Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-04
Agricultural,
Prem the Vermont Record.
The Agricultural College.

AM OpiASkt'
The idea Of an agricultural College where
farming shah be taught not only scientifically but
prac lcaIly, where the student blends natural Ia.
Dor with mental cultivation, naturally grows out
Ct epubl.can institutions.
The condition, Tor instance, Of the farming So
eiely in Vermont, which is considered to be the
rurest republican character in the world, is mark
ed by the union Of manual labor with certain
degree Of education. The natural object Of the
College would therefore seem to be, to highten
the education as means Of improving the labor
of tightening, through instruction, the burden Of
labor, OF throwing around it thu light and pleas
ures Of science, OF increasing is dignity % an
element Of free government, and Of rendering it
more productive and advantageous. In other
words, the character Of the school should be q
reflex Of Vermont Agricultural Society, express.
inn its natural wants, and elevating its condition.
In this view Of the case, It being decided that
the lab'r Of the pupil while acquiring hi. scien-
tito education should cover in part OF wholly bic
expenses for books, board and lodging, clothing,
etc., it remain, to determine how much land
would be needed for the college. II we ADM,
that there is but one pupil from each township
in the Institution at the same time, the question
Is reduced to deciding how much land is neces-
cary TO support that number Of pupiie, by say
three or four hours day Of their own labor.
Ii We assume 1900 as The average number Of IN
hahitants Of the townships Of the State, $4,000
the average number of acres TO the townships,
and 24O the number Of pupils At the coll &c, we
sail see that ,246 acre or about quarter Of a
township, would be proporlionate allowance to
2i0 persons: but all these 2i0 persons are to
be workers, while II the inhabitants Of the town
ships are not, We may suppose that considerable
less than 1000 acres of land, including mellow,
pastursge, woodland aud plow.and, would be SUI
hient for the college. The question as 20 how
much land, Of all Kinds, at the rate Of three or
four hours labor per day, is necessary Is supper,
one individual. aud as every one is capable OF
solving the question for himself, We need to say
nothing further on the sui Jet
When Vie Outlay Tor degebudngs, barns,
sheds, land, stock, toos, C., lave been ealeuh-
ted We shall tben understand the amount that
must be subscribed 10y the State, or by indvidu-
ais, IN order to set the inslitu ion in operation.
Some 100000 will probably be needed, over
aud above the amount allowed by the genera
government.
The view here taken renders the question one
OF very easy adjustments but when the words o.
the grant from The general government come "a
be considered, the matter becames more eonpli
Gated and iiicult Reduced to practice il woulC
he difficult to determine what the real object o
the grant is, or whether indeed II has any vel
defined educational plan n view. The object q
the donation Of the land to the States is 10 be 70
"a the endowment, support and maintenance Of a
least one college, ,ohsie The iedimy object shall b
tsiihoui excluding othg scientific and elassioo
studies, and includ'i Z military iactc@ 10 ieGc
such branches Of learning as are related 10 dgrl
culture aud mechanic arts. IN such a manner a
IKE legislatures Of The States resp ofuily prescribe
in order 10 promote III liberal and practical sdu
cation of he industrial classes IN the several pur
suits Of iiit."
This plan Of education can certainly not bt
found fault with on account OF compre hensiyeness
Il proposes 10 teach oil tina, the three college
Of the State nov teach, and more too: but il
very questionable Whittier such plan can be IL
dGoel 10 pmece Il proposes TO teach nj OF
ly agriculture and science ntc ssary to It's deye
cpement, But also the chssic., mechanic arts, an
even military tactic. The Institution is TO
not only an agricultural college, but also a mil
lary academy, school Of the mechanic prs, az
college for the classics. Il is no, ony to max
practical farmers, but also to train up oil th
industrial Classes generally for he " several pul
quits aud professions OF llle,' Bl.cksmilhs, Vince
rights, etc.
It is needless TO Say that this plan is as vagu
rs il is c)nprehen've aud II would seem 70 /
designed io< some pollicll, rather than any pra
tiol Office; 10 the State Of Vernon. WY a
institution established under II should be ca IL
au ogricuturui COLI sc, is not easy 70 percely
unls,s II is perhaps that pubic land was giyt
for il. There is but one her department.
learning necessary In order 10 render It's circle
instructions complete, aud that is MINING
military tact c' were clldtd in an tgliculur
college bill at tine wh' o NIL aty lac les Wei
highly popular, We may presume that had III
blll been delayed until borpg or oil Inc in "
gur, It voulC also have tcluded provision &
h,u uoll, u N mining, or oil ttitg
We hardly netd uith college in Vermont,
such general lea ulrg as is Contemplated in N
blll, wien tie thne Which We already have are
badly sustain ed nor can AZ expect tie three
unite aud iuIm one institution, adding 10 viii
hey nos teach The mechanic arts aud ayr
culture Il is bet unreasonable that the peop
Via state should c avn to manage their own ed
cationa institutions s,tout having them MtJst
10 the legislation Of III e neral government
As We DO tot ME another college IN be ,,lt,
ike the one ofn'emp,,ed 10y the terms Of Il
bill, aud the terms q the grant ca n1 be ehsn,
cd by the state, and as the three existing leg
cannot be compelled 10 unite, what til re ore .
IN ,ins u be dont' Congress might be pe,i oi
ed to 50 amend the law tat it could be eit 81
tional With the state as TO uhat disposition shou
be made Of the grant, provided ,ha, It is deyo',
TO the purpose OF agricultural education. III
would render the measure practical one s
educational scheme aud would Ia no way
trsci irm is political value. AZ petite
measure. It was suiieien, 20 have The power
Cougfs's 10 sppr pirate public land for ed1ca,io
al purposes be5gn ied and asserted by the bill
4. - a.. M nits.l IA the peneral voxsfrru ar