Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-02-18
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

! AGhlCUIII RAL COlLEGES
There is nothing more important to the
coming generations of our country than a
thorough scientific agricultural education
In the present day, with our abundance Of
land waiting to be occupied and cultivated,
we are in no danger Of running short in pro-
duction of the ncccssaries Of life. and for years
to come, perhaps, we shall not only have an
abundance, but also 10 spare. But as our
lands are worn out and our population in
creases, this state of things will change, and
the time will come when we shall want more
than twelve bushels Of wheat 10 the acre TO
supply our own wants. Our present mode of
cultivation tends 10 lessen instead of increase
the quantity per acre. Half Of the once fer
/ tile fields Of Virginia are so worn out as to
be literally worthless without the aid of sci
cntlic management. The yield Of wheat and
corn in Western Now York and Ohio are di-
minishing every year, and even in New Eng
land our agricultural success is nothing to
boast Of when compared with the results Of
/ English culture. When free trade in corn
was established in England the prospect for
| English farmers was most discouraging, but
| by the aid Of science they have overcome all
difficulties, and are most successful competi-
/ t'i' WEN 'Hi 'H'dV dlA VII BllA ldHu7t ny AlN
aid of science they have raised the production
Of wheat to thirty-six bushels per acre against
ten TO twelve bushels in this country, and so
of every edible which sustains the life Of man
or beast. How long we can 90 on satisfied
90 tread the road our fathers trod. scraping
/ instead Of cultivating--impoverishing instead
/ Of enriching the soils a question which
time will answer. and we think not in the
very distant future.
Entertaining these views, nothing has Civ
en- us more pleasure than to see the steady
| progress which has been made in the
attempt to appropriate portion Of the public
lands to the purposes of agricultural educa-
/ ton. Through all the turmoil of slavery,
tariff, free trade, revenue and appropriations,
this subject has not been lost sight Of and to
the credit Of all parties, be it said. it has thus
far met with no serious opposition, except
from the cotton growers. The questions be-
fore the country, which swallow up the time
and attention of Congress, are each and all OF
great importance, but no one, or even all OF
them. in our estimation, so far as the prosper
ty and welfare of the future is concerned.
will claim precedence Of this The bill be-
fore Congress, which has passed the House,
and more recently tine Senate and which on
ly now wants the concurrence of the House
i'm some not very important amendments made
by the Senate, provides that public lands shall
be appropriated TO each State in the proper
ton of 10000 acres tor each Senator and Re-
preventative, the proceeds of which are to be
invested ia stocks bearing not less than FIVE
per cent interest. to constitute fund -
"The interest of which shall be inyiolably
appropriated. by each State which may take
and claim the benefit of the endowment for
the support and maintenance of at least one
college. whore the leading object shall be.
without excluding other scientific or classical
studies, to teach such branches of learning as
are related to agriculture and the mechanic
arts, in such manner as the Legislatures of
the States may respectively prescribe, in or
der TO promote the liberal and practical edu-
cation of the industrial classes in the several
pursuits and professions in life
This distribution would be worth to Mass
achusotts some $500, O00-formng a necleus
which would lead TO the establishment Of an
institution worthy of the State, through which
may be introduced all the improvements al
ready made in agriculture and the mechanic
arts in Europe, with such additions as may
and certainly will be added from time to time
by Yankee ingenuity science and skill.
Whatever else the present Congress may
do or leave uudone, we trust it will pass this
measure and thus leave upon the statute
book one imperishablc monument Of far-see-
ing patriotism Boston Journal