Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-06-30
OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1853,

the busy, hopeful future before US, TO
consult how we can best and most profit.
able use the resources in our possession,
and make the most of our condition as
an Agricultural community. We have
met together as society, as voluntary
association, composed mostly of farmers.
but coming out from and representing
various other interests. TO consult to-
ge,her, to exchange our opinions, TO form
a common fund of our individual ex.
perience & observation. to gather togeth.
er. develope and direct our public opin-
ion, SO that we may be able TO do our
part, as an agricultural people. in solving
the grea. problem of progression and i'm
provemens now occupying the earnest
mind and heari Of society. am most
happy to meet with you. to sympa,hize
with YOU, and to counsel With you on
such an interesting occasion, and about
so important an interest; and | am hap
py 30 make to you such suggestions as
can--not that | have any special rev.
cations to make, any original ideas to
suggest, or any favorite theories TO advo-
cate; bui because tits our object to make
suggestions; because the fact that we are
here for such purpose proves tina, sug-
gessions are in place. tina, the necessity
for improvement is felt, iha. in short we
are not 50 wise, 80 prosperous or so ln-
dependent of one another, or OF science,
as we ought and hope to be.
The first suggestion shall make to
YOU relates to that which lays a. the foun-
dation of all improvement in Agriculture
as in everything else. and that is educa-
tion-,he education of the farmer-Ag-
ricultural education, as a distinct. impor-
,ant and necessary branch of popular
education; one which has been too much
neglected in times past by not only the
farmers themselves. but by public opin-
ion. and by legislation. but which is now
becoming question of paramount i'm
por,ance with alt. The education Of
Farmers in the art and science of farm
ing, is one of the most interesting and
important problems OF the age. Richly
endowing that mass o. mimi which is
emplnyed i'm the business of produ cton.
with those treasures of Agricultural
learning. which science has been storing
up, experience has been testing, and leg
islstion has been gathering together, will
be, believe, one Of the greatest elories
o. The 10Th century. The idea of il,
the admission of its necessity, and as
pirations after il, on the part of farmers,
is OF itself and in this age and country
almost consnmmaiion. | look around
me upon the great ocean of mind, into
the great heari of society, and along the
solid ranks of the millions, out of whose
sweat, and toll, and labor. the necessities
and wealth of mankind are wrung, and
the most consoling and cheering thought
and discovery can make, is to find that
great ocean agitated; that great heart
moved, and those countless millions look.
ing up. hoping and aspiring after some.
thing better, wiser and more perfect.
scout the idea, once common, and aoU
perhaps lingering in the purlieus OF some
societies. tha, learning. the treasures ol
science, the choicest gifts and endow.
men,s of the mind, are for the rich. for
the children of leisure, for the schools
and the. professions only; and not for
the sons Of toll. Of industry and of prac-
tical business as well. May the idea be
ana,hema, and go back to dwell with the
unle,tered, superstitious, and unaspiring
past We will have none of il. Our
Farmers must be educated. Il is ne
cessity of the times. and of their posi-
tion; not that our Farmers as class
arc less intelligent than the other classes
out of the professions; but mean edu.
Gated more thoroughly in the theory as
well as the practice Of the art of culture;
educated in those laws with which they
have to do; those laws OF vegetable life.
Of soils. and of animal phy siology, which
are Of constant and necessary applica'
ton in their business. To this end
Agricultural schools and colleges, where
the sclence of Culture. Chemistry. Ge-
ology. Minerology. Botany. vegetable
and animal Ply siology. Zoology, Me-
chanics and kindred sciences shall be
taught and illustrated on model Farms,
in work shops. and with all the requisite
apparatus, are now urgently demanded
Public opinion calls for them, and legis
la,ion will have TO grant them. Every
thing is now tending to this end. Agri
cultural societies, Agricultural publica.
tions, Bureaus Of statistics and scientific
lectures, are but the precurcers. the frs
coruscasions of light, before the usherinl
in OF this millennium.
Farmers. Of Wapello, this is work
with which you have 10 do, and II has
strong clalms upon you. You owe 4
duty in this behalf to yourselves; 10 ths
interest with which you are connected
ard 70 society. How has farming
been regarded among YOU! Has il not
to great extent, been regarded as /
physical, rather than an intellectual pur
suit, and has not the education of Farm
ers, even in those branches of knowl
edge. which have practical application
TO Farming, been too much neglected!
think so. While mental attainments ant
learning have been deemed necessary fo
our doctors. our lawyers. our preachers
and our statesmen. much learning Tor tn
| oractical Farmer has heen deemed no