The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-05-04


mittee on Public Lands, to whom VIA
refeferred House Bill No. 2, being
bill donating public lands TO the severa
States and Territories, which may pro
vide colleges for the benefit of agrlcul
tue and the mechanical arts, and als'
10 whom was referred the memorial o
the State board of agriculture of tb'
State Of Indiana, asking grant Of land
in aid of agricultural colleges of tn,
several States. with sundry other me
MORALS and petitions on the same sub
ject, dissenting from the opinion of tho
majority of the committee, respectfully
submits the follC wing report
Statesmen and sages of all countries
and of all times, have constantly proclaim.
cd the truth that the cultivation Of the
soil is the source, and the products of ag'
ricultural industry tho foundation stone, OF
al national prosperity; that the earth is
tho very storehousc from which is drawn
the prosperity, wealth, and even the exist
ence o. every nation.
If this great storchouse of nature should
be closed, and the earth refuse to yield
h2r fruits for one lrcf year, all animal
life must perish and become extinct; and
how ofton do VIC have occasion to depore
the effects Of even partial failure in ag-
ricutural products, and that confined to a
limited extent of country9 1t is, perhaps,
more especially true of our own country
than of any other, tn agricultural in.
dustry and enterprise is the source and
handspring of national rrosperity, and
that when that interest iangushes, all 9TH
ers feel the deeterious effects.
These truths being universally acknowl
edged. and as the undersigned believes
self:evident, it would seem that this great
interest, on which so much depends, sho'd
receive the fostering care and attention of
all governments, and especially of our own,
based as it is upon the principle that "sov-
are instituted for the benefit of
the governed"
The increased and constantly increasing
benefits resulting from the intelligent ap,
plicat;on of science to art in the dissent
nation Of knowledge by means of tho
'linliug press, in the increased facilities
and speed Of tra"cling since the applica-
ion Of steam rs 4 propcIIng power, and
n the lightning speed with which we hold
communication with our friends through
he Telegraph, all tcrd TO demand of this
'gc more attention and encouragement to
his great interest, this very nursing moth.
n Of all other interests and pursuits.
About onc.half Of the entire free male
population Of the United States over IF
cen years Of ago, according 10 the census
# 1850, are directly Engaged in tho cul-
ivaIion Of tho earth, and largo proper
ion Of the balance arc indirectly so en-
'loycd; y,t his large pant of our popula-
on are sololiouSly less instructed in those
ranches Of scicntfc knowledge directly
onnccted with the proper and economical
of their own pursuits than
ny other class Of citizens in their peculiar
The undersigned is unwilling to believe
hat the cuitiva'ors Of the soil arc ms a
lass, naturally los intelligent or less able
nth the same facilities to acquire knowl-
dge than others, and Of necessity must
tribute their lack of scientific and pract-
al information 10 the want Of the oppor-
unity of obtaining it..
The establishment of sch ,ols and colleges
Or the instruction of youth in scientific
nd practical agriculture, although of COM
arativcly recent origin, and as yet but
tile more than commenced in this coun-
ry, is not an experiment. Such schools
nd other institutions of a high grade have
cen established bv most of the European
ovenmcnts, and their utility and impor-
lnce fully vindicated.
In Russia the subject of agricultural
1ucation is committed to the charge Of
ne minister of public domains, who thro'
is subordinate officers has the supervision
the whole matter Eight colleges of
igE order are established in the empire,
assessing 2s,22O acres of land, an cndow-
lent Of $4,000 each, and an annual sup.
ort from the government of sll,25O each.
n ls49, they contained an aggregate of
06 students; moro than fifty minor
,hools and model farms arc established in
arious parts of European Russia. In adj
iiion To these, are various special schools
" instruction in some special branch of
griculture, Ms flax culture, &c., &c.
The government encourages by liberal
Of the public funds the I'm
erial Independent Society of Rural Econ
my, which is charged with the duty Of
reports, periodicals, and other
orks on agricultural subjects. The socie-
' also sends agents over the empire and
broad in search Of scientific and practical
formation, to be again disseminated by
le society through its publications.
In Prussia, agricultural education is per-
APPS most thoroughly Incorporated with
leir public administration.
Prussie has five agricultural colleges of
high order, twenty eight elementary
'llcges Of lower grade, and fifty-seven
'ecial schools for instructions in particular
randhes of culture. There are seventy
so model and experimental farms in the
ngdom. In these schools and colleges
e taught the various systems of husband
!, farm management, book keeping, cul-
vation Of arabic and grass lands, horti-
lltural and agricultural technology, me-
ianics, natural philosophy, botany, uin-
'alogy, knowledge Of soils, agricultural
,emistry, veterinary surgery, breeding,
Using and management Of animals, and
fact every branch Of education necessary
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