The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1859-04-14
Agricultural Colleges.


The article upon orr first page cnti
tied Model and Experimental Farms
was left upon our table in our absence
with the request that the same be pub
lishel. We comply with the request in
order that all parties may have hear
Ing upon the subject of Agricult ural
Colleges, which now much engages the
attention of the citizens Of eur county
as we'll as others throughout the State.
We must openly declare our views If
the article by saying it consists Of lis
sue Of weak, fiinscy efforts from the
brain of one who-ljudsiug from bis ar
ticlc-has never soilcl his fingers by
wedding his mothers onion bed Wheth
or the last be true or not, it matters but
ittle, for it is evident to every reasoncr,
that the article contains but little that
would prove true in practice and i
written ly one who is Incapable Of draw
ing correct conclusions from given
rrcn.i.os.
In speaking of The experiments made
upon an experimental Farm, he owns
that some Of them might afford better
results than the ordinary practices, but
says: The maJosiy Of them must from
the nature Of the case. yield results less
favorable than the be practices at pres
cnt adopted " n saying anything up
on this absurlity 70 our readers, we feel
ike one who is cndeayoring to teach
another his alphabet who already knows
Low to read because the thing is SO pal
pahly Absurd, that every calm reason
CT will disbeleye it, 1t is the same
kind Of reasoning as that which any one
would advance, if carfiage and black
smith shops had never been introduced,
by saying that any man could make his
carriages as we'll as could be done at the
shops.
Now these shops have not only skill
ful hands which have long been accus-
toned to their business, but variety Of
tools and machinery by which they are
enabled to do their work in a better
manner, in less time and at far less cost
all things being considered than the
farmer could DO it for himself.
And so it's With an experimental farm.
having all the necessary implements, va
ric.y Of soils, manures &C., they are en-
abled to make more thorough expert
ments than any farmer in the County.
Thus far the comparison between the
shop and the farm is perfect; but anoth-
CIR view of them both will show the
great superiority, even Of the latter over
the former.
For while piece of work turned off,
or completed at the one will serve for
only single individual, in general; the
other gives the benefit Of each and eve.
ry result Of its labor to thousands and
millions.
The author quite plainly intimates
that all experimental farms should be re-
muneratiye and self sustaining, which,
facts have already proven, they cannot
be, and hence they shoule be given up
as useless experiments themselves.
Here lies the stumbling block, against
which SO many Of our blind reasoners,
upon the utility and practicability Of a
State Agricultural College and Model or
Experimental farm, stumble.
The objects of such College arc two
fold. First, to educate those youths
who can be admitted and intend in after
life, to make farming their business in
those branches of learning which is
most essential for them to know Such
as chemistry, botany, geology &c. Sec
ond, to report annually, the results Of
their experiments. Many Of the States
in our Union, now haye Normal Schools
or State Universities, to the partial sup
port Of which is appropriated a portion
Of the State funds, for which they re-
ceive in return. no money, no funds
no direct returns, except an increas-
cd intelligence Of portion Of her
people. which all are now willingto con