The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-03-06
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.


by those who organized these colleges
thereisno doubt; but at the same time their
Is a general Misrepresentation on the part
Of the critics, The truth is, not a single
agricultural college, such as was contem-
plated by Congress, has yet been estab-
lished. One college, for instance, hav-
ing built extensive edifces, proceeded TO
erect a greenhouse at tie expense of
SO, 900, while it had not a barn suited
to shelter the work animals of the farm.
! Another college has several hundred stu
dents, but of these no more than Is pro-
prose TO be farmers. OF course, classes
cannot be formed, nor can experiments
be entered upon for so small number;
and, as consequence, the institution Is
instructing young men, in common literary
studies.
! In Illinois, where the College or Uni
versity bill originated, and where its OBJ
| ject was better understood than anywhere
else the college at once entered upon
] giving instruction IN the classics, and
violent opposition arose on the part of the
originators OF the measure, and though
something has been conceded by the pro
fessors, still the great majority of stu
dents propose 10 enter the professions.
The study of agriculture, therefore, is
discouraged for the reason that it is not
made a chief feature, and Is only an incl
dental one. The main subjects of
thought and conversation among the
young men are abstract and impractical,
and the notion Of life BY which a living
is to be made from the soil is questionable
the same as elsewhere, so that, if young
man should have genuine taste for az
riculture he would quite likly TO be d.
verted from giving it due attention, or, to
speak plainly, he would be ashamed of it.
From this it must be manifest that pure
" literary men have got control OF the
agricultural fund; they have diverted it
from the original design, and 1t is not too
much 10 say that the millions of dollars
which have been expended have nowhere
contributed to establish a single agricul-
turai college, although it Is undoubtedly
true that few cases might be named
where some genuine attempt have been
made. The whole difficulty lies, then, in
the instruction and perversion of the
noble endowments.
The trouble began at the very first.
when regents and professors of scholastic
culture, perhaps without even an esthetic
taste Tor il, were elected; and then a
farm superintendent, often man imper- |
fectly educated, and generally without |
a. piration for refined rural life, was Sc
lected to fulfill the requirements, as was |
imagined, and as matter Of course he !
was considered better than a hired !
hand, and a supernumerary. A more !
impracticable, more vicious plan for |
carrying out the designs of Congress |
scarcely can be conceived. There Is, I
therefore. no kind Of prospect that these |
colleges can he more than counterfeits, |
that Is, unless they are wholly reorganized; /
and until they shall be, and upon a true /
basis, Congress viii do q great disservice !
70 the farming interests if 1t appropriates /
another dollar
How then should an agricultural col 4
legc he organized? We sketch the follow 4
Jog points: First, Let the Regent OF the I
first efficer be & practical, successful, and /
educated fsrmer-a man of broad views, 4
an5 one VINO Is deeply impressed with /
The Importance OF ti4e whole position. I
Second. No students shall be admitted |
unless they propose to learn all that the I
institution can teach in regard to agri- I
culture. ii no more than ten OF such +
can be found, teach them, and be faith /
ful and honest. Third, Professors in |
English literature and In such sciences |
as illustrate agriculture are 10 be appoint |
ed; but the study of the classics never !
should be introduced, nor of modern |
languages, except in an incidental man
nerr Fourth, An experimental farm of /
/ 10. Il -
fciently large, should be cultivated by |
the students in such manner that the 1
productions VIII paw for the work expend- /
ed, that IS after it shall be brought into
a proper condition. Preliminary les
sons IN farming should relate to all the
various branches Of horticulture and
that a habit of high culture
may be established. Fifth, Several
model farm-houses, some costing small
and others larger sums, shonld be erected.
These should be supplied with every con-
venience and comfort, both as regards ar
rangement and furniture; they should
be surrounded with deciGuous and ever
green trees, intermingied with beds Of
flowers, while the small and larger fruits
should abound It will be in the
building, in the cultivation, care, and
management OF such model homes that
the students viii spend much Of their
time and also in the care Of animals in
such stables or barns as shall be suited to
the farms they may be expected some
time themselves 10 own.
We claim that, with such examples
and actual icipation, the great need
now everywhere prevailing, and which is
50 sadly iameuted Of a taste for rural |
life IN our young men, viii become firm
~ established and then more than half
the battle will be won. Seeing, touching,
and feeling these things, they will never
be forgotten by them, and
they viii 90 forth fired by the ambition 70
emulate and even TO improve upon what
they saw, and part Of which, by their
labors, they we're \. G. Meeker,
Greeley, Colorado.
White Immigration from AdtOiH-
ing States TO Marshall County.
From the H-Ilr