The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-09

Is undertaken WILL eo nuiiuou iouuuatton.
that they did not foresee the inevitable result
of debt and embarrassment and dwindling fail
ure, or a constant reliance upon the bounty of
the State which is liable at any time to be
withheld.
have seen SO many cases of hopeless en-
barrassment, arising from want of adequate
endowment of Agricultural Schools, both in
this country and in Europe, that hope we
shall not be led into the same trap by any fam
citul objections to a union of an Agricultural
College with other already well endorsed in
situations. An isolated establishment is all
well enough in theory, but to build it up re-
specially would require far greater wealth
than most of us are willing to admit.
But apart from this, and perhaps more i'm
portant, is the fact that concentration of effort
is the true policy of all great enterprises for
the advancement of learning. By it far
higher range of talent and attainment can be
secured, because better compensated. By it
the student has the aid of a wider range of
instruction at less expense to himself. The
advantages of concentration are SO apparent
to every intelligent and rejecting mind that
need not dwell upon them.
In regard to the location eff the Maine Ag-
ricultural College at Brunswick, my general
idea is that it should be somewhat removed
from the other college buildings, so that the
students would not necessarily be brought
much into direct contact with the undergrad
ates of the College. would have an expert
mental farm connected with it, part of it,
perhaps around the buildings, to be laid out
as landscape garden, with every variety of
tree and shrub native to New England. and all
the exotics that it might be possible to grow
upon 1t. Each tree or each group of similar
trees should be labelled with its systematic
and common names. This might also form
part of botanic garden and experimental
plot where every variety of grain and grass
and agricultural plant should be properly cul-
tivated. This is essential as part and means
of instruction. Some acres would be required
for this purpose, perhaps not less than fifteen
or twenty. This, of course, could not be ex-
pected to pay. 1t would be bill of expense,
but Ishould regard it as quite important in
connection with an Agricultural College.
Some little income might be derived from the
raising and sale Of seeds. plants and trees in
the nurseries.
The main body of the farm ought to be SO
far as possible selfsupporting, but the idea of
farming for profit, for the first few years, at
least, should not be entertained, for the reason
that the whole establishment is to be regard
ed as experimental TO large extent, where
students can see, at least, how things are
| commonly done, and how they should be done,
and where the best stock of all kinds should
be bred and kept as sort of nursery from
which the farmers of the State can procure
the means of improving their own stock and
their own farms. This will require large and
liberal outlay. especially at first and it will In
the nature of things be some time before it
ought to be expected to pay.
The student, 1t seems to me, should be en-
couraged to work on the farm at reasonable
| compensation, which would enable those who
needed 1t, to procure the means of defraying
the expenses Of their education, under suita-
BILE regulations to prevent interference with
the main objects of the course.
Iwould have reasonable tuition charged
for the course of instruction. We are all ant
to prize most what we have to pay for. Many
of the students could just as well pay as not,
and those who could not, would earn enough
by work on the fam to meet the requisite ex-
penses l should not look to this as means
of supporting the institution, but it would be
the source OF some income, no doubt, and the
effect on the minds of the young would,
think, be beneficial.
The course could hardly be completed in
less than three years. 1t would take nearly
that to get even respectable smattering oil
the sciences necessary to be taught, like chem
islry, botany, geology, and practical surveying
or farm engineering, and without a good
knowledge of these essential branches IL would
not be for the credit Of the institution to send
out pupils with the seal and sanction of its ap-
prevail The field of practical mathematics
alone would require long and laborious
course of instruction. The veterinary sur
geon would require course of nearly three
years to impart competent knowledge of the
structure, anatomy and physiology of our do
nestle animals and their treatment in health
and disease. Besides, no ordinary rotation of
crops would be less than three years, and
without going through at least one rotation,
20 professor Of Practical Agriculture would
feel that he had done justice to his pupils.
might go on indicating what, in my opin-
ION, it isimportant that full course in an Ag-
ricultural College should embrace, but my
phamphlet on the Agricultural Schools of Eu-
rope, will give some idea of the branches to
be pursued. In addition to the regular course,
would have special courses for the winter
and spring months, somewhat similar to those
given at Hohenheim, as stated in the work re-
ferred to. This would meet the wants Of
such as could not avail themselves of the COM
plete course. M
1t is true that when you considerth neces.
sity of having practical shepherd, capable
breeding and raising sheep, practical herds
man capable of pointing out the best modes
of breeding and the management of stock, and
all the other courses requisite to full agri-
cultural education, you make rather formid-
alb e array of requirements, yet, on the other
hand, you are to consider that the credit of
the Institution is at stake and tnat it should
aim at a high standard of education, and be
satisfied with nothing short oft. Unless you
can offer the means of complete training in
what you undertake to teach, it is far better
both for farmers and mechanics, and the insti-
tuition itself, that the whole thing should be
abandoned.
I have not yet alluded to the various work
shops required as means of instruction in
mechanics, or to the workmen, some of whom,
at least, should be capable Of lecturing upon
their own specialities, and Of imparting prac-
teal and useful instruction sufficient to COM