Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-12-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


Mr.. EDITOR In your paper of the 22d of
October appeared an article upon the Maryland
A gricultural College, over the signature of
''Observer, in which the writer evidently pro-
poses to enlishten the good people of Charles
county upon the beauties of that great agricul-
tural institution. The writer gives Il labored
article of one whole column of reading matter
which, when you have carefully read, You ma
turally enough ask why it was written, and
the only answer the paper gives, is: 1t was
written for the purpose ofpraising Capt Parker,
the President of the College. Among the prais-
es bestowed upon the noble Captain find the
following: ''Being one well qualified for the
responsible duties devolving upon him, he will
no doubt acquit himself with honor and reflect
credit upon the institution" How naval
education and Il naval life is to qualify a man
to reflect credit upon an agricultural college
am al Il loss to know. With all due Difference
to Capt. Parker rs a man, | fear he would not
know tobacco plant from a mullen plant
But this is not the only point wish to call at
tention to. The writer goes on to tell of dona-
tons from the State and the United States, but
does not give figures so as to show us the true
state Of the college and the amount Of money
spent upon it since its existence.
This would-be Agricultural College got its
charter in 1856, consequently il is nineteen
years old. The appropriations from the State
and the United States from time to time stands
thus:
From 1859 to 1868 (State) A per cent per
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 81 600
Donations in 1866, payable in 3 years A., 900
United States trust-the State actingas
agent in disposing of it for agricul-
tural and mechanical instruction
from 1865 to 1875, IL years, 1000 1000
$40. 600
Here are the round fgures-the cost up to
date of that wonderful institution called the
Maryland Agricultural College. | called the
attention of my grange to this college and its
cost sometime since, but our Neutrality-suspicious.
ed in saving a little something upon sugar. &c.
could not hear of business so small as the a.
bove figures indicate.
Up to date, although many of its Professors
have been able men, they have not made one
single original experiment upon farming, nor
anything else; nor ana wed one pound OF ma
nure of any kind nor turned the microscope
upon anything that would for one moment ad-
vance the cause of agriculture.
The first President was the venerable Benz.
Hallowell, of Montgomery county, man Of
learning, character and dignity. He soon re-
signed under the plea Of bad health. He saw.
in truth, he could do nothing Since then the
Presidents have been doctors, lawyers. clergy
men, sailors and soldiers, but never an .gricul-
turist save in the case of Mr. Hallowell re-
greet exceedingly 10 say that the appointment Of
naval officer does not ''retect credit upon
the Trustees of that institution. | have waited
for twenty-five years for the fulfllment Of n
prophecy uttered by the Baron Won Leibig
upon farming. He said ''the day will come
when farmers will diagnose their land like
physician his patient, and administer medicine
accordingly" &c. Now have really an hon
asf fpar that far my ca1Iara jc Cd
shall die without seeing the fulfllment of this
old Germans hopes.
| have lately received letter from distin-
guished agriculturst and professor in the North
in which he says: ~ know all about that in
stitution and have for eight years. In fact in
1865, | went TO see the locality where the coll
lege was said 10 be, but-did not see it, | fear
| should not find an Agricultural College if
was there to-day. The fact is, my dear sir, in
telligent practical farmers know a COMPOUNDED
sight more than they think, or than the litera-
~ or scientific (so-calledl give them credit for,
and no Agricultural College can be permanent
ly useful or exist unless this element IS az the
front or controls the helm. When | hear that
the farmers of Maryland have taken the bull
by the horns and twisted his present head Off
and have put in his place, one that knorS W hat
farming is what it ncets and Is in complete
sympathy with the ar>ner there will be hope
for the institution and the next generation Of
farmers if not for the present.
Mr.. Wells, this last clause falls upon mr. ears
like funeral dirge-''r not for ne prsssni -
That is to say, we of the present day are not TO
receive any benefit from our Agricultural Coli
lege after expanding Sl4a, 900 and waiting
twenty-five years for the fulfilling the promise
noted above. What is then TO be done with
this abortion, called an Agricultural College?
for one answer, abolish il as College and
erect upon its ruins an Experimental Farm.
Yours, OLIVER y. BRYAN.