A RURAL INSTITUTE. 8

creases population, and still farther meli- orates the condition of the species.

But, yet, the state of the human species is little better than that of other gregari- ous animals; they still wander in families or tribes, over unreclaimed wilds, and are still liable to the attacks of ferocious ani- mals;' population being, even in this state, inconsiderably advanced.

It is the art of reclaiming wild nature, in every part,—it is the art of agricul- ture, taken in its largest sense,—by which the state of mankind is meliorated, both in number and condition.

By freeing the soil from whatever is unprofitable to the species, and furnishing it with productions( whether vegetable or animal) which are applicable to their wants,—thus uniting cultivation with the pastoral employment,—not only the ne- cessaries of an increased population are produced, but an increase of materials for manufacture and commerce are provided;

in this manner conducting agriculture,