Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1842-10-29
Agricultural and Scientific.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

II has always been my earnest desire
10 see The Agricu 'turnl profession exal-
ted, and rendered attractive 10 the young.
How shall this now he done? The high
est distinctions in human character. the
brightest ornaments which can be worn
in life; those which sparkle with an in
herent lustrc all their own,' and differ
from, the mean artful ,rappings Of socie-
~ as the diamond diff rs from the paste,
are moral integrity and religious princi-
rle. l shall not further speak Of these
IL this case But tie distinction which,
separate from these, gives elevation to
the character, is the improvement Of the
mind. This confers rank which wealth
cannot purchase. This commands re-
spect which the proudest aristocracy
might envy.
In order to render the Agricultural
profession more attractive and respecta-
Lle, We must seek its intellectual eleva-
'on. In general intelligence aud prac-
,ica! wisdom the farmers of New Eng
land as body are not wanting. Much
more than thi. is desirable. There is
10 class in our community who have
more favorable opportunities for the i'm
rroyement of their minds than our far
,rers. Our long winter evenings, which
hring so protracied respite from labor
furnish quiet evenings lor reading and
study. Many intelligent men among us,
some who have been the boas, of science
ard the ornaments Of literature, have
made themselves what they were in the
devotion of hours of leisure, which their
long voyages or intervals Of business az
forded, to the improvement Of their
minds, the cultivation of taste and the nc
QUESTION Of knowledge. Our farmers
have equal, in some respects, more iavora
lie opportunities. The Improvement oil
our common schools, therefore and the
elevation and extension Of the course of
instruction pursued in them, particularly
concerns the agricultural interests.
II is not enough to NEE. tho present
condition Of society that our boys and
girls nrc able to read and spell, to write
and cypher, and to have some knowledge
Of geography. The highes, branches of
intellectual science, the principles oil
moral and intellectual philosophy and
the political economy, should be at leas,
80 far taught in them. which is at pres
ont perhaps all we have righ, to ex.
poet that tasie for their continued pur
suit might be formed, inquiry awakened,
and the track marked out by which they
might unassisted advance at their own
pleasure to high attainments! The es-
tab'ishmcnt oc social libraries and lyce-
umns in every village and town, aud as
sociations bringing both sexes together
for mutual intellectual Improvement,
should have every encouragement and
would be followed by the best results
Ssch cultivation oi the mind need not in
isrlerc with the necessary and useful la
pors oltllc farm; but render these labors,
otherwise in some cases, discouraging
and severe, light and cheerful. l1duca-
ton is good, measurable by no pccuni-
cry standard. AS the cultivation of the
CHEST attributes Of our nature; as fur
nishing resources Of pleasure and graft.
Ecation in the solitary and the cloudy
hours Of life; rs fitting US 10 he more
useful and to DO more good 10 our fellow
beings than Ly any other means we can
adopt, as enabling us TO use to the best
advantage the power which God has fur
sished, Of providing for ourselves and
those dependent on US; us increasing our
self respect, and saving men from low
pleasures and pursuits; and as securing
y position Of responsibility and influence
III socety-education, in the best and
most enlarged sense Of the term, canno,
lie too much regarded by the rural and
classes. There is indeed no
l,indrnncs in tbs way, why our farmers
md their children should not bc among
Inc best Informed persons in tho commu-
Henry Coleman.