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CONCLUSION.
Political Maxims, regarding the Importance opAgriculture, and the means op promotingits Improvement.
By Sib. John S: nci-a: n.
1. No nation will prosper long, unless it can be provided withfood ;—in sufficient abundance, exporting any unnecessary surplus;—at reasonable rates, but so as fully to repay the expenses offcultivation ;—and, where tlio extent of its territory will admit ofit, by domestic industry.
2. Where provisions are scarce and dear, and the taxes, whe-ther direct, or indirect, arc high, the pressure must be doublyfelt by the great body of the people; nor can they afford to pay,without severe retrenchments, what otherwise they might fur-nish, without difficulty, to the public treasury. If cheapness,however, is the result of the importation of foreign corn, and notof domestic industry, the treasures of the country are exhaustedin the promotion of foreign agriculture ; and the cultivation ofthe soil at home, the proper basis of national prosperity, is fa-tally and inevitably discouraged.
3. The more the population of a country increases, it is themore necessary for its government to consider, what means arethe most likely to be effectual ; 1. To augment the produce ofthe land already in cultivation, by the establishment of improvedsystems of husbandry ; and, 2. To encourage the cultivation andimprovement of any barren soil.
4. Neither the old cultivated land, however, can be renderedmore productive than formerly, nor can new soil be brought in-to cultivation, unless the Legislature removes every obstacle toimprovement, and encourages, by every means in its power, a-gricultural industry ; nor unless the farmers are possessed ofskill, capita], and spirit, to carry on their operations.
5. In no department, is Bacon ’s celebrated maxim more true,(Knowledge is Power), than in regard to agriculture: Hence nofarmer can be accounted skilful in his profession, who does not