The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-06-02
Aarirultural.
Education of Farmers.


To the EaitrS 9ftbe Farm JournaI-It
is curious inquiry why the knowledge of
agriculture progresses so slowly; and why
it has yet attained so little in this Coun-
try. 1t is fact which we are all willing
to concede, that our productions are little
more than one half of what they should
be, and far less than what they are else
where and yet we seem to be content to
bide our time, and be satisfied with re-
suits, when accident or chance shall pro-
duce them or when we shall be jostled
from the "Old way" by the coming gen.
Grafton.
More than seven hundred years be-
fore the Christian era, Isaiah prophetical-
ly speaks of 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 COM
mon use, was not realized until the nine
teenth century; and then received with
doubling caution that well nigh dam
pened the experiment. The merchant
has carried his enterprise into every nook
and corner of the known-and | had al
most written, unknown world; the learn
ed have exerted their talents to the de-
velopment and practical application of
scientific principles, which has given to
their class an enyiable place in the esti-
nation of mankind the mechanic, avail
ing himself of these developments of sci
ence, has given them form and shape to
an extent which entities them to the ad-
miration of the world whilst the farmer
stands to gaze with mingled feelings of
doubt and astonishment, that all the 9TH
er pursuits Of life whirl so rapidly past
him.
What is the remedy for this admitted
evil? We answer-the education of far
mers' sons through the medium Of an ag-
ricultural school. We mean school to
educate boys in the art and science of
farming; and unless the farmers of our
State will zealously embrace this idea,
and avail themselves of it there is no hope
that their condition can be otherwise i'm
proved but by the lapse of time, and hap
pening of accidental circumstances.
There is no one of the colleges of this
country adapted to instruct farmer on
the contrary their system is calculated to
educate young men to state of entire
urftness for any such occupation. A boy
graduated at one of our literay institu-
tions has already spent that part of his
life which alone can be proftably employ
ed to learn the art of farming; and sci
ence without art, is still worse than art
without science. There are peculiar rea-
sons why farmers should take up this sub
ject and make it their own. 1t is a fact
with regard to the system upon which lit
erary institutions are at present based,
that their pecuniary resources are never
adequate to their necessities, however e.
economical they may be. The consequence
of this is that the education is made to cost
more than they, whorely upon the products
of 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 maturer judg-
ment intended him. And the boy should
return to the farm, it is to exhibit to his
disappointed father and brothers how lit
tie he knows of the business of his future
life.
In an Agricultural School the pupils
are laborerS of the farm as well as iu their
study; their bodies are educated to the
art, and their minds to the science of far
ming; whilst their hands are employed
in the work of the farm, their minds are
employed in the pursuit of the knowledge
of the reasons for what they do; there is
thereby an intermingling of theoretical
science and practical art, which is but to
be continued through their whole future
lives. The Institution thus becomes. in a.
measure, self-sustaining; and the price
of education may be reduced to mere
trife.
FREDK. WATTS.
Carlisle, April 20, 1853.