Excerpt from the report: To Jefferson, agriculture was more than an occupation; it was a way of life. In his belief, it developed social virtues that were peculiar to tillers of the soil - virtues that were basic in the life of any great nation. Agriculture was the basis of his philosophy and the source of his strength. The interpretations of Jefferson as a farmer and the excerpts from his writings that follow have been selected and arranged with a view to illustrating and emphasizing Jefferson's agricultural interests and contributions.