Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-01
AGRICULTURAL.
FARMERS, COLLEGES.

DR.. Holmes, the excellent Editor of the Maine
Farmer, talks as well as he writes, and he does
both admirably. In recent address before the
West Lincoln Society, of Maine, he urged the
necessity of just such school as the Oho Az
rieuiturai College. We hope that Farmers and
Farmers sons will read what follows
"There is no branch Of industry-no trade or
profession under heaven, that calls into its use
so many varied elements of the natural world.
and by Consequence opens a wider field for re-
search and broad philosophical investigation
than that Of the humble and too much despsed
farmer despised, not because they lack utility
NOT because there is anything mean or low in
their occupaiion--but because they have not
respected themselves sufficiently, and made those
efforts, or used the appliances that others have
to improve their minds, and to elevate thereby
their profession, to the same level, OF a little
higher, than that of others
No other business can be carried on with any
degree of success, with so little knowledge as
farming and at the same time no business can
be so greatly, | may say immeasurably, benefit
ed by thorough scientific knowledge as farming.
This position may need little explanation.
The bene6cnce of Divine Providence is such
that the earth is always producing something
Even where the foot of nan has never irod. or
where the hand Of man has never wrough, herb
age and fruit of some sort or other spring I'd
and grow. The same natural energy Of the soil
is seen oftentimes struggling against the mall
practice of ignorant and bad farming, and in
spite of the obstacles which mistaken culliva-
uon throws In nature way, she ofcniimes pro-
duces fair crop. Heace many have wrongful
ly inferred that farmer needed no Learning,
that study and research, and the improvement
OF his mind, and that mind, when improved, en-
ployed in the investigation Of causes connected
with the successful cultivation ofrhe soil, where
entirely useless. This belief and The conse-
quent practicing in accordace with that belief,
has for centuries kept the farmer down to the
condition of "a mere illiieraie drudge. If he
knew how to drive his oxen, and hold the pillow
harrow In his grain, and harvest ii " hen ripe
1t was enough, he had no business to consider
himself any higher in the scale of social life
than that of an animated machine, born 10 90
through routine of motions for q term of years
and then TO make room for new set Of similar
automaious destined to be worn out in the same
service.
Even the Son of Sirach,' in his aphorisn oil
wisdom, as given in one of the apochrypha
books of the Bible, seemed 10 DO imbued with
this lde, anda Significantly asks, How can he
get wisdom, that hodeih the pillow, and gloretl
in The goad, that driyeih oxen, and is occupied
10 their labors, and whose talk is of bullocks.
--EcclesiasficlS, 80. 25.
This is not wholly the case now, but there
are too many who remain ia the practice Of
such creed, II they do not fully adhere 10 the
doctrines. Hence, as ignorance always degrades
and knowledge elevaies, If the farmers choose
darkness rather than light, they must expect to
be considered as underlngs, and disregarded. il
not despised by those who by the improvement
Of their mind, have raised themselves to high.
er position in the scale of intellectual life This
the most sagacious Of farmers have seen, and
for the last hundred years have been laborinp
to In themselves up to that high point OF NOR
al philosophical and practical excellence, where
their profession naturally belongs, and where
The farmer ought TO qualify himself to stand.
In common general knowledge, the farmers
Of New England stand we'll, bat in the particu-
lar scientific knowledge oftheir profession COM
pared with the attachments of those in other
professions, they are far behind. The reason
IS obvious You have very generously assisted
these other professions in establishing insliiu-
lions where young men could be carefully and
thoroughly trained to those pursuits, but have
neglected to establish any thing of The kind
where the sons Of the farmer, who are desirons
Of similar exclusive training in their pursuits
could receive it.
You have aided in establishing law schools
and theological schools, aud medical schools
and military schools,-but where are your 40.
ricullural schools The eneouragemen, all
and support that you have given to the first
named are well-it is right, and you deserve
commentator for so doing. These things
ought " to have done, bat not to have left The
o'her undone,' And what is the result of This
negligence II gives them the advan,age-i,
puts them ia as much higher position than your-
selves, as they thereby obtain more knoviedoe
than yon have il strengthens their hands and
ou'ldS them up, and leaves you to prope alone
III ,ne acquisition of knowledge without The I'm.
era' ana substantial aids - hich you have uiyen
mem is II strange, therefore, that so many ar
uo"' ana as pirlng young man should leave. what
appsaIs' 70 them the dull animal pIoddines of az
.cuhusai labor, and rush into the o,her nro
,esSsons' where they see that Won von,seIvos
nave given them the preferences, md bs,ned
'".T 70 80 many manifest adyaniagesi
Inns neglect to provide such institutions c,,
nus VINO desire them, is direct injustice 10 the
A'Vs' numerous portion of the community.
LEI US illustrate this BY supposabls case