New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-25

The education Of farmers and mechanics for pro-
fcieIcy and excellence in their several vocatens-
this is proposition which the most enlightened
communities accept but slowly. You can more
readily convince any one else than an average
farmer Of the necessity of educating youth to
skn and success in Agriculture He who Will
spend thousand dollars freely on the education OF
BIS frst son for lawyer, and as much on that of
bis second for minister, would consider it an alb
surd prodgality to invest three hundred in qualify
ing his third to succeed him on the farm. II gave
my two older boys" he casually remarks, "a good
education, and shall leave the farm to my young
est"-supposing that is the right way to square of
the account 1t will take us some time to convince
him that, had he bestowed good education also on
the latter-not good lawyers or minister's, but
good farmers educ pn-he would have done better
with half the farm than he now will with the whole
of it. In other neutrality-suspicious. should be
liberal and may be learned profession. No mans
experience can be wide enough, ripe enough to
teach him just what to do in every contingency
how To fit land for profitable cultivation, plant
trees prune vines, destroy all manner of insects,
&c. No man ever yet carried in his head all
the knowledge that goes TO the making up OF
complete farmer, but he who is master of all the
experience Of other farmers that has been placed
on record must inevitably be better instructed than
if lie trusted to his own experience solely. sem
sble young farmer will gladly have an observing
old farmer at his elbow, to tell him in any emer-
cency what was successfully done before unlet
-. An1 -hy 10 nnt rho trrit.
ten experience of such farmer nearly as valuable
as if it were orally given
OF course, bockheads and chariatans write books
on Agriculture as on every thing else; but not they
aoIe nor are all the false statements and mistaken
deductions of this class confined to books, by a
great deal. An inexperienced farmer may be badly
advised by book, and SO be may by his neghbor.
The fault in either case is IN the matter, not the
manner.
Schools of Agriculture have existed for years in
Europe and have done good there; but not so
much as they should have done and must yet do.
Government and War absorb public interest and
ambition in most European countries, so that
Agriculture is deemed the business of serfs. Thus
recent report from of the great French Schools
Of Agriculture Wanted that things had gone for
ward so we'll there that most of the pupils of CON-
petent years had enlistedi in the Army In Russia
Austria, Prussia the Military spirit is sedulously
fostered, to the. de'rment of Agriculture. 1t is
better in Great Britain, but the ignorance of the
laborpg ella and the ABSORPTION of the most active
minds in Traffic tel against the general diffusion of
Agricultural knowledge. In short, this is the
country for progressive and scientific Agriculture.
Of the PeDnsy lsaDia Agricultural College, now
ia active preparation, We have already spoken. It
!. located in Centre County, on an admirable farm
in or just beside the Cumberland Valley, very cen
traly and elgiby, and will soon be ready for the
reception of pupils.
Our own State Agricultural JIlege was, on the
4'h Of September last, located at Ovid, Seneca
County, just between the village of OVid and Sen
,ea,Lake, hardly half mile from either. 1t con-
ssts Of go acres, or little Than square mile
OF good land fronting on the main road from the
village to the steamboat landing; includes five
dwelling houses, saw and rude grist mil, with
fair water power. The sol Is OF varied though
generally good quality; there are 100 acres OF fine
timber and good limestone quarry thereon. The
total purchase money was si3, 800, or So per
scre, which, for land happily located, cannot be
esteemed high. The State gave $4,000 70 found
this College on condition that individuals would do
as much; it is said that S47, 600 We're subscribed
60 secure the location Of the College, in and around
Ovid alone. Judge Samuel Cheever OF Saratoga,
~. President Of the State Agricultural Society, Is
Tr,sldebt elect Of the College, ana is commented
Is farmer Of large and successful experience IL
Is Tut jus. to add that cur new Governor, J'hn
l. King, long known as spirited pro-
Il otter OF Agricultural Improvement, is Jealous
advocate of the College, dpresided oter the meet
ing Of the Board If Trustees 1t which the location
was settled.
We mos. heartily wish well to this College, yet
moi without apprehension and dissrust. Two dan.