Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-05-27
Mr.. MorriII,s Land Bill.

One Of the best bills introduced during
the present session of Congress, is hat Of
Mr. Morrill,, of Vermont, giving to each
State quantity of land-20 900 acres foi
!. each Senator and Representative. for the
purpose of agricultural education. We
deem this not only one Of the best bills,
but one whose ultimate effects upon the
country can scarcely be overratcd. When
we bear in mind how much the prosperity
of our people depends upon she amount Of
cur agricultural produce. it behoveS us to
do what we can to afford our farmers the
means of acquainting themselves with the
most approved methods of agriculture. 1t
is well established fact, that throughout
our country the SCIENCE of agriculture has
received but little attention. With the ex-
ception of small portions Of few States,
the old methods of farming are still in
vogue. Asa necessary consequence, We
find that the crops are decreasing. and, the
lands being worn out, the farmer sells, and
buys new. or else emigrates to the West.
II we look at the New England States,
where it is supposed that from the general
intelligence of the people the modern dis
coveries IN agricultural science would most
likely be known, we find that the crops du-
ring the last ten years instead Of increasing
have materially diminished. While in
1910 there were raised IN these States D.
ul4. III bushels Of wheat, In 80 there were
raised only l.090. l3o; and the difference
IL the potato crop was nearly sixteen mill
Ion bushels. In New York there has been
decrease IN the wheat crop during the
same period Of about one-half. In Vir-
giris. Tennessee and North Carolina, the
average wheat crop in 80 was seven bush
els Per acre. and in Massachusetts it was
sixteen. The new lands Of Texas and Ar
kansas yielded in so about 700 rs of cot.
ten per acre, while the average in the fields
Of South Carolina was 800 Hs. We might
cite numerous other instances to prove that
ok present system Of agriculture is ruin
gus - The laai. and 81 the same time more
expensive than that IN which the modern
discoveries and Improvements are intro
du,ei. Many Of cur farmers have refused
70 try tie new system, because they do not
believe n what tLey term book farming"
and n their ignorance they neglect to read
u What has been done, and what is now
hsihg dcne under this very system. a lit
tle enlightenment would prove to them that
they have received a much smaller return
FOR their labor than they would have done
had they not yielded to their prejudices.
We have only TO compare the farming Of
this country with that Of the old world to
perceive the difference in the yield Of land
when properly managed There every at
tention has been given to agricultural sci
snce, and agricultural colleges and schools
are maintained, where the latest discover
les are made known, and where experiments
are constantly being made England and
France, the latter especially, have done
much to spread among their people a
knowledge of the best methods of farming.
In some of our States much has been done
during the past few years towards diffusins
among the people better information re-
garding the cultivation of the soil. Schools
have been established in several, and nu-
merous agricultural periodicals and papers
are published, in which the improved raeth-
dds are explained and advocated. The
good which has been effected by these means,
IS. however. comparatively small; but al
ready enough has been done to prove the
vast benefits which must accrue from aban-
doning the present system What we now
need IN order to furnish our farmers the
means of acquiring the information neces-
sary to enable them to cultivate their lands
IN the most profitable manner, is the estab-
llshnent In each State of sufficient num-
Der of agricultural schools or colleges, and
the means of effecting this is provided for
by the bill Of Mr.. Morrill,. These schools
or colleges once in operation. the farmer
would soon perceive the benefits to be de- !
rived from them. With the knowledge !
which he would there acquire. he would be |,
enabled to increase his crops The land
which he had exhausted, and to which he /
was adding yearly. would be again made to
yield proft2bly. Instead of being COM
PEELED to sell, and to migrate to a new coun-
try. his farm would be made to bring him |
IN a return fully adequate to the capital in
vested; and his children would be enabled /
TO remain and settle upon the land in his |
neighborhood, IN place of going West
One OF the evils of the present system is
that which compels the separation of fami-
lies-for the children viii not stay where
the parents can scarcely make living
Well did Mr.. Morrill, say, that the passage
of the bill would do something
TO prevent the dispersion of our pop
ulation, and to concentrate it around the
best lands of the country-places hallowed
by church spires, and mellowed by the in
huence of time-where the consumer will
be placed at the door of the producer; and
thereby
Something to obtain higher prices for
all sorts OF agricultural productions; and
'.Something to increase the loneliness of
the American landscape. Scientific cul-
tnre is the sure precursor of order and
beauty"
The bill provides that whenever there
are public lands in the State worth 81, 25
per acre. the value to be appraised by the
Governor. the portion of land to which the
State is entitled shall be taken from them.
In those States where there are no public
lands of such value. the Secretary of the
Interior is to Issue land scrip equal to the
amount of land to which each is entitled; ,
this is to be sold by them and the proceeds
k 81 =