Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-12-30
Agritultural.
Education of Farmers.


1t is a curious inquiry why the knowledge of
agriculture progresses so slowly; and why it has
attained so little in this country. 1t is a fact
which we are all willing to concede, that our
productions are little more than one-haf OF what
they should be- and far less than what they are
elsewhere and yet wo seem to be content to
bide our time and be satisfied with results, when
accident or chance shall produce them, OF when
we shall be iostled from the g old way by the
coming generation.
More than seven hundred years before the
Christian era, Isaiah prophetically speaks of q
threshing machine, - behold [ will make thee
new sharp threshing instrument having teeth"
And yet this intimation, pointing out almost the
very structure of the machine now in so common
use, was not realized until the nineteenth centu-
ry; and then received with doubling caution
that well nigh dampened the experiment The
userchant has carried mis- enterprise into every
nook and corner Of the world-and l had almost
written, unknown world /; the learned have exer-
ted their talents TO the development and pTacti-
cal application Of scientific principles, which has
given 10 their class enviable place in the esti-
nation Of mankind the mechanic, ayailing him
self or these developments of science, has given
benz form snd shape to an extent which entities
them to the sdIniration of the world whilst the
farmer stands TO gaze with mingled feelings Of
doubt and astonishnent that all the other pur-
suits Of life whirl so rapidly past him.
What is the roJnedy for this admitted evil 3
We nswer-the education of farmers sons
through she medium Of agricultural school
We mean school TO educate boys in the art and
science Of farming and unless the farmers Of our
State will xealously embrace this idea and avail
themselves oft. there is no hope that their con-
dition can be otherwise improved but by the
lapse of time, and happening or accidental CIR
cumstances.
There is no one of the colleges Of this country
adapted 70 instruct farmer; on the contrary,
their system IS calculated to educate young men
10 state Of entire unfitness for any such occu-
patton. boy graduated at one Of our literary
institutions. has already spent that part of his
life which alone can be profitably employed to
learn the art Of farming and science without
art is still worse than art without science. There
are peculiar rensons why farmers should take up
this subject end make it their own. It is fact
with regard to the system upon which literary
institutions are at present based that their pecu-
mary resources are never adequate to their nc
ceSsltieS; however economical they may be-
The consequence of this is that education is made
TO cost moro than they, who rely upon the pro-
ducts ofa farm, are able TO pay. Besides, if this
expense should have been undergone, the farmer
has in all probability driven his son from all taste
Or desire to pursue the calling for which his ma
turor judgment intended him And if the boy
should return TO the farm it is TO exhibit to his
disappointed father and brothers how little be
knows Of the business of his future life
In an Agricultural School the pupils arc labor
crs on the farm as well as in their study their
bodies are educated to the art and their minds tc
The science Of farming; whilst their hands are
employed in the work Of the farm, their minds
arc employed IN the pursuit Of the knowledge Of
tho reasons for what they do there is hereby an
intsrmingins Of theoretical science and practical
art, which Is bat 70 be continued through their
whole future lives. The institution thus becomes,
N measure. selfsustaining: and the price Of
clucstion may ha reduced TO a mere trile.-Fred-
eF,s E-pty.