Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-12
For the VERMONT FARMER
Agricultural Colleges.

There has been considerable said Of late in
the papers about our agricultural college,
and it is a matter that like to see talked
up. But it seems to me that very many get
hold Of the idea wrong end to, and the insti-
tutions are run wrong end ahead. First let
me ask the questions: Can the science Of
farming be taught successfully away from
the farm2 Is it possible that boy can be
made good practical farmer at any of our
agricultural schools Is there professor
at any Of our agricultural schools that can
take good Vermont farm and manage it as
we'll and make as much money out OF it as a
first class Vermont farmerl
There are not dozen men in the state but
know that the old farmer will whip the pro.
fessor right out of his boots. Now if that is
so, who ought to be at the head Of the school
where successful farming is to be taughtf l
submit that the question admits of only one
answer, aud that is the man that can teach
it the best,--our successful farmer.
My idea is that where farming is to be
taught to our boys who expect to be benefit
ed by such teaching, there must be a fine
experimental farm, and at the very head of
it one Of our best farmers who can and will
be practical in every thing he does.
In the rudimental department is the place
for your professor. Let him follow the
farmer and note results and make suggestions
if he will. At all hazards the farm must be
made to pay for the labor laid out upon it.
If you fail in that you are not teaching les.
sons that will help the rising generations.
Please do not think for a moment that | am
one of those that care but little about "book
learning" l never saw a man in my life
that had enough to hurt him. Let the boys
be thorough with their books and at the
same time let them be thorough aud prac.
tical about the farm.
The papers say that there are two acres ol
potatoes that we're not dug at the agIicutur
al college in New Hampshire the last fall
Surely that is not the way to teach good
farming, and do you suppose there is good
farmer that would be caught in scrape O.
that kind?
The one great trouble with many Of oul
agricultural writers is that they betray
themselves in every ten lines that they
write, to practical farmers. They boldly
state things that men time after time have
demonstrated to be un.rue. And here lei
me say that find less such writing in tn,
VERMONT FARMER than in any agriculture
paper that have ever read. G.
[Our correspondents remarks seem t,
come from practical writer. The more o
that kind we have, the better. We full
agree with him that an experimental farn
is indispensable to thoroughly complet'
and successful agricultural school, but we d.
not understand him as joining in the cry tina
has been raised that the college should pur
chase such farm and hire it managed whel
there has never been even an applicant fo
agricultural instruction. We trust not man,
years more may pass before there may b
such demand created among the youth o
Vermont for this class OF instruction that i
shall be found necessary and profitable t
have both farm and thorough, practica
farmers at its head. We have seen an iter
somewhere giving the reason why two acre
Of potatoes were left in the ground on. tn
farm at Hanover, which was that the croI
was so injured by rot, rust, or something O
the sort, that it was not worth saving.-ED
FARMER.