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Mr. Butler's Discourse. 



vented them /" These efforts were continued, in connexion 

 with many others of the like nature, during a long life devoted 

 to the welfare of mankind. His favorite vegetable came into 

 general use ; and with complete success. Whole districts for- 

 merly barren were fertilized and rendered habitable ; and his 

 old age was crowned with the delightful reflection, that on two 

 several occasions, great numbers of his countrymen had been 

 saved from the horrors of famine, through his instrumentality.* 



The principle of these remarks might be extended to every 

 other department of husbandry, and to every other of its pro- 

 ducts. The thinness of our population, and the facilities for ob- 

 taining land, have heretofore contributed to keep down the 

 character of our agriculture ; but the time has arrived when it 

 begins to demand the closest attention. Not only is our popu- 

 lation constantly augmenting, but our best soils having been 

 first brought into cultivation, we must rely on the improve- 

 ments of the future, to make not only our inferior soils pro- 

 ductive, but those of the first quality, also, more productive 

 than heretofore. To effect this, resort must be had to the 

 physical, mechanical and experimental sciences, all of which 

 have a direct connexion with the art of agriculture, and for 

 that reason alone, independently of other considerations, are 

 entitled to our special regard. 



In regard to the other useful arts, I can only observe, that 

 most of them are founded entirely on the discoveries of sci- 

 ence; and that science is to each of them, a most valuable 

 auxiliary. Look for instance at the influence exerted on the 

 arts, by the discovery and improvement of machinery. The 

 whole civilized world has rapidly advanced in wealth, and in 

 the means of happiness, in consequence of the wonderful dis- 

 coveries of this sort made during the last century. Prior to 

 the American revolution, cotton cloths were as expensive as 

 silk ; now they are worn by the poorest individuals. Why is 

 this? Simply because Hargreaves, Watt, Arkwright, and our 

 own Whitney, by increasing the facility of production, have 

 brought them within the reach of all classes of society. 



