164 [AsSEJiIBLY 



What should the farmer do in return for the artisan, whose life 

 is wasted by anxious and ceaseless toil, and who is shut out from 

 rural blessings ? We answer — do his duty to himself ; it is all 

 that is asked or required of him. We claim it to be the duty of 

 every man who is a farmer, to plant fruit and ornamental trees, 

 to cultivate and grow the vine, as well as all useful vegetables ; 

 to beautify and adorn his grounds and garden with flowers, 

 plants, and shrubbery, and so arrange his yards and grounds as to 

 give his habitation as Eden like appeai-ance as possible. Should 

 our farmers be thus true to themselves and dutiful to nature, then 

 with truth of our country it might be said in the language of 

 the poet— 'Tis 



" the land of the myrtle, the cypress and vine, 

 Where all but the spirit of man is divine." 



Nothing is so attractive to the tr^iveler as the fine " country 

 residences." They are something for the eye to feast upon. 

 They please the imagination and cheer the heart, and bring with 

 them all the associations ot happiness and home. "Country 

 seat" gives value to the farm upon which it is situated. 



One blessing follows another. Sociality, refinement, and learn- 

 ing follow in the train of rural improvement. The mind keeps 

 pace with the outer man, and the love of the beautiful in nature 

 inspires the mind with the love of the useful and the good. It 

 stops not there; it teaches the mind "to look from nature up to 

 nature's God." 



Your committee would therefore recommend the adoption of 

 the accompanying resolutions by the Society : 



Resolved, That the Rensselaer county Agricultural Society, for 

 the purpose of giving encouragment to those who will " beautify 

 and adorn" their "country seats," hereby establish an award on 

 "country seats," including dwelling, grounds, gardens, trees, and 

 shrubbery, and will, in the annual report of this society to the 

 State Society, recommend the publication by the said State 

 Society of the drawing and description of such "country seats" 

 as the society shall by their committee deem advisable. 



