commodities within our own limits. This will produce a solid independence, teach us the value of our connexions with one another, and bind us in bonds of mutual interest. The struggle has heretofore been (and a fatal one it has proved) to get rich: the endeavour now must be, how to live in comfort and plenty.

The consumption and use of the necessaries and conveniences of life, by 10,000,000 of people, and the demands for the materials of domestic manufactures, cannot fail to afford to every quarter of our Union the means of substantial enjoyment. Industry must take the place of hazardous Speculation, and Frugality must succeed Extravagance. We shall then be taught to live within our means, and this will easily be accomplished, when we have only real wants, and not those which are, for the most part, artificial and fanciful. We must "eat our bread in the sweat of our faces," and we shall find it the sweetest and most nutritive of any food we have heretofore enjoyed. It may not be accompanied by luxurious and expensive viands; but its associates will be health, peace of mind, and corporeal vigour, ensuring exemplary life and purity of morals.

The foundation of the public prosperity is undoubtedly agriculture. This brings forth all the materials about which other branches of labour are, for the most part, employed, and sustains the workers in every department of the mechanic arts, in their labours. Without it, the earth would be a howling desert: with it, the cultivated world is an artificial Paradise, produced by the labour of Man, who, being doomed to "eat his bread in the sweat of his face," thus fulfils the decrees of Heaven, while he ensures to himself and his race the blessings of plenty, innocence and health. To what a high destiny, then, is the farmer appointed, when to him is committed the art on which the subsistence of his fellow men necessarily depends. His responsibilities are great indeed; and shall he rely only on his individual efforts and limited experience, for the fulfilment of such important duties? No: he should call to his aid the experience, the intelligence, and the scientific as well as practical knowledge, which associations for promoting agriculture are universally found to afford, and thereby add to his own, the experience of those with whom he is associated, and, by joint efforts, produce results to which any one individual is incompetent. The practices, good or bad, which are handed down by his predecessors, are repeated; and little progress is made in improvement by isolated or self-confident individuals.

It would be a toilsome task, nor indeed would my limited information enable me, to enumerate all the discoveries and improvements in husbandry which modern times have developed. I will mention one or two of the most prominent. There have been but few articles used among our farmers, for the most essential of all requisites, manuring their lands. Dung, which can be produced only in quantities inadequate to the demand for it, has been the universal and main reliance, Lime is also generally esteemed of primary importance. Both of these are estimable, without dispute; and yet it is now well known in Europe, and begins to be so here, that the ashes of burnt clay constitute a manure which is superiour to them all, for every purpose to which they have been applied. Clay is found every where in immense quantities, and can be cheaply converted into ashes, and whole farms may be rapidly fertilized in place of partial and protracted applications of more expensive and less attainable manures; it is fortunately best adapted for strong and clay soils, which thus afford renovations of their surfaces out of their own bowels. This account of so valuable an addition to our stock of manure, obtained from a material of little estimation, walked over every day, and heedlessly neglected, will not, perhaps, be believed by the generality of our farmers; and yet the most celebrated agriculturists in England, Scotland, and Ireland are so convinced of the fact, from actual experience, that it is maintained to be "the most important discovery in agriculture which modern times have produced."

The application of salt to our fields as manure, is now under very extensive experiment. There is no doubt of its efficacy: but it requires experience, as to quantity per acre, and the kinds of soil the most suitable. This is not a new discovery; for its application to land as manure has been known before, and at the time of, our blessed Saviour's appearance upon earth. In St. Luke's Gospel[1] it is said, "salt is good; but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out." Its uses, both for cattle and manure, can be traced through the writings of the most eminent among the Romans, down to the most celebrated chymists and agriculturists of our own day. Where are our farmers to learn such facts and discoveries? Not of themselves; for there are many who do not read, and few go out of their way to try experiments. They can only be taught by agricultural associations, wherein the experience of practical farmers, the information derived from books, and the assistance of scientific characters, are happily combined.

The spirit for agricultural improvement, and the formation of societies, has very much spread throughout the Union. Shall Pennsylvania be behind her sister states in such associations? She is before them in many practical proofs of her good husbandry; but has yet much to learn. Let us then promptly obey the call of our legislature, and begin the great work by forming societies and rendering them efficient. Let us pride ourselves in our household manufactures; and for this purpose let us invite the female branches of our families to join in our plan. Without their aid, we can do nothing in such manufactures; with it, everything. Instead of foreign gewgaws and expensive finery, we may be independent in articles for household uses and our attire, and save the expenditures which now go into the pockets of foreigners. Commerce is certainly essential to an agricultural country; but the extent of it should be no greater than our products will reach: when the balance turns against us, our prosperity declines.

You know, gentlemen, that our farmers will be satisfied only by actual observations of practical proofs. We must have public manifestations of improvement. The institution of cattle-shows should be promoted. They would be useful as places of sale, or for the exhibition of the best breeds, or for exposing for imitation or sale the best and greatest variety of household manufacture. On these occasions, premiums, more honorary than costly, should be distributed to successful candidates, either for such cattle or manufactures, or for agricultural discoveries or improvements, or the best execution of known practices. Emulation must be roused and encouraged, and the honourable pride of excelling must be fostered. Such public exhibitions must be conducted by discreet and reputable men.

Under such guidance and with suitable accompaniments of innocent pleasure and amusement, they will make a much stronger impression than any oral addresses or written communications. By these exhibitions, the emulation, excited in some neighbouring states has improved their agriculture and increased their manufactures to a degree almost incredible. Agricultural societies are extending to every quarter of the Union. Until very lately, there did not exist one to the southward of Pennsylvania, and she had but two, to wit, the Philadelphia Society, which has long continued its