Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-14

The authorities of Harvard College have taken
measures to establish an agricultural school on
the Bussey farm in West RoXbury. This car
ries into effect the purpose of Benjamin Bussey,
EXPRESSED in his win bequeathing large amount
of property to the college. Several years have
nassed since that institution took possession of
the property, and the Massachusetts Plough
man thinks the income SHOULD have been set
opart. according to the will of the testator" for
endowing law, divinity, and agricultural de
nartments of the college, and says:-"there is a
long chapter of facts, a part of which have been
in our possession some years, upon which we
think the community ought TO be better inform
ed" but the information is, for the present,
withheld The new movement in the matter is
attributed TO the energy of the president of Har
ward college: and, now the building begins to
make its appearance part of the corps of in
structors for the agricultural department, has
been appointed, and the curriculum of studies
has been arranged. The Ploughman fears that
the system by which the school is to be regu-
lated, will not make it sufficiently effective. Ii
says
eve cannot speak with any great knowledge
mon the subject, not being fully and minutely
informed in regard 10 the future plans and OBJ
iects which the college proposes to itself in the
management of the agricultural department.
Int it strikes us that appearances indicate fail
ure to realize and appreciate the grand mission
which the BusSey institution ought to fill, and
which no other institution in this country can
fill so well. Space will not allow us to go into
the details as TO the plans on which it should
start off to accomplish this mission with the
of I'M
would not differ materially from those adopted
in the establishment of LaweS and Gilbert at
Rothamsted in England We regard the long
series of experiments which they have under
taken and so persistently carried on, as
the most valuable contribution to practi-
cal agriculture TO be found in mod
en times, and we speak from knowledge on
the subject, having visited and inspected their
laboratories and collections and the lands which
have been devoted 10 experiment. and from a
familiarity with the striking results which they
have obtained. Their effort is worthy of imita-
ton in this country. 1t Is more worthy than
anything to be found in Europe in the way of
agricultural scientific investigation. What they
have done as a private and individual enterprise
we ought to do better on the Bussey farm, with
the appliances which il is in our power to COM
mand. The farm is all that could be desired for
this object. The fund which goes with it, large
as it is, can easily be frittered away in the pay
Cies, without accomplishing 1.-THE of the good
which even the Rothamsted establishment has
accomplished"
The school in West Roxbury can not really
become a rival of that at Amherst, and it
should not have precisely the same purposes,
Something more than instruction in practical
agriculture should be aimed at The views ex-
pressed by the Ploughman appear to us sensible
and just:
"The great leading and central idea should
be original investigation, the development of
new laws, the addition TO our present stock of
knowledge in agriculture, by way of accurate
experiment both in the laboratory and the field.
The immediate results may be less striking. 4
small number of students would make less
buster and noise and show before the public,
but in the long run the institution would be of
vast and incalculable service to the community,
and build up reputation for beneficial useful
ness to mankind equal to that of the alma mater
around which all these higher professional
schools cluster"
Therefore, it should be started with clear COM
prehension Of its proper mission. We think the
Ploughman will see that the authorities of the
college will do their best to make this agricultural
school useful. AT the same time, it should be
considered that they are without experience in
the matter of organizing such schools. They
themselves have something to learn, and may
not be prompt to learn it. We are too apt to
assume, that, because class of men are learned
and full of experience in some departments of
knowledge, they are fully qualified to undertake
anything else. This is mistake which should
be remembered in the present case. The sue
cessful institution at Rothamsted, Eng, was
established and has been managed, by men
peculiarly qualified for that special work, and
who have not made it subordinate department
Of something else. That is an independent in
stitution, and has the whole thought, time, and
ambition of its admirably qualified managers
The new school at West Roxbury may not in.
stantly be perfect; but, if those who shall have
charge of its fortunes, will take pains to under
stand what it should be, and apply themselves
TO make it as nearly perfect as possible, crit
eism can afford to be forbearing. Meanwhile
the Ploughman's suggestions are wise, and we
hope they will be adopted