Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-12-16
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
To this important subject the editor of The
Marlboro Gazette in his last, devoles a
column, in which is presented irresistible
arguments to prove the absolute necessity,
OF furnishing the rising generation Of Agri-
culturists with adequate scientific knowledge
to enable them to keep pace with the rapid
progress making in other pursuits. 'These
latter" says he shave been marching on
ward toward perfection, and in their pro-
gross they have, er necessitate, dragged
with them Agriculture. If noble horse
and a stupid ass be worked together the
former will drag with him The latter whe,h-
er he be or be no, willing. The smile is OBJ
pious."
"We desire TO see Agricultural Chemistry
introduced into our Schools, and we desire
TO see in the hands Of our embryo farm
ers plain and comprehensive manuals of
the principles and laws which govern the
soils they are to cultivate. We wish to see
these principles and ,hei, importance grow
apace with Latin and Greek and Algebra
nay, more, we wish TO see them take pre-
cedence. 1t is grand mistake to suppose
that 'any one can be farmer He who
desires TO devote himself TO this noblest Of
all calllngs must serve an apprenticeship to
1t. lis mysteries are a, leas, as profound as
those of any other calling, and they require
as much study to make them plain. No
one thinks of practising medicine until he
has fsmiliariZed himself with its mysteries.
And yet we shall see a dashing youth bid
sdieu 10 his alma mailer, take possession Of
the paternal acres and commence their cul-
tva.ion before he knows plough from a
corn shelter. In nine cases out of ten bank
rup,cy is the result of such folly, and the
acres pass into the possession of strangers
Any ones observation will verify this re-
suit.
AT The last meeting Of the Maryland Ag
ricui'ural Society, the committee on AgIi
cultural Education reported in favor of The
sending memorial to GU, Legislature at its
next session urging the endowmen, of a pro-
fessorship Of Agricultural Chemistry in ST.
Johns College, Annapolis. There could
be no better iniliatory step than this. There
is no College in Maryland better qualified
by its advantages for The furlherance of this
important cause. Citizens of all parts Of
Mary land are constantly visiting Annapolis,
and adults as we'll as youths could reap the
benefits Of such sn endowment at little ex-
Pense. The College Laboratory has been
used BY our State Chemist, and he pronnun-
10 ,f III
senla,ives ia the Legislature ccul.., attend The
lectures, witness The analyses and carry home
with them The practical results Of scientific
Investigations. But this is not the only sd-
vantage possessed over other Colleges by
St. Johns. The College is required to ed
ucate, free of expense, o ee..-+.s -rr.sr1rt-r of
youths from each county in the State. By
this means a nucleus could be formed in
each county for The dissemination Of Agri-
cultural knowledge. These youths, thus
educated, could return to their counties and
become, in their turn, teachers and thus, in
course Of time we should have an universal
system of Agricultural Education, combin-
cd with the usual departments Of lnslruc-
tons.
1--WE urge upon our countvmen, therefore,
and particularly upon our Delegates to the
Legislature, the importance of this subject.
We hope that the ensuing session Of our
Legislature will no, be permitted 10 adi ourn
wilhou. making efectuaI provisions for the
accomplishment, of this great object. No
one can fail 10 see its importance, and no
one can otjec. TO the proposed plan. Its,
a, least, worthy a fair trial. The present
prosperous condition Of our State finances
will cause the ,riding required outlay to be
upfelt, and The enormous increase in the pro-
duc,iveness Of our soil, will, in but few years,
repay in thousand fold any expenditure
made for the purpose.
Gin this connection we may add, for the
benefi, Of those of our readers who may be
inclined to compete for it, tina. the commit
tee above referred TO recommend that pre-
MUM be awarded, at the next meeting of
The STATE Agricultural Society, for the bes.
essay ON Chemical Agriculture by which
our farmers may be enabled to apply the
proper tests and TO use the necessary re-
agents to determine the constituents Of soil"
ST.. JOINS CoLLEGE.-We learn from
the Annapolis Gazene that portion of the
extensive cabine. Of minerals belonging TO
this institution has been arranged with ex-
press reference to the agricultural resources
Of Maryland. !. is also stated that the learn
ed President, Dr.. Humphreys, will deliver
course of Lectures, this winter, on Geolo-
pv: and explain his methods of analysis, to
any of the public men who may desire to
understand and to apply them. ]! is his
opinion, ,ha, the farmer is not educated for