Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24
The Vermont Board Of Agriculture.

Professor Peter Collier has recently re.
signed his position as secretary Of this board,
after a service in that capacity Of five years.
In other states the custom seems 10 prevail
TO continue the secretary in his office until
very good reasons demand change.
Having, during four Of these years, been
associated with the Professor in commenc-
ing and carrying forward whatever there has
been in this work that made It Of value and
interest to the people I feel justified in say
ing few words in regard to the situation.
Being thoroughly a farmer Cthough not
thorough farmor) I felt at first that the Pro
fessor did not have thoughts in common
with the farmer, or q just appreciation OF
the value Of our practical knowledge, and a
realization Of what knowledge we really need
TO supplement what we already have. But,
as the time passed along, found erroneous
theories it, farming kindly and judiciously
corrected, and a soundness Of judgment and
a sincerity of purpose that commended the
| Professor to the different audiences we met
in all parts Of the state, and won the respect
and friendship Of the members Of the board.
During the four years that I was a member
Of the board, there were discussions in the
different meetings, in regard to the value to
/ the farmers Of the socalled agricultural col
lege. Always, in these discussions the Pro-
fessor was faithful to-his college in repre-
senting the value Of the courses Of study and
the education acquired there and his asso-
citation with the farmers and citizens Of the
| state gave them an assurance that the col
/ lege was Of value, from the fact that Profess
sor Collier was one Of the instructors.
The views of the Professor were gradually
modified and enlarged in regard to the edu-
cation necessary aud most valuable to the
farmer and also in regard to the justice to
| the farmer in the disposal Of the endowment
for an industrial school, that Vermont re-
ceved from the United States.
believe the Professor was true to the best
interests Of his college, in his ideas and de
sires and was anxious TO win for it the con
fideucc of the young men Of the state, in
crease the number Of its scholars, and its
usefulness
1t is to be regretted that the Professor had
so little sympathy from his associates, the
faculty and trustees Of the college This
lack Of cooperation seemed to show itself
in an expressed dissatisfaction with the
work performed by him.
The college have professed to be anxious
to give such educational aid to those of the
citizens of Vermont who follow agriculture
or the mechanic arts as their charter re-
quires them to give, and have proposed at
different times, and finally advertised, a
course of lectures at the college, very similar
to those delivered at the board meetings.
Yet they cannot spare the Professor to 60 to
the people with these lectures, and they
compel him to resign. We see a strange
sight a college that has fund that yields
over $4,000 a year for educating the indust-
rial classes, insisting that the secretary Of
the board of agriculture shall resign--and
another college that has no fund of this kind,
checrfully allowing one Of its professors to
take the place.
The state has lost one of its most valuable
men by this withdrawal of Professor Collier
lie was well adapted to be an instructor Of
hundreds Of the practical workers of the
state. lie gathered around him. as helpers
more men from the common people thar
were ever combined in any other educationa
movement, as will be seen by the reports Of
the board, in two large volumes, aud also by
the discussions reported for local papers.
The college at Burlington would doubt
less have continued to grow in favor with
the people as the Professor became more
and more useful, aud better known about
the state. VIII not that warmth OF feeling
that had begun to develop, change to cold
ness and dstrust and make true the asser
: ton of the 1rg,p which says of this resigna
ton "The last link is now severed between
the State Board Of Agriculture and the State
Agricultural College," 1t is evident that
there is in some quarter a decided opposi
tion to the spirit of inquiry and free dis
cussion among the farmers of the state. II
showed itself in the change Of all the mem
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