Year: 1874

Mr.. Greeley used to tell the people "what
he kn,eio about farming; :" but had l the
ability to tell you what l don't know, it
would be worth much more to you than
what do. Still, have often been told
that in my case 50 good farmer was spoiled
to make a very poor preacher" which l
more than half believe.


can but congratulate my friends of this
association at this their annual festival for
several reasons


/. On the meeting itself. But few towns
in the state would succeed as well in getting
together such a gathering, or exhibit as mrch
enthusiasm. Then, the benefits of such
meetings are very great to all who partlci.
pate.


?. On the fruitfulness of the season.
Every crop raised, even to the corn, con-
cerning which there was much apprehension,
is above the average, the hay crop being es.
pecially good.


3. On the uuquestioned independency
both of resource and character of the we'll
to-do farming community. As class they
have no equals in this respect.


4. On the comparative honesty aud vir-
tue of the tilers of the soil. Separated
from village and city life, and having but
little leisure time on their hands, they are
not exposed to the same temptations that
beset other classes. And consequently the
standard Of honesty and virtue is correspond
ingly higher.


And while | thus congratulate my friends
the agriculturists, can but congratulate
myself in having the opportunity OF address
ing them as class, and on the interesting
theme of agriculture. But what shall L
who take poor farms and make them good ?
Or Of men who take good farms and make
them poor? Or shall | talk of the natural
fertility of the soil, and the best methods of
preserving its fertility2 Or shall speak
of dairy farming uerSuS grain farming? Or
Of sheep culture UerSuS dairy2 Or of butter
making DerSpS cheese2 Or Of soiling DerSuS
grazing? Or, shall discuss the advantages
of blooded stock over native ? In which case
it would be Jersey UerSuS Devon, versus
Ayrshire, UerSuS Durham, DerSuS ad i1Lfa-
lWm.


All these topics might be more appro-
priately discussed at farmers club than
here besides which, might not be able TO
discuss some of them without seeming to
show little iavoritism, which would be dis
tasteful to portion Of my hearers. For
these reasons will pass by these interest
ing topics and apply myself to the question,
"Are agricultural pursuits at the present
time fairly remunerative?"


1t is sometimes said that "the bottom is
knocked out Of farming" And the men
who raise this cry are often, if not always,
the farmers themselves. For with all the
honesty and virtue which as a class they
possess, they are perhaps as much given to
the sin of grumbling as any Of their fellow
mortals. But let us examine whether the
condition of agriculture is as bad as some
would represent. If it is meant.


l. That "the bottom is knocked out of
farming" in the sense that the same facli-
ties for buying farm, running in debt for
it, and paying for it quickly and easily, do
not exist as during the years of the war,
agree with them most readily, and further
more affirm that they ought not to exist.
For it is very we'll understood fact that
no class can become suddenly rich without
impoverishing others in proportion as they
increase in wealth. This was the case with
almost all salaried men during the war when
the farmers were enjoying their extremely
good times.


2. If they mean that good many men