Middletown transcript., 1874-10-10
ADDRESS s
DELIVERED BY
HON. THOMAS r. BAYARD.
At the Opening OF the Agricuieur-
nj Fair Mt Middlet0wn.
DELIvgRED B,

Az the Opening OF the Agricultur-
nj Fair at Middletown.
Whenever have been led to refee
upon the primary and vast importanc
Of Agriculture, as the great basis OF
nations wealth and power, have bee
astonished more and more at the YER
slight attention it receives st the hand
of our people in proportion to 60
most reasonable demands OF an en-
lightened political economy Fo
what man woman or child among us
mot vitality interested in the earth bein
made to yield its yearly increase. and i
having it's fruits gathered in due season
The value Of skilled labor giving utili
ty to crude materials we gratefully ac
knowledge and appreciate-but tn
grand silent productions. which ou
common mother the earth presents il
the varying seasons Of the year for ou
delectation and support seem to be tax
en- as matter of course so that her la
bors are accepted often grumblingly
and man seems to think his share o
duty performed when he condescending
ly stretches forth his hand to gather il
her bounty.
In the wise and bitter wit of Deaf
Swift, we find the Kiug Of Brobdignae
giving to MIR. Lemuel Gulliver as bis
opinion ..That whoever could make two
ears of corn or two blades of grass to
grow upon spot where only one grew
6efore-would deserve better of man
kind, and do more essential service to
his country than the whole race of poll
ticiaus put together The super
abundance of productive lands in the
United States and the small price for
which they can be obtained, have ab-
solved our people in a great measure
from the conditions Of painful, anxious
toll which in more densely populated
and older countries is the necessary
heritage of those. who, like the 5 Ss'iss-
.Force churlish soil for scanty
bread hence our agriculture has
been performed without the sharp spur
of necessity, aud has received but a
small portion Of the public thought aud
care which its grave Importance de.
mands. Perhaps if we except the task
Of Legislation, no other occupation in
cur country is so frequently entered
upon By persons deficient in the neces-
sary information. as Agriculture.
Let me appeal to the experience of
MY present audience. whether. as a
rule. agriculture in this country is not
considered a pursuit to be taken up at
any time by any man who can com
mand the capital requisite to purchase
and stock farm regardless of his for
mer occupation, his preparation by way
of information, and education for sue
cess?
IL the vast majority of schools to
which the sons of our farmers are sent.
how much special attention is bestowed
upon agricultural chemistry, vegetable
physiology and natural philosophy-all
Of which are essential to him who would
successfully avail himself Of the natural
advantages Of any soil?
How many Of our farmers are retired
menl Of business whose success has
given them money to live as they please,
or whose reverses in commercial or
manufacturing pursuits have compelled
them to settle down in the quiet of a
country life and adept vocation for
which they were totally unprepared by
experience or education !?
Howl many fathers, having gathered
wealth in other pursuits, and having
unruly and unmanageable sons, buy
and stock farm and set down the wild
youth upon it. hoping that the produc-
tive powers Of a generous soil may sue
cessfully supplement the shortcomings
of reckless and idle living upon it?
Fortunately for US all, there is
body Of professional farmers, born and
bred To the vocation, whose industry,
good management and intelligent over
sight, are the backbone Of our success
ful progress in the science of practical
agriculture.
When Turner, the famous modern
English painter. was asked what he used
in mix ng his colors, he growled out
.'Brains." and bis answer would be
we'll applied to every branch Of our in
dustries, and to none more than farm
ing.
By the light of modern discoveries
in chemistry, mechanics and meteorol-
,ogy. / know, of no pursuit in whichsap-
propriate, thorough and precise learn
ing is more requisite or can be used
with greater certainty Of remunerative
returns than in agriculture in all its
branches.
l believe this to be a great and i'm
portant truth, and that we are fast ap-
preaching if we have not already reached
the day when intellectual culture and
thorough professional education are due
to the proper ffal6llment of the dnties
of farmer.
/ know the value of practical exper-
fence, aud do not in the'least underratc
the mother-wit, the sturdy and close
observation of cause and effect, un-
touched and unaided by literary culture,
which has caused many wild waste to |
blossom as the rose, and transformed
many wilderness into green fields and
sweet pastures.
Such steady application Of quiet,
honest intelligence must win its way.
and will ever have its reward, whether
in agriculture or any other occupation
in life-and it is one feature Of its pos
SCISSORS to look. and not altogether un-
Justly, with somewhat of scorn and de-
rision upon those amateur farmers
those dilettanti Of agriculture. who sit
at ease in the shade-and book in hand
spin fine theories-whilst their pillow
stands idle in the furrow and their stock
cry aloud for food and care. Practical
farmers will enjoy the reply Of Scotch
farmer to his Laird-who having read