104 Colman^s ^Agricultural Addresses. 



ed. All of food and of clothing, ail that sustains and protects the 

 body, is the product of agricultural labor in some of its various 

 forms. 



Agriculture is the foundation of wealth. The sea renders her 

 tribute; but the earth presents to skill and industry richer and infi- 

 nitely varied contributions. Money is not wealth. It is only the 

 representative of wealth. Money is coveted because it can command 

 labor; but of what use would it be if labor would not be command- 

 ed.' What would it avail to possess all the riches of Potosi, if there- 

 by we coulJ not acquire the products of agriculture? What are 

 manufactures concerned in but these proilucts.' What freights the 

 barks of commerce in their liquid flight, threading every channel 

 and whitening every port, but the products of agriculture .' Whence 

 does the government derive its revenues, but from the fruits of ag- 

 riculture.' What constitutes the wealth of the country, but her cot- 

 ton, hemp, sugar, rice, tobacco, wool, wheat, beef, and pork.' Ag- 

 riculture can only be considered as the creator of wealth. The 

 merchant, the manufacturer, the sailor, the various artisans and 

 tradesmen perform their part in making the products of agriculture 

 more valuable; in transporting them so that the advantages of cli- 

 mate are equalized, and in putting them in a condition for use; but 

 agriculture alone produces. Like the leader of Israel, she strikes 

 the rock, the waters flow, and a famishing people are satisfied. She 

 supplies, she feeds, she quickens all. Agriculture is the commanding 

 interest of the country, with which no single interest, nor indeed all 

 other interests of a secular nature combined, can be brought into 

 competition. 



Agriculture deserves the attention of liberal minds, as a science. 

 Like many other sciences, it is in its infancy. We have broken only 

 the outer crust; but it comprehends the mysteries of philosophy. It 

 involves the whole science of lite in the vegetable and auimnl king- 

 doms; the miracles of actual production, and the power which man 

 may exercise in modifying vegetable and animal existence. The 

 rearing of a tree, the maturing of a vegetable, the production of a 

 flower, the forminsr of a race of animals, with shapes, and dispo- 

 sitions, and qualities, modified to a great extent according to your 

 wishes, are in themselves miracles of a power delegated to man, 

 which an intelligent mind recognizes as divine. 



Of the pleasures to be derived from the pursuit of agricul- 

 ture, the writer thus speaks; — 



Agriculture, as a pursuit, commends itself to persons of refined 

 taste and sentiment. I know how I shall startle the ear of city fas- 

 tidiousness by such an assertion; but I rely upon your candor that I 

 shall not offend by the expression of my honest convictions. There 

 is much in the country that is vulgar, rude, and offensive. There is 

 no occasion for this. This is not the fault of the country. But is 

 there more of this in the country than is to be found in cities.' These 

 things depend much upon ourselves. The artificial forms of social 

 intercourse do not prevail in the country as in the town — at least, 

 they are not the same; but it is often delightful to lay aside, at least 

 for a while, the buckram and the starch. I have been through life 

 familiar with all classes of people. I have been for many years a 



