THE REAL IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE. IJ 



man, whose watchful days and sleepless nights are spent 

 in devising schemes to promote the welfare of his own, 

 perhaps the ruin of other countries, as if this globe were 

 insufficient for us all ; and the courtier, who is always 

 watching the countenance of his prince, in hopes of 

 catching a gracious smile, can have little conception. I 

 have not only retired from all public enjoyments, but I 

 am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the 

 solitary walk, and tread the paths of private life with a 

 heartfelt satisfaction. Envious of none, I am determined 

 to be pleased with all ; and this, my dear friend, being 

 the order of march, I will move gently down the stream 

 of life, until I sleep with my fathers." 



During the eight years of which Washington held the 

 office of President, he took every means to impress upon 

 the minds of his government and his people, the import- 

 ance of fostering agriculture by public patronage. To 

 Sir John Sinclair, an English gentleman, he writes, under 

 date July 20, 1794: "I know of no pursuit in which 

 more real and important service can be rendered to any 

 country than by improving its agriculture." In his last 

 message to Congress he refers to agriculture and its im- 

 portance to civilization in the following terms : " It will 

 not be doubted that with reference either to individual 

 or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. 

 In proportion as nations advance in population and 

 other circumstances of maturity, this truth becomes more 

 apparent, and renders the cultivation of the soil more and 

 more an object of public patronage." With Washington, 

 successful agriculture meant national life, virility, and 

 power. 



Beyond all this, agriculture as a promoter of peace is 

 of vast importance to the human family. For while the 



