 the same here and everyiohere, to-day a-nd. forever, immutable like 

 its Wise Author. Art may mistake, and give a particular soil the crop 

 which its constituents disqualify it to produce. But Science never 

 errs, for she understands the constituents of both, and therefore can 

 decide upon the adaptation of one to the other. 



The difference between them appears from the course that each 

 would pursue in the examination of the soil. 



Art regards its external appearance, and discovers its adaptation to 

 a given crop, often by doubtful experiment, by traditionary knowl- 

 edge, or by mere conjecture. Science adopts a different course. She 

 takes a portion of that soil, and puts it in her crucible, and by anal- 

 ysis ascertains its constituents. She learns also the constituents of 

 the desired crops and of manures, and by a comparison of these re- 

 sults decides at once upon their mutual adaptation, or what changes 

 must be made to produce fertility. 



