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REMARKS OF MR. SHEPHERD OF NORTHAMPTON. 



MR. PRESIDENT I will not say that 



" He who by the plough would thrive, 

 Himself must either hold or drive," 



but that he must both hold and drive ; for science has not only reduced the 

 draft of the plough one half, but holds the plough, and has almost removed 

 the necessity of handles ; for on our alluvial fields of the Connecticut valley 

 you may see the plough guiding itself, and turning a beautiful furrow with- 

 out a holder. 



Agricultural pursuits are embraced by all classes with great zeal and in- 

 terest, but by none in the most perfect manner. The practical farmer wants 

 scientific knowledge, and the scientific agriculturalist suffers for want of 

 that practice with which he would blend his principles. 



We, practical farmers, have not the means of uniting in a perfect system 

 the two. We must look with interest to the period when the community is 

 aroused to its duty in establishing a school for the promotion of agriculture, 

 in which scientific and practical knowledge shall be taught, and where 

 chemistry, in the hands of skilful teachers, would analyse the soil in vari- 

 ous parts of the State, and the plants to be cultivated, that we might know 

 the kind of manure to use best suited as food for the crops we wished to 

 raise. In short, we want a union in the most thorough and business-like 

 manner, of scientific and practical agriculture. 



Those of us who have made experiments in this most difficult of all sci- 

 ences, are often discouraged by the amount of time and expense required to 

 ascertain any fact out of the regular beaten track, and after all we can do, 

 are dissatisfied by the uncertainty attending our imperfect efforts. 



The Massachusetts farmer has many difficulties to contend with, but he 

 has the disposition and energy to overcome those obstacles as fully as any 

 cultivator of the soil in this or in any country, and as he is the most a man 

 who rises above difficulties, may we not expect much from those who have 

 been in the practice of it their lives long? 



Much depends upon ihe men who first direct in this school. If we are to 

 have those who look mainly to the emoluments of their office, without any 

 particular knowledge of the business, and have not their hearts and energy 

 involved in the cause, or, if like another institution of this State, a mer- 

 chant or mechanic is to be selected to conduct the affairs of a farm, we can- 

 not succeed ; we want the enthusiasm and perseverance in this cause ex- 

 hibited by our much esteemed President of Amherst College. 



We have the best materials and mind to proceed in this enterprise ; let 

 Massachusetts take the lead, and glorious success will follow our efforts, if 

 persevered with the energy and economy that meets a reward in our New 

 England farming. 



On motion of Hon. GEORGE DENNY, President of the Westboro' Society, 

 it was 



