Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-11-18

Ia our State It is claimed that there is al
ready too many colleges, and that the exist
ing colleges are in straitened circums ances.
At the present time it may be true, but can
not believe that these institutions, that have
existed for over half a century, have not seen
darker days than the present, during their es-
tablisnment and growth and ! believe they
will pass through their endorsements, and
when peace shall again smile on our country,
they will be in more prosperous condition
than ever before | believe it to be for the
true interest Of education in the State TO let
the existing colleges remain as they are.
They have certainly educated more young
men than if there had been but one college in
the State ! do not believe 1t true, as the
gentleman from Chester Mr.. Rounds) re-
marked. that students have been driven out
of the State to get better facilities for an ed
ucation at institutions more uChly endowed
than our State Colleges. There is no College
in New England where student can gradu-
ate with better attainments than at our own
State Colleges.
/ The farmers Of our State have long needed
an institution where they may place their
sons after receiving a common school educa-
! ton where they will be taught the sciences
! which relate to agriculture, and have their
! habits of industry preserved, so that, after
/ receiving their education. they will 90 back
to the old homestead, to improve, enrich and
beautfy IT,
I Farmers sons, who enter upon a course Of
study in our classical colleges, perhaps with
the intention Of returning to the farm after
graduating, almost invariably before the
/ course is finished decide to study some pro-
fession. -Four years Of study without labor,
at that period Of life when tastes and habits
are formed, will almost inevitably produce a
dissemination to perform the work and duties
} of the farm and the student who pursues a
college course seldom returns to the farm,
and those who, after failure in profession
AXE to farming, make but fourth-rste farm
ers. The time spent in college was about the
same As lost time TO them, 50 far as the know
ledge they acquired was beneficial to them as
! farmers. They choose farming out of neces-
shy, while they have lost their disposition TO
labor and their taste for agriculture, by
spending four years N studies that did not
render them familiar with the principles VI
agriculture.
would locate the college in some one oil
the foe farming towns In the State. Many
towns would no doubt erect suitable build.
An Agricultural College should be for the
complete education Of farmers and mechanics
the industrial classes--W here not only sci.
ence is taught, but science and It's application
to the arts of life; where theory and practice
are studied together a course tina, would
give instruction in the department OF labor a.
well rs science and, means Of ilus,ra-
ting this scientific and practical study, the
b B. 20
farm and stock I consider this necessary
appendage. The New York Agricultural
College, the Iowa, Michigan, and Pennsy Viva
MIA Agricultural Colleges, have farms con-
nected Eith them. | would have a full course
embrace not less than four years, and in or
der to combine physical with intellectual ed
ucatlon. | would have every student devote,
each day, from two 20 three hours 20 labor
upon the farm. would nave them pursue those
studies that relate 90 agriculture, such as agri
cultural chemistry geology, practice. farming
botany, Horticulture, animal and vegetabi,
physiology, and breeding and care Of domestic
an mails. While pursuing those branches of
study relating TO zoology and animal physi
ology, they should have the care aud feedihl
OF the stock, where they could learn the prin'
clpes Of breeding, rearing and Management
Z Of domestic animals, the value Of diheren
breeds for particular purposes, and the rcla
, tive value OF different Kinds Of feed. While
studying botany and horticulture, / woulc
have them spend their hours OF labor in th,
garden and orchard, where they would have
practice ia all the methods Of propagaunl
. trees and plants, planting, transplanung anC
subsequent mauag sment OF them.
While studying agricultural, chemistry and
practical farming, they should be on the
farm, where they would receive instruction
IN laying out d farm, methods OF culture O
various grain crops, preparation, prererying
and composing manure,, draining fencing
and all the various manual operations Of IA,
farm.
BY such a varied course Of study and rura
exercise. connected ana illustrated by popu
lar lectures, the college would accomplish an
important work, ana give to agriculture al
impetus that could net fail TO raise 1t to the
rank it should assume and ought to hold il
the State.
Is such an institution practicable | will
refer you to the New York State college al
Ovid, the Michigan agricultural college al
Lansing, and the farmers agricultural school
in Pennsy lvania. After few years Of expe.
rence, the faculty Of these institutions tell u:
that lney nave tull confidence In the practical
bllity of such institutions, that combine man
ual labor with study.
Does the agricultural interest Of our State
need such an institution Agriculture in the
State gives more employment to labor and
capital than all other pursuits, and does more
to increase its wealth. Will not its future
success and improvement depend upon the
education Of those who pursue it Has not
the time come when farmers need as thorough
an education as lawyers, doctors, and clergy
men do in their respective professional
Let us for a moment look at the past aud
present state Of agriculture in the State
There is no question of as much Importance,
and none that demands the investigation OF
this Legislature more than the causes and
possible remedies of the exhausted lands in
our State. Lands Of great natural fertility,
which have been under culture but little over
half century, have been lessening in their
! products every season from the effects Of the
old and ruinous system OF farming. Not more
than fifty or sixty years since the clay lands
IN Addison County, by simply p-owing and
sowing, yielded an abundant crop of wheat.
Twenty-Five and thirty bushels to the acre
were but average crops-crops equal TO any
| since raised in the Western States a.. hut the