The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-02-22
MIR. TuETS, ADDRESS.


ton of the Corresponding Secretary"
.MR. TUFTS ADDRESS,.
Mr.. President, Trustees, and Gentlemen ofthe
Forester County .4griculaTal Society
Another year has passed away, and we are
again assembled to celebrate the holiday Of
the Farmer and Manufacturer. The duty of
addressing you upon the objects OF our meet
ing, has been assigned TO one, who, but
for the expected favor of an indulgent au-
dience, would have shrunk from the attempt.
AIInough the subject, which the occasion sue-
gssts, is not uninteresting, yet, to'make il ei-
Their iGstructing or amusing, by any reflections
of his own, exceeds his humble powers. The
field, III which he is called upon TO labor, has
been too long cultivated by others, whose
skiltul industry and success have left little
room tor Improvement to novitiate like him.
1t must, therefore, be beyond his expectations
TO harvest even as rich crop as those who
have preceded him.
TO be convinced of the Importance Of the
art OF agriculture, as well as that OF Manufac-
lures, we need no laborsd argument or per-
suasive eloquence. Man. without them, is a
barbarian a roaming savage, clothed in the
skins OF beasts little less wild than himself,
and deriving, from the spontaneous fruits of
tence. The foot Of civilization never rested
where these arts are neglected and scarce
any thing like political society can exist with
out them. Well might the King of Persia
feel his dependence upon the lIusbandman.
and declare, thai his subsistence, as well as
that Of his people, depended upon the labor
of their hands. Without their labors the
power and splen1or Of royalty itself vanishes !:
there would be none TO pay Il homage, none
to admire the diadem that eucircles It's brow.
In the most ancient days, the at az husband
ry was not only practlscd, hut religiously re-
yered. In the refined ages of Rome and
Greecr it was encouraged by saxes, and its
charms and IFS beauties celebrated bv the ora
tor and sung by the poet. The people of
Rome eXcellod no less in this, than in the
other arts Of civilized life; and the Roman
conquests. instead of desolating the earth.
seldom failed Of improving the social copdi-
ton Of those whom they subduad. Wherever
The lower of the Romap arms was felt, there
the ats, necessary to promote the comfort and
happiness of man, were diifused. But the
nosthern barbarians, who overrau the Roman
empire, not only de>pised the refnements of
: Their enemies. but tre implied with contempt
upon all the improvements, which the power
of Rome had spread over Europe; aud in 4bat
4 J"iS s',t eS'iiHS pSiiuua hufIuS WHICH the Eu-
Topean world was enveioped in moral and in
rellcctual darkness, the art of agriculture, as
well as many CT tbs other useful arts. was suf
! fered to stumble il neglect.
1t was longs our ancestors first emisrat-
ed TO this com y, the; The subject of Agricul-
ture hegau 10 excite any considerable atten-
tion in the European woIlG. It Is, indeed, but
a few years, since il inst became in Great
Rrifaiu, the land @, oar forelathers a matter of
studious Election aud Scientific investigation ::
and even there, no systematic efforts were
made for IFS Improvement, ill after the estab-
lishment Of our independence. individuals of
genius and learning bad attempted TO enlight-
en- the minds Of the farming community but
the sphere of their usefulness was limited to
the immediate neighboThood in which their
exertions were made and little was done to-
ward Aiffnsing information and promoting gem
eral Improvement till the foundation Of a
Board of Agriculture. in 1893.
II, then, the subject has received no earlier
attention in III. hid world, we ought not to be
surprised, If it has oeen neglected in a country
so youthful as our own. But had the art OF
Agriculture, even in Great Britain. arrived at
its tull maturity, at the very point of time
when our foreiathers emigrated, it would have
had, probably, little or no influence upon its
progress here. Obstacles, founded 10 the ma
ture and character of our country, were to be
encountered, which time alone could over.
come. The course, pursued by our ancestors.
OF clearing portion of land from its natural
growth, and constantly cultyating il until its
original fertility was exhausted, and then A.
handoning it for another portion, however in
Judicious 1t may seem, was dictated by the
condition of the country, as we'll as by the
circumstances OF those who occupied it. The
wilderness was to be subdued, and farms were
to be carved out of the forest. Population
was scanty, and land abundant. Those.
therefore, who cultivated the soil. would
think only Of awaiting themselves of its natural
fertility, without attempting to improve tt nv
art.
Under the influence Of circumstances SINH
lar 10 those to which we have lust allnded.
the migrations to the west have had a power
ful effect in retarding the progress of improve
ment in these Atlantic States. The time has
been, when New-Englsnd viewed with con-
Germ the march of her population to the west
ward. " II is important (sad DIR. Seybert, no
longer ago than 1879 TO consider how far the
diffusion ofour population may weaken us as
nation, and what will be the effect Of these
migrations, on the agriculture of the Atlantic
States. Many valuable farms, originally pro
a"etiVe, have been abandoned, after they
were exhausted and made barren from con-
slant cultivation, and no application of the
means to restore their lost fertility II migra-
lions Gays he) be continued under these cir
cumstances, some districts will hereafter ex-
hlblt all the features and poverty of desart.
and extensive tracts of valuable land will be
waste, p the injury of our agriculture, man
oiactures't and commerce." But, fortunate
LOT US, me evil has proved less than was an. |
uc'PslGu'i This migratory spirit not only be. |
guns 10 De appalled, by distance, but other and |
more eler'ual barriers are jaily rising mn to
repress y : among the most insuperable off
which, is the manufacturing enterprise Of