Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-04-28
THE DEMOCRAT,
P. A. ROY, Editor.
Agricultural Colleges.

determined to establish a school of AZ
rlculturc near that city, and though we
are accustomed to look upon our neigh
bors of the Ever-faithful Isle as being
rather behind the times, we must ac
knowledge that this step looks like a
very considerable one in the right di
rection. Why should not agriculture be
elevated to the rank Of science? We
have law schools, medical schools, theo-
logical seminaries, military academies,
etc. Of all the occupations of men, the
most important, probably, to the susie
nance OF life, to the good order of society,
and to the real strength of nation, is
the tllllng OF the soil; and yet how sell
dom DO we find an institution devoted to
the instruction of youth in its profound
and varied principles! Most persons
seem. to regard it as mere art to be
learned, like blacksrnithing, by consid-
cradle practical experience, irrespective
OF books. The fact, though, is far diff
ferent
This is quite evident if we reflect for
a moment on the number of abstrusc
sciences, the knowledge of whose prin-
clpes is, to great extent, necessary to
thorough acquaintance with agricul-
ture. Chemistry must enlighten the in
telllgent farmer as to the gaseous, solid
and liquid elements combining to form
any one of his products. Geology must
assist him in the knowledge of his soil
so as to judge what manures and ingre-
dlents are necessary to temper and fer
tlllze it. Mechanics will enable him to
select the best machines and instruments
for his purposes, whilst knowledge of
physiology and moral philosophy is in
dispensable, especially if he be plant
er, to ensure health and happiness among
! those under his charge.
We need not imagine for moment
that these things are unnccessary-that
we are making money fast enough with
out them. The barren fields of the Old
Dominion tell us that the strongest soil
can be exhausted by d course Of thrift
less husbandry. The crowds of planters
going Westward with their negroes,
from all the Atlantic cotton States, are
flying from worn-out fields to repeat the
same process Of exhaustion among the
fresh forests and prairies of newer
country. Some localities, it is true, so
rich that planters say they cannot pick
all their cotton. But even if that is so,
that very soil will eventually fail under
a false system Of cultivation, and in the
meantime the propretors might have
profited far more by their noble natural
advantages, with scientific knowledge |
of stock raising, of variety in crops, and
of the buildings and other equipments of
a plantation.
It is the truth, also, that much has
been accomplished for the diffusion of
this species of knowledge by the numer-
Gus agricultural journals published in
this country. But one can hardly ac-
quire familiarity with scientific princi-
pies by reading disconnected essays of
this sort. For those who have already
learned such principles by course Of
hard study, this reading Affords, of
course, many valuable hints; but for
others they are mere recipes, which they
do not understand in their reasons, and
which they frequently misapply in prac-
tice. A still greater bar to their efficacy
is the secret mistrust with which people
view everything which they have not
seen tried. They acknowledge it reads
well, and think they will apply it, but
that is the end of it. Let, however, one
truly scientific agricuturist appear in
and how magical is the
effect. 1t is far more immediate and
than would be that of food
Of periodicals, valuable as they undoubt
edly are. When men see, they believe,
and the knowledge that one man, with
the same force as their own, and with
the same physical conditions, had far
them all in results, would ex-
cite a spirit of emulation sufficient to
effect revolution. They would never
be contented till they had adopted all
the peculiarities which had given him
over them.
A few such men, sent annually into
The ranks of the planting community,
would soon work a great and happy
change in the aspect of things. But |
now are they to be formed? How is the
good seed to be obtained that it may be ,
scattered? Evidently, one would think, !
Is lawyers and doctors are formed by :
liligent study of appropriate matters
'nder competent professors. This would 4,
mount to the formation of a college, or !
class. An institution of this kind :
would probably be found quite renune :
ative to private enterprise, but it might, ,
,lso, be considered an object of sufficient !;
ublic Importance to merit the attention !,
nd patronage of the State. An endow- !;
1ent of such an institution on small
Gale, would not involve much expense,
nd would probably be as advantageous