The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-01-12
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

EDS. COUNTRY CESrLEMAN.- How is i
that agricultural colleges have failed in
great measure 10 meet the Views Of tn,
farming community? Iu the 6rst plac,
too much has been expected Of them. L.
the second place the institutions have de.
pended more on teaching the higher
branches OF scieuce, Instead Of Practical
husbandry, having appointed professor,
we'll quali6ed for ruch instruction, but
often placing men over the farm depart.
went knowing little of practical farming
rs applicable to such institutions, aud
wanting that gentlemanly bearing SO nee.
essary 10 any one holding any position
over students. 1t is ouly b. showing
practical results that the benefit to the
country can be obtained from such iosti
tutioos; without that, all the science you
can teach will never directly advance the
system Of agriculture OF increase the pro.
duction ofithe country. Science il ooIy
knowledge. and the more intelligent the
farming con,muuity, the more likely they
are to aspire to higher aud more i'll.
proved system Of farming. But it can
never DO reduced TO an exact science, be.
ing Influenced by causes over which there
Is no control, and attended by 50 many
varying circumstances, and such varia-
tions OF soils which cannot be reduced b,
analysis to true value. Soils. even OIL
small spRce. vary so much in analysis
that the proportion aDal,zed bears such
an iL6aiteiy small proportion to the bulk
as to be Of no practical use. Chemi-try
has done more Tor practical agricul tare
than any other science. 1t is well 10
hive Knowledge Of chemistry, but cut
Of the question to think every farmer eau
be CT, mat. Better trust 10 those who
have become experts and gained reputa.
too. aud who devote their time and their
best i-tellcct to sucb pursuits. than TO de.
eeive ones self. One great point will be
gained in practical farming if that deter.
ioration of tho soil can be stopped. 20
blindly pursued, and SO increase it's pro.
duciive capacity to the bepegt Of all. A.,
the late Loo Palmerston once re marked
be Who once made two blades of grass to
grow where only one grew before. was
public beDsiactor. That eau be doue IN
many csses by more iudicious and more
provideut system Of farming The be-,
results eau only be attained by kcebing
up the iettiilty Of the roll, along win
thorough cultivation, and thu, keep VI
Its productive csIaciry. Agriculture
colleges must impress that on the uinds
OF sill by example aud practical results.
and thus prove TO all the advantages to be-
gained. It agricultural colleges would
invite all farmers TO NEE, at stated utter.
walls Tor discussion OF Various SUI jcctr land
cause them 10 take at iutere,t in them
and their own welfare, aud advise as to
tests aud experiments ueccssury to be car.
lied out. and determine such by results.
this would. / Think, greatly tend to The
advsoeenen. OF college purposes. aud ac,
rs wholesale criticism on college opera
tions.
know Of colleges where there are no,
the slightest attempts al my hing like im
proved iATming, or experiments, or any.
thing tending TO counteraot the baueiul
effects Of overcroppiOg. or teaching the
students what il termed scientific farming.
Time will correct ell these. aud deyeDpe
the ful! bsnetit 10 be derived from such
institutions. but the end 10 be gained
must lever BE- lost sight of-ths advance.
Dent Of sgriHuliure-apd that can best
be done by showing the example and
teaching 1t practically. ] sKIRvISa.