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Is not Essex County as favorable as any part of Connecticut to the 

 raising of silk ; and arc not our wives and daughters as intelligent 

 and as well disposed to be useful and industrious as any ? We 

 throw out these hints on a subject, on which we do not profess to 

 have any experimental knowledge, for their consideration. 



We have extended these observations further than wo had design- 

 ed ; at the same time we have very cursorily glanced at many sub- 

 jects, upon which wo might refer to numerous facts, if we had the 

 opportunity, in proof of our remarks. We address them to an intel- 

 ligent and industrious community, in hopes that they may excite to 

 inquiry and reflection with others. We look upon the cause of ag- 

 riculture as essentially that of humanity, public happiness, good 

 morals, and religion. Whatever serves to increase the means 

 of subsistence and comfort concerns humanity. Whatever con- 

 tributes to make the country more beautiful and more bountiful, 

 promotes both individual and public happiness. Whatever leads' 

 men to be industrious and frugal, essentially concerns their morals. 

 Whatever increases our attachment to our homes, and strengthens 

 our domestic affections by making our homes comfortable and hap- 

 py, must make us more sensible to God's goodness. More than 

 this. Practical Agriculture must lead a man constantly more and 

 more to study the works of nature and to contemplate with wonder 

 and gratitude the miracles of divine providence, which are present- 

 ed to his observation in tho beautiful progress of the seasons and 

 their appropriate and various products. ** Nature is God's earliest 

 revelation" and it is full of instruction. Our Saviour bade his dis- 

 ciples strengthen their faith in the protecting providence of God 

 by looking at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. The 

 enlightened and reflecting farmer, in surveying the products of 

 his labor, the various operations in which he is called to perform 

 his part, and the brute animals, who gratefully acknowledge his 

 care and look up to him as the almoner of the divine bounty to 

 them, will find constant and powerful incitements to think of cmd 

 to honor God, the great husbandman, whose rain enriches, whose 

 sun warms the earth ; and \vho in his goodness has placed man in 

 his vineyard that he may till and dress it. 



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