23 



apply these sciences to the art of agriculture, and next, to communicate 

 :tensively a knowledge of the applications thus made, for the general 

 inefit of the profession of agriculture. I would take the liberty to recom- 

 end to the worthy gentleman who last spoke, to read this jeport hefore he 

 akes objections to a plan for the improvement of agriculture in Massachu- 

 tts, based on that report. You need only to read this work, or one of the 

 ports of the Patent Office, or the better class of agricultural newspapers, 

 order to know that there have been immense additions to agricultural sci- 

 ice, strictly so called, and U> those sciences in general which may be ap- 

 ied to the art of agriculture. 



The fact, indeed, seems to be generally admitted that there has, in one 

 larter and another, among men of science and the cultivators of the soil, 

 -been a great increase of knowledge, both theoretical and practical, on 

 is subject. But the light is scattered, not concentrated, and, therefore, 

 t effectual. It is light such as has, by some, been supposed to exist after 

 od said, " Let there be light, and there was light," and before the sun 

 as created. According to this theory, they suppose that the light thus 

 ffused through space, thus ineffectual, thus incapable of being applied to 

 ly useful purpose, was collected by the Creator and concentrated in the 

 n, which he " set in the fimament of the heaven, to give light upon the 

 rth," so that " the greater light should rule the day, and the lesser light 

 e night," and order thus be brought out of chaos. 



Something like this may be true of the science and of the practical skill 

 hich is scattered over the land and the world. What we need is an organi- 

 ition, under the authority of the State, which shall collect this scattered 

 sjht, whether in this or in another hemisphere, so that it shall be- 

 me effectual, and not any longer be " light shining in darkness, and 

 ie darkness comprehending it not." What we need is an organization 

 hich shall collect the light of science and of practical experience into an 

 gricultural Institution, as into a focus, from which it can go forth, as from 

 radiant point, over the Commonwealth and the country, and, if you 

 ease, the world. 



I trust, therefore, Mr. President, that the gentleman, distinguished as he 

 for his zeal and success in farming, admitting, as he does, the importance 

 r having a Board of Agriculture established, will unite with us in sustain- 

 ig the resolution. 



SPEECH OF JUDGE MACK, OF SALEM. 

 [R. PRESIDENT 



It has been said, sir, that we have no science. It is too true that we 

 ave not science on the subject of agriculture in Massachusetts. And this 

 ;ct makes it imperative that we take some means by which we can collect 

 icts. All science has been built up upon facts. And unless we take mea- 

 ires to collect them upon the subject of agriculture, we never shall have 

 ly science here. There is science enough upon the subject of agriculture 



