New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-07
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.


the character who has most cast his influence
over modern times and is quoted for imitation.
The glory Of Cincinnatus, however, was based
upon simple economic law Of the State in which
he lived no Roman at that time being allowed to
hold more than seven acres Of ground, aud that
Obliged him to cultivate his own estate with his
own hands-to be a practical, working farmer.
Although the age was deemed barbarous, yet
such a system almost forbid slavery, and con-
tinued. would have extinguished it; for only one
In fifteen of the population was held in bondage.
When. however, these early simplicties were
destroy ed and conquest aud annexation became
the shibboleth Of party, no second Cincinnatus
appeared and slaves grew to be one half of the
population, and were only held in subjugstiOn by
armies which eventually ruined the empire.
From the Punic War to the present day, the con-
dition of European farmer deriving his ciyiliza-
ton mainly through the Roman conquest has
more resenbled that he held under the Decline
and Fall of Rome than under the Cincinnatian age.
The result is that the great mass Of European
cultvators serfs Doors, and it is held to be
sufficient in Europe that the plowman should not
know much more than the horses he drives-his
business being to work in the circle of low and
blind routine, ignorant of the economies of the
planet whence he draws his daily bread. The
exception to this ia the gentleman farmer, the
parsonage who has generally house in London
or Paris, Berlin or st. Petersburg, and occupies
himself with sort Of dilletante superintendent
over his broad acres in the same way the planter
looks after his slaves. But ID the Disgrace of
gentleman farmers, it is not the hereditary own
ers Of the soil who make speeches at fairs upon
the dignity of farming, at the same time taking
good care never to put their hands to the pOw-
handle, and despisiBg all labor, whether agrcul-
tural or mechanical-it is not to these that agri-
culture is indebted for its most salient improve
merts and pro nises-but to the razOrstrop
maker, Mechi of London, who, diVerting his
gains from trade, turns them into high farming,
and Sstounds and delights the lords OF the soil
with his projections and successes.
The prevalent ignorant bOOrishness and stupid
ity of the practical agricuturists-the veritable
labOrers Of Europe-is Of course vastly chan ged
in this country; and without praising farmers as
do politicians seeking their votes, we may say
that the intelligence of many American agricultu-
rists is quite contrast TO the want of that COM
modify in Europe and its existence to its pres
ent extent induces US to offer few words on the
necessity of educating our farmers in scientific
msnner for their benefcent calling.
Itmay as we'll be candidly confessed that up
till very recent period there has been little or
e. Al
laws ofNature, which in various forms-of geol-
Ogy, chemistry, miueralogy, botany, dynsmcs,
ply sOlogy and meteorolog the fruitful
prosecution of agriculture. The European peas
ants traditions and mere routine have too large.
y prevailed, instead of spirit of bold investiga-
tion and tireless experiment. Else we would find
that the farmer was rated among the learned pro-
fessions, and the siekenng fooery of our colleges
speaking of law, medicine and divinity as the
three learned professions, would cease; and
high or highest on the list of learning would be
be who could name every tree and plant, discuss
soils superficial and internal, be wise on the
breeding and diseases of animals- on the struc.
ture Of mills, machinery and tools or the changes
and influences Of weather, and on the nature Of
whatever food necessary to the constitution of
man, and on the laws which regulate the wealth
Of the State.
The time has now arrived when, through the
cheap Newspaper press our farmers may be made
sensible Of abandoning the inheritance of iguor.
ance which has grown out of the depraved rela.
tons Of the aborer to the soil as prscticed geuer
ally in Europe. Instead Of being satisfied that
their children should grow up ignorant Of the va