The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-11-16
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Tie State Collie

4AO oU0eO CVAlC .-l'tH
The recent visit of the Board of Agricul-
ture and other interested persons, to this in
stitution, has not only afforded an excellent
opportunity for an examination of its ca
paeities, but has also imposed correspond
ing obligation upon those who have received
favorable impressions to make open decara-
ton OF them, for the benefit of the public as
well as the college. .r-
There ought not to be necessity for COM
mending to the favorable regard of the eiti-
zens of the state, one of its recognized and
regularly established institutions; but so long
as there are in some directions prejudices ex-
isting against it in general and in detail, re-
lating to its creation, its location, its man
agement, its operations and results, it is
well that they should be met. That all such
prejudices as are unfounded, might be re.
moved, should be the earnest desire of those
who entertain them, as we'll as of those who
have the opportunity and disposition to aid
in their removal. m of III .el,r as8i '"'
Coming first before the public at time
when states and individuals were striving to
repair the waste which war had wrought,
and to substitute improved processes and new
machinery in place Of the men, who were
wanting; and when special efforts were re-
'quired to interest in the peaceful pursuits of
agriculture, those who had survived the ex-
elements and demoralizatons of other
fields, it seemed as if they were providentially
ordered, both in their opportune appearance
and peculiar characteristics. @
After the subsistence of the rivalries and
contests of different literary institutions for
the coveted prize, and the close of legislative
discussions almost interminable there came.
at length, the establishment of the college in
its present location. ~ e Fabnri. .er
Without discussing the question whether
cne more favorable could have been obtained,
it is sufficient now to say, that there is no
reason for complaint with matters as they
are, whether reference is made to the land
selected, its accessibility, or general sur
roundings. From an examination of the
soil and the crops produced, and also q COM
parison with the cultivated lands adjacent,
tits plain that the strong, compact soil so
naturally adapted to the production of grass
and grain, will, by the labors and additions of
each year. be also fitted for all experimental
operations that may be desired. Any doubts
as to its adaptation for fruit culture, must
have been removed By seeing the fine exhi
bition in the Town Hall at Orono, which
came from land possessing similar qualities
and lying in close proximity.
Were the benefits resulting from this and
similar investments confined to the advan-
ages derived from the farms as experiment
stations, we must regard such returns as am
pie andseminently satisfactory. A large class
of thinking, hard working farmers, are fire.
quently yenturing an experimental step be-
yond the beaten path; and ordinarily such
ventures end in failure, involving the loss of
time, or labor, or money. Let all such, en-
trust their suggestions and experiments to
the more favorable opportunities and wider
range of state Institution, and they cannot
tail to receive some positive addition to the
sum of their knowledge, land, by such recipro-
city, their mutual usefulness and advantage
will be promoted. Germany has already ta-
ken the lead among the continental states in
fostering these stations, either under the di-
rect patronage of government, or associated
agriculturists; and during their late war the
state and its citizens received from them the
most positive benefits. Some of the New
England states are maturing plans for their
early introduction. Why should not Maine by
wise investment in this direction, look out
for her own good? The illust-ious Agassiz,
in the last year of his life, publicly declared,
that the discoveries made by the Agricultur-
al College at Amherst in relation to the
circulation of sap. were worth to the scienti-
fic world all the cost of the institution. --
A prevailing tendency among farmers to
claim that the social fabric rests upon them
as its chief corner stone, and to ignore the
rights and merits of other callings, manifests
itself in sort of exclusive taking possession
of these colleges in the sole interest of agri-
culture. Such persons will do well to re-
member, that these institutions were origi-
nally designed as much for the mechanic, as
farmer; and that no course of study can be
pursued, or special objects had in view, which
are limited by the needs of either class. Still
further it may be remarked, in reply to unfa-
vorahle comments upon the small number of
practical farmers which they supply, that far
mers as well as poets are not manufactured
to order; and, moreover, the average student
who probably graduates in debt, does not Of
ten own farm upon which he can begin to
work and even with the strongest desire 10
get one. he would, Of course, engage in any
employment that would secure the needed
sum in the shortest time, however foreign to
his past studies. or prospective designs. In
the brighter and better days of agriculture,
whose dawning may now be dimly discerned,
capital will seek it for investment, not from
acquaitance with the pursuit, or love for it,
but simply as in other directons--for profita-
BILE returns. Men of wealth, abroad, have
already begun to apply commercial manures
to the soil, and to sell the standing crops
purely in Speculation, avoiding thus the many
discomforts and annoyances which are at.
tached to ordinary farm life. When in our
own country this broader field shall be en-
tered, new demand will arise for men ol
science and practical knowledge who shall be
competent overseers of the affairs Of other