2-20 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



JAN, 10, IS 



MR. SALTONSTALL'S ADDRESS 



B'fure tilt Esstx Couuty AgikuUural Society. 



(Concluilod.) 

 To improve ihe aijricultiire ol Essex — t" increase 

 production liere, is the object of this association. 

 And oven here, much rRniains to be done. As we 

 travel throuijh our beautiful towns wc are delighted 

 with the evidence of improvenienl and prosperity. 

 We see farms in a hiah state of cultivation, fur- 

 nished with unproved stock, and buildings and fen- 

 ces in good order. Wc observe line grass fields, 

 where lately were unproductive swamps, or otlier 

 fields fertilizi'd by their accumulated vegetable 

 riches. Improvements like these, are within the 

 reach of every industrious and economical farmer. 

 But are they universal ? 



And will you permit one who is not a practical 

 farmer, to hint at some deficiencies ? One of the 

 greatest is, the neglect of the cultivation of the 

 fruits to which our soil and climate are propitious, 

 Every farmer should have a succession of those de- 

 licious fruits, which are easily cultivated, and 

 which have in goodness been provided for our en- 

 joyment and our health, and f<v »vhich the natural 

 taste is so strong. They may also be as profitably 

 cultivated as any other articles. 



Another defect is, the neglect of gardens. A 

 farmer is often satisfied with loo small a garden 

 patch. Culinary vegetables ought to be raised, 

 and used loo, in much greater variety and plenty 

 than they are ; audit would be no misfortune to 

 the health or the purse, if they should lessen the 

 excessive use of animal food. 



Let us glance at some of the causes of the mod- 

 ern improvements in agriculture. One of the 

 principal is the application of scientific principles 

 to the practice. It was formerly supposed that 

 there could be no connection between science and 

 the cultivation of Ihe earth. This had a tendency 

 to depress, if not to degrade the occupation. Now, 

 science has come forth into every-day life:— she 

 e.xtends her powerful aid to practical farmers. 

 Chemistry is analyzing the nature of soils and 

 their elements, and of the supplies which they re- 

 quire, anil IS thus I'levaling the employment of the 

 farnifr, and teaching hiin how to cultivate his land 

 to the best advantage. 



Agricultural periodicals hold a high rank among 

 the learned and interesting journals of the day. 

 They have done much to remove the prejudice 

 against ho ok -f arming, and are producing very bene- 

 ficial effects. I have already adverted to agricul- 

 tural associations — the most efficient cause of im- 

 provement, in Europe and in this country. 



Permit me, also, to mention as one among the 

 chief causes of advance in agriculture, the improve- 

 ment of in temperance, and of course in the effec- 

 tive industry of laborers. Formerly, wholesome 

 food was not deemed sufficient to support, nor 

 sound sleep to restore man's strength, without the 

 haluliial use of stimulating drinks — as if the all- 

 wise and beneficent Creator had so imperfectly 

 made man, and "as so hard a task-master, that, nl- 

 tliough he had destined him to labor, he could not 

 perform the work assigned him, without the aid of 

 artificial stimuhnts. The effect "as too often seen 

 in dilapidated buildings, broken doin walls, feeble 

 and ill-treated animals, neglected and barren fields, 

 the mortgage which consumed the farmer's sub- 

 stance, and at lost, the sheriff's levy or sale. Alas, 

 the effect was often felt, too, by broken-hearted 

 wives and neglected cliildren. Blessed are our 

 eyes, for they see, and our ears, fur they hear, what 



marvellous things have been wrought in our day, 

 by the angel, Temperance. She comes with the 

 ble.^sings uf a new dispensation of peace and mer- 

 cy from heaven. 



The consequciTcc of this improvement in agri- 

 culture, is the elevation of the character of the 

 profession, which in its turn becomes the most effi- 

 eient cause of still further progress. Until the 

 French revolutionary wars. New England, except 

 a narrow strip along the coast, was almost exclu- 

 sively an agricultural community. — but after the 

 excitement and impetus given to our commerce by 

 that event, which led to a rapid accumulation of 

 wealth, our young men were not satisfied with the 

 slow thrift of old fashioned industry. They were 

 not content to " speed the plow," and they rushed 

 to the cities and to the ocean, to make haste to be 

 rich. But the reverses and embarrassments of the 

 last few years, have taught them, that time and 

 chance, which happen to all, do so emphatically to 

 the mercantile class — that there are many blanks 

 to a prize in that lottery, and that a high prize, 

 suddenly won, is not seldom as quickly lost. They 

 find that practical agriculture diligently pursued, 

 yields a fair return, and many now wisely take 

 their lot in life in the cultivation of the soil, in- 



God, has prevailed for a longer period that 

 been known for centuries, has given men h 

 to think id' the miseries and tlio wickedness ol 

 and to rertect on the countless blessings of [ 

 it has multiplied the lionorable pursufts of 

 They see that agriculture and all the arts ' 

 promote true civilization and ameliorate the ( 

 tion of man, have advanced more within th 

 twentyfive years, than in the preceding ce. 

 and that the condition of every nation has 

 improved. * * War is the greatest ene- 

 agricultural improvement. 1 know that for i 

 It stimulates the demand for its productions 

 it takes from agriculture the sinews of labor. 

 The prophetic word lias been spoken, that aj 

 tore shall flourish in the reign of mild peace- 

 llie time shall come — O, hasten on the d; 

 when the sword shall be beaten into plows 

 and men shall learn war no more. 



The importance of the agricultural intere 

 the necessity of improvement in cultivation 

 early appreciated in this State. The Mass 

 setts Agricultural Society was formed inor 

 halt a century ago, by some of our most er 

 and worthy citizens. And if their transa 

 seem now to be less important than formerly 



stead of rushing into the hot pursuit of wealth by ] because the county associations have render 



desperate adventures, or plunging into specula- 

 tions, or chasing in mad pursuit of fame, so seldom 

 acquired, and generally so unsubstantial and fleet- 

 ing. 



The happiest effects may be anticipated from 

 this change in public sentiment. We no longer 

 hear a farmer spoken of as necessarily a dull and 

 plodding person, to whom much education is use- 

 less whose pursuits furnish no scope for enter- 

 prise or improvement, and can have no connection 

 with literature or science. The sneering remark 

 of Dr. Jtdinson, "ho talks of beeves," will not be 

 repeated by any one who regards his reputation. 



Let this improvement in public opinion go on, 

 until it shall no longer be asked, what good does a 

 thorough and liberal education do a farmer ? It 

 is time for farmers to learn that time and money 

 expended on the education of their sons, are not 

 lost, if they return to the occupation of their fath- 

 ers. The notion that they must of necessity enter 

 one of the learned professions, so called, is a great 

 mistake, and should be exploded. How many 

 young men, who might have been happy and use- 

 ful, as agriculturists, have been obliged to abandon 

 a crowded profession, after struggling along through 

 some of the best years of life, or have resorted to 

 low pettifogging, or to the most miserable and con- 

 temptible of all pursuits, office-seeking, for the 

 pay! * * * * 



Man was made to labor. His pliysical consti- 

 tution shows it as plainly as if this law of his ex- 

 istence was imprinted on his forehead. This be- 

 neficent decree has united his duty and his hanpi- 

 nesa. And yet — how strange! — labor has, in al- 

 most all ages and nations, been considered as dis- 

 honorable, and has been left to serfs and slaves ! 

 It is quite time to correct the prejudices as to the 

 true dignity of labor, which have come down to us 

 from remote and dark ages. We trust the tiu'C is 

 not far distant, when i] will no longer be thought 

 in the old world, that the army, the navy, and the 

 church — strange union — furnish the only suitable 

 employment for the sons of the rich and great. 

 More correct opinions are spreading. All civilized 

 nations are beginning to learn that war is the 

 worst of evils. The peace, which, blessed be 



abor of the parent Society less necessary. 



Gentlemen — Our association owes mucii 

 early success, if not its existence, to one, no 

 distinguished for the purity and elevation < 

 private character, his public spirit and pa 

 services, than tlie brightest names on a list 

 conwins names as distinguished as any which 

 the annals of Massachusetts— Samuel ^ 

 Christopher Gore, Benjamin Lincoln, John ( 

 Lowell, Thomas Russell, and, not to be for 

 in this place, Samuel Phillips. The ineini 

 Timothy Pickering should be held in honoi 

 membrance by this Society, by ail farmers, a 

 deed by the whcde country. He who had .i 

 his country bravely ond faithfully during tlie^ 

 lutionary contest, and with distinguished abi 

 the cabinet and councils of the nation, ret 

 his farm in the midst of life, before his e} 

 dim or his natural strength abated, and devot 

 time and the vigor of his mind, to agriculturi 

 was not ashamed to be called, and lo be, a f 

 He was the first, and for ten years, Presic 

 this Society. As he never neglected any di 

 attended all the meelings of the Society and 

 Trustees ; and it will excite no jealousy ; 

 the associates of his honorable labors, to say- 

 It owed its prosperity, mainly, to his e.xamp 

 his efforts. » # it 



How can I better close this address, pent 

 than by this tribute of grateful and alfeci 

 respect, so justly due, and which 1 know y( 

 cordially unite with me in olTenng, to the n^ 

 of that distinguished agriculturist, that mot 

 nenl and excellent man, 'J'imothv Pickerini 



Ohio Silk Goods. — Mr J. R. Howard adv 

 in the Zanesville Gazette, vestings, ladies' 

 tiilks, hosiery, drawers. .-Iiirls, and caps, fro 

 manufactory of .lohn W. (Jill, of Mt. Pleasar 

 ferson county, Ohio. Mr Gill seems to be i 

 improving the ([uality and increasing the qi 

 (it his fabrics, and we are happy to see th 

 perity of this branch of industry. — ^Jlb. Cull. 



He that would be rich with the least labo 

 have few wants. 



