118 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



Country Gentleman that we owe this advancement. It is 

 easy for any one who has begun to master agricultural science 

 in its present state of development, to see that what has been 

 accomplished is but the entrance to a vast and fruitful field 

 of research, wherein even now may be seen luxuriant har- 

 vests of truth nodding for the reapers. Alas, our country, 

 which it would seem unites every requisite for making a suc- 

 cessful husbandry of these golden stores of intellectual and 

 material wealth, has hardly gleaned the first ripe ear. Eng- 

 land, Germany and France monopolize these treasures. 

 Haven't we energy, genius and culture enough to equip a 

 few laborers for the noble enterprise of laying open to the 

 world these granaries of knowledge ? Haven 't we wealth that 

 is ready to be devoted to sustaining their slow and toilsome 

 efforts? What is the matter, that with all our enterprise and 

 reputed keenness in foreseeing every event that promises 

 profit, we allow the slow Old World to keep out of sight ahead 

 of us on this track, that assuredly leads to the most honorable 

 glory and to the substantial reward of increased national 

 wealth? Is it a fact that we don't appreciate the possibility 

 and the advantages of improvement in the most vital parts 

 of agriculture? What sums are we not willing to expend 

 in inventing, testing and using machines for reaping our 

 grain — but who would be rich for possessing all we have 

 devoted to acquiring a certain knowledge of the means of 

 raising the standard of agricultural production to its highest 

 limit ? 



Professor Johnson's first ''Report" to the Connecti- 

 cut State Agricultural Society is dated January 12, 

 1858. In the letter transmitting it, lie thus sums up 

 the work accomplished: 



In some instances where it facilitates the study or appre- 

 ciation of the results, I have devoted some space to eluci- 

 dating the chemistry and general bearings of my subject; 

 ... As the Connecticut State Agricultural Society has for 



