Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-02-15
AGRICULTURE.

Middlesex, 1911.

Extract nom an address, by H. ColMAN.'
Agriculture is the foundation of wealth. The
renders her tribute but the earth presents to
skill and industry richer and infinitely varied con-
trbutons. Money is not wealth 1t is only me
representative of'weah Money is coveted be-
cause it can command labor but of what use
would it be, if labor could not be commanded
What would it avail to possess all the riches of
Potosi, if thereby we could not acquire the pro-
ducts Of agriculture? What are manufactures
concerned in but these products? What lreights
the barks Vt commerce in their liquid flight,
threading every channel'and whitening every port
but the products of agri culture? Whence does
the government derive its revenues, but from the
fruits of agriculture? What constitutes the
wealth of the country but her cotton, hemp, SUI
gar rice, tobacco, wool, wheat, beef and pork p
Agriculture only, can be considered the creator
of wealth. The merchant, the manufacturer, the
sailor, The various artisans and Tadcsmen perform
their part in making the products of agriculture
more valuable; IN transporting them so that the
advantages of climate are eguulized and in put.
ting them into a condition or use but agrlcu-
ture alone produces. Like the leader of Israel; she
strikes the rock, the waters flow, and a furnishing
people are satisfied. Shesupplies, she feeds, she
quickens all. Agriculture is the commanding
interest of the country, with whichno single in
rerest, nor indeed all other interests of n secular
nature combined, can he brought into COMPETE
ton
minds n science. Like many other sciences, it
is in its infancy. We have broken only the outer
crust but it comprehends the mysteries of phi
losophy. 1t involves the whole science of life in
The vegetable and animal Kingdoms the miracles
of actual production, and the power which man
may exercise in modifying animal and vegetable
existence. The rearing of tree, the maturing of
Il vegetable, the production of flower, the form
! ing of race of animals, with 81 apes and dspo-
sltiOns, and qualities, modified TO great extent
according 10 your wishes, are in themselves mir
acles of a power delegated 10 man, which an in
tegent mind recognizes as divine.
Whoever, looking at n dried seed and kernel,
considers what it may become, when the plant
shall yield bread the tree spread. out lis bran
ches loaded with fruit whoever considers the ma
ture of the life that lies buried in this shell, and
reflects upon the combined influence OF earth, and
air, and moisture and heat and cultivation, IN
their iuserutabIe operations, all requisite IN pre-
else times quantities, and modes OF applcallon,
to bring il 10 perfection, will perceive subjects of
inquiry suited to occupy the most gifted intellect.
As he approaches this mine of wonders his bo-
som win pant with an irrepressibe curiosity TO
gam admission into the hiding. places of the Di-
v:nlty and 10 quench his burning thirst al the orig
inal fouRtans Of power, life Intelligence, and
light. Geology, chemistry, botany all the branch-
es of natural philosophy, natural history, in its di
versfotl departments, animal aud vegetable phys
lo,ogy, comparative anatomy, mechanics, meteo-
rology, are all involved in an improved agrcui-
ture. The nature of soils has long been sub
ject of philosophical investigation; ana iha with
The application and operation of natures, seems
now to be holding in reserve for chemistry its
most brilliant iriumphs. Do offend fastidous
ear by reference TO topic so humble? In look
ing al the piece of human genius in scup-
ture, the Venus dc Medics, she vulgar mind brings
away from the contemplation no higher sentiment
Than that il is naked. The pure and disciplined
mind hardly conscious of this aact, andfecling the
responsive movements of the divinity within IT.
self admires with adoring wonder the 'riumphs OF
genius in this sensible embodiment OF the'highest
beauties OF form in the works of The Creator so
il is with other obecrs in nature, SO much depends
upon the eve with which we look at them. The
vulgar mind in the heap Of manure by the road
side. thinks only of It's ofensiveness and corrup-
lion The weIi-disciplned mind regards it as an
element in one OF the most affecting miracles oil
The divine power, aud adores that beneiicent a
gency, which, in its mysterious operations, cole
yerts this refuse into fruits and flowers