New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-22
AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION

CONGRESS TO BE URGED TO AID AGRIcrt rr,,,.
COLLEGES BY LAND GRANTs-DIsCUssIoN on
THE LAND SALES EDUCATION BILL--CoMyIs.
sIOEER WATTS LECTURES THE AGRIcrI-
TURAL PROFEssORS-AN ENDRAyOR To
IDENTIFY THE INTERESTS or TIE AGRIcrrT.
JURAL COLLEGES WITH THE WORK OF Tuv
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-Last December bo
Commissioner Of Agriculture. Mr. Frederick Watts issusa
call for an Agricultural Convention to be held IN INF,
city on the 18th Of this month. This call, which wa,
sent to the various agricultural associations and lpr
tons In the United States announced that the Conyen
ton would meet for the purpose Of discussing subjects OF
mutual interest 10 these associations and institution.
and 10 take such action for the promotion Of the inere
OF agriculture should be deemed expedIeDt On
Thursday last the delegates met in the Library OF IN.
Agricultural Building nearly every State in the Union
being represented. After calling tho Convention Ia
ORDER the Commissioner said that Of the principal
questions for that body to decide was the best method
for and agricultural institutions and associations
to cooperate with the Department, in order that the
farmer might secure tho opportunities for consu
ton which the Government afforded the merchant aud
business man. The permanent organization Of the Con-
yention was then perfected. and Dr. LOring Of MasS
chusetts chosen President.
ADDRESS DR.. LoRTSG.
On taking the chair DIR. LOring made feg t.....,
appropriate to the occasion. It indeed gratifying
he said to see the large and earnest delegations which
had come at the call Of the Commissioner from
the most distant States TO deliberate on the subeet Of
agriculture In the Convention he saw respect
able representation Of the practical farmers Of
hands an important industry which was the foun.
| dalton Of their own social comfort and OF the
wealth and prosperity OF the nation. 1t was eneOur.
aging to see them joining hands with the Of science
in their efforts TO lay firm foundation for agriculture
ON tbe best laws which science can bay down drawn
from the teachings Of nature Especially welcome were
the representatives Of the educational Institutions Of tho
counry One OF the most earnest advocates OF system
OF national education in Congress had told us that the
Institutions of fathers in all their Significance and
yalne can be safely ntrusted TO educated peope
only and he agreed with the gentleman entirely Tao
determination of the Goyernment 10 endgE the lnst
highest ideas OF republican government, and with the
spirit and genius Of American state and society No:
thing could be gratifying than that largeheared
libcrality and argeDlnded WlsdOm Win Wheh some OF
sons referring to the Hon Ezra Cornell HewYork
which they had been blessed to establish Institutions Of
practical learning where eySTy man dn ana woman could
ship rest The existence OF an educated body OF aorers
was feWard and is Clothed with res re-
sponsillties. The existence OF an educated body OF
landhoidcrs was demanded where the system Of small
iapd-boiding has become the law OF society and at
tended with all the blessings which Tree Government
these questions OF and-holding which have been found
too great for the minds OF LORD Derry ana NJ
Gladstone and which has rendered the aDOUOn OF the
fdaI tennre OF land not only possible but advantageous
to an Independent and enlightened community. u was
with great coincidence and courage that ne looked upon
the future of educated American landbOders and agrt.
culturists with their freedom from the restraints OF az
the relations existing between landlord and tenant and
with institutions Of learning and rel zion on every hand
He made warm appeal for the Agricultural Coleges@
onired by free institutions The Convention lad been
called together by the Head Of the Department OF h
culture, and for that Department he would appeal
warmly and earnestly. Recognizing the valuable ser
vices which had already performed ne hoped SEQ
the time when larger responsibilities, d9tes, ana hon
would be placed upon IT. ~ snouu nave Ine h man
would graduate the Government prices OF ana ana and
scrip according to the lands Themselves He would sub
landowner would adopt in dspOsng OF his own land
lie would institute system OF surveys ana estimates
and the Department should also be authorized 70 keepa
record of the agricultural sources Of different O. the
value OF the waterpower and inland naTsscoa q ne
form part Of that body which Stands Lt the ENecu
tive 10 strengthen his hands anc rI-t rs eoansest
After sDenking in high terms OF the ELstum connected
with the Department, the President closed % tlahnnS
the Convention for the honor conferred upon hn anu
urging good order and harmony.
SCIENCE TO CONE TO THE AID OF AGRICULTURE
The Commissioner then read long preamble and soy
era resolutions which had been prepared. Ihs Prean
BILE set forth that in the passage Oh inc ac' VI
July @ 1862, Congress had evinced determihauou
to establish through the State Legislatures inst-
Try in manner to nj them for aetiye, pIsc coH
ress it was the duty OF oil interested in the prosecution
OF this object to examine the subject ana point out tne
he made most aTaaSe The st resOU
declared that 1t would greatly conduce TO the oper
scientific knowledge to guide the work The second res
Olutionthat in the act Of July 1882 was TO- be rec0g
colleges and schools where the scientific principles and
knowledge OF agriculture may be taught The third res
olution-that in the establishment Of agricultural col
eges they should be dstinctyey agricultural IN their
government and teachings, although no branch OF learn
ing shall be excluded the main design being to extend
the knowledge Of all those branches OF natural and eh
science and practical skill which peculiarly belong TO
q finished agricultural education that manual l1Oor
should be practced and taught that females well as
and agricultural societies and agricultural
colleges and schools having the same Objectthe proper
culti afinnn he a
ton by which the light Of knowledge should be made to
elne upon ther wore Inc TTn sns
upon its intimate connection with other agricultural In
stitutions for its efficiency.
LAND GRAMS FOR AGRICULTURAL EDJcATIoS.
The resolutions laid the table, and the COnven-
ton took up the topic reported by the Committee
Businessthe expedieney Of securing Government land
grants Mr. Farwen Of Minnesota read the act Of 1864
which appropriated 100000 to the states gen
orally for ths purpose Of establishing colleges for the
promotion OF agriculture The gentleman spoke az soma
length maintaining that the allotments OF lands anS
land scrip to the various states under the aCt "ee
ms sS He was foilowed by Dr. j. NJ Gregory Re-
gent of Illinois Industrial UNIVERSITY wao oHtTe1 ha
effect that the Convention in favor OF the bill now
before the Senate which proposes 70 deyote Ae e.te
net proceeds of the public lands henceforh 20 me pro-
motion Of public education; but the devotion OF Af en
tire fuad TO the single purpose OF employing couos i
of resolutions was presented setting forth what Woia
be the best distribution Of the fund The plan pyoposei
shond he apportoned 70 the states the basis OF tao
number OF children between the ages or ana - 10 20
used In the employment OF teachers or IN the purchae
OF school libraries such plan each state may Gs
termne One-third TO be apportioned on tLo same Ots
10 he used In support OF normal schools provided thar ~
least oneha OF fund be divided among the SeyeFs
schools in the proportion Of the number OF noIml
pupils who shall pass their examination successfully;
one-third to be appOroned follows: One-hat on we
basis of the population OF the States aud OnalI Oh tos
basis of area 70 be used the support OF TIE arcu'
tural polytechnic and other state colleges and universe
ties The resolutions we're referred 10 COMMITTEE Oh
Five together with other matters aud the COlVeA'Ioa
adjourned.
coNGREss 10 BH ASKED roR NV ENDOwMENrs.