Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-10-28
Agriemltnral.
Vermont Agricultural College.

Vermont Agricultural College.
During the late Fair OF the Vermont State
Agricultural Society at Burlington, there
we're three evening meetings at which essays
were read and agricultural subjects discussed
As the Agricultural College OF the State, con-
nected with the University Of Vermont, il
located at Burlington, We supposed that ar
engagements would ne made by which the
president professors of that Institution
should take an active par. in the discussion OF
aiiquestions of general interest to the farmers
IF the State. But from what We saw OF these
.nseting We fear there is not that connection,
-Tmpatny and corporation between th=
members of the State Agricultural Society anu
ine officers of the State Agricultural College
which We anticipated, and which we think it
- very desirable should exist.
The Society and College are both laboring
tOr the improvement of agriculture. And
though the immediate efforts of one may be
directed mainly TO the promotion of material
prosperity and advancement, nd those of the
other more directly To moral and intellectual
growth and social improvement. still they
-hluld act in concert and harmony. We do
not intend to intimate that there was any evil
dence of opposition or hostility between them.
We saw nothing Of this kind. 1t was merely
che apparent want of union, association, co
operation, acquaintance, fellowship, between
the TWO Institutions which we regretted. On,
was on the hill, the other on the camp-ground
Perhaps We expected too much. We sup
posed that while the Society managed the out
door part of the festival, the College should
provide the evening feast But instead OF
this. 10 representative of the College took any
part In the eesays or discussions. 1t was,
however. announced in the morning papers OF
Thursday. that Prot Collier, of the Agri-
cultural College, would take part in the dis
cussion of that evening on the subject Of
Fertilizers. But the Professor WAS DE- tanned
by illness, and only a very small audience
were present to manifest their interest in the
College, or their desire for instruction on
subject perhaps more interesting to farmer
than any other.
The discussion Of the evening was opened
by Hon CrUsbs Miller, of Pomfret, who wa
the only one Of the three regularly appointed
disputants present. He remarked briefly up
on the Importance of knowing how to restor,
worn ont lands, but said that for two reason
he had made TO preparation for the occasion.
In the first place, he was third on the list :
and in Z e second place, meeting as the So
ciety did under the of the State Agri-
cultural College, he had relied upon the pro-
fessors of that institution 10 lead In the dis
cussion As to the composition and opera
ton of fertilizers he was learner, not teacher.
The farmers of the State were looking to the
Agricultural College for instruction and di
rection, and he regretted the absence. MOI
only of the gentleman who was expected t.
address that meeting, but of the other pro
fessors and teachers in that Institution.
Mr.. j. G. Wilder. of Charlotte, followed
IN some earnest remarks. He commenced
by suggesting that brasns constituted one o
the best and most important fertilizers thar
Vermont farmers could use. According tt
his observation very few were used in farm
ing operations, pretty much all being muscl,
and brute force. He believed the design OF
agricultural colleges was to Introduce the
of brains into farming operations. Al
luding TO remark of the gentleman who had
preceded him, that 'all the farmers Of Yer
mont were looking to our Agricultural Col
lege for aid in their calling. he begged leave
TO differ with him on that point. He stated
that, in his opinion, not one half Of the farm
in the State knew that we had an Agri-
cultural College, and that one half OF those
who did know it. didn't care He said the
older class of farmers sHufed at the whole
thing, and called it humbug, He found
that strong prejudice still existed against
educated men generally, and educated farm
ers especially. There was general impress
sion that boys were spoilt for work, by send
ing them to college In support Of these
views he related some anecdotes and facts
picked up in a tour across the State from west
TO east, two wears ago. He feared the Col
lege could expect little aid or sympathy from
the old farmers, and perhaps not much from
the majority Of the present class of young
men. But he hoped that when the boys
whom the excellent president of the Univers
ity, with which our Agricultural College
Is connected, is now educating, came upon
the stage, there would be an improvement in
public opinion the matters, and that ther
the Agricultural College will be put to some
practical use by those for whose benefit it wa.
designed
Both Vermont and New Hampshire hav,
committed the congressional fund granted
for the endowment of an industrial college
10 old institutions. Having done this we
fear there is some danger that the people
and their representatives, may not feel that
individual interest and responsibility in the
matter which is essential to the attainmen
OF the object designed by Congress. W.
have full confidence in the good faith of tn.
corporations of the University of Vernon
and Dartmouth College. But they canno
confer the advantages of their respective in
situations on farmers SONS whom they can
not reach. Dartmouth College has a elias
of ten in it's agricultural department, an
our impression is that there are even less il
the same department at Burlington.
What then shall be done t, increase thi
attendance and to secure the object designed
by Congress in Offering the fund for an in
duetrIal college, and what are the dutie
which the pc, pie of Vermont have assumed
by their acceptance of the trust? This il
for them and not for us to decide, but the,
will pardon us for suggesting. as one o
these means, a more direct and intimate con
nection between the State and County Agri
cultural Societies, and the Agriculture
College, titan now exists.
In Massachusetts, the State Board Of Agr
culture are constituted 80 a Board Of Over
seers of the Agricultural college" II
recognition of this appointment the Boarc
of Agriculture adopted the following resolu
tions in February, 1867 - r-..--.-,
Res2lred, That the Act of the Legislature
making this Board Board of Overseers o
the Agricultural College, makes it obliga
tory upon rs 10 give all the aid in our powe
IN sustaining that institution, and in encour
aging our young men to prepare Themselves
10 be scientific agricnlturiste.
Rssoired, That this Board recommend t,
each agricultural society, receiving the ooun
ty Of the State, to establish at least on,
scholarship in the Massachusetts Agricultu
raj College. either by fund, or by state,
appropriation from year to year, to be grant
ed to some young man residing within tb
limits of said society. And that in the selec
ton of candidates. preference should b
given to such as propose to devote them
selves to agricultural pursuits within th
limits Of said Society Scr, .---r
Andsin January 1865, the Board adopse,
the following additional resolutions :-a : ~
WAsrsas.z The. Massachusetts Board Q
70 secure % the people sueh N agriculture