Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-05
The Agricultural College.


other professions receive an education, "the
entire tendency Of the education given is not
only away from practical usefulness in any
industrial occupation, but is calculated to
inspire contempt for any labor that is Of
necessity partly manual" Is this sol Are
the young farmers Of Vermont such weak
and yielding simpetons that they cannot
withstand the influences of those who are
studying for other professions, but must turn
about and follow in their wakeP Must
they be led away, where they cannot hear or
see anything Of those who are so much more
blessed as 10 contemplate getting their bread
and butter through life by swiudling their
fellows as lawyers, by travelling about and
depending upon the bounty of their parision-
crs as preachers, or by peddling little pills
and bisters as physicians? No; these
croakers must talk some time before they
convince us that the sons Of Vermont farm
ors are all such consummate fools.
Or is it true, on the other hand, that
when seen in the light Of intelligence and
education, as is the case at these colleges,
the professions" are found so much more
desirable than the occupation of tilling the
soil that those who have once seen it in this
manner, though entering the college with the
intention of being intelligent farmers, leave
it with feeling of contempt for any labor
that is Of necessity partly manual ?" We
do not believe such stuff, and we don't think
the mass of intelligent farmers and farmers
sons in Vermont will believe it, though the
WatcAnaan makes itself hoarse with trying
to din it into their ears.
We believe the reform movement amoug
the farmers spoken Of last week in connec-
ton with political results, is not principally
effective in the political field. Perhaps it
may have shown itself there the most plain
ly, but its silent workings, in gradually rails
classes, are more potent in other ways. 1t
may be that the grange is responsible for a
portion Of this change-we believe it is.
But that matters not SO long as the change
is here. There is a desire, increasing daily,
to do the labor of the farm in the most in.
teligent manner. The value of scientific as
well as practical knowledge is better appre-
cIated every day. 1t is needed in the appli-
cation of manure in saving aud combining
the materials Of the compost heap, in choos-
ing the best crops for certain soils, in the
breeding of stock, in the dairy-everywhere
is scientific knowledge, such knowledge as
can best be obtained at the agricultural col
lege, valuable and valued. Mr. Mason well
said, at the dairymen's meeting in Montpel-
Ter on the 10Th Of last month, Intelligence
must be the emancipation of the dairyman.
Science, machinery, cooperation, these must
liberate the dairyman and the farmer from
his never ending toll When the mind
gets the upper hand it will serve itself and
see that the body is well cared for" Such
sentiments as these are becoming more and
more popular among the everyday farmers
Of Vermont, and We trust the day may not
be far in the distance when the agricultural
college, as a necessary means for the acquir-
ing Of the required scientific knowledge, may
be so well patronized tha5 it shall be found
necessary to add an experimental farm and
all modern implements and improvements to
the facilities which it already possesses. The
lack Of such farm for the practical working
out Of experiments and the demonstration of
theories is one Of the strongest grounds ofthe
complaints of the enemies Of the present ad-
ministration Of the college fund Were
there good agricultural class, we do not
doubt such farm would become a necessity,
and it would probably be forthcoming, but
it would seem the height Of folly to expond
large sum Of money in the purchase of
such a farm, stock, and machinery, and in
the employment of the necessary labor to
carry it on, when there is not aud never has
been student in the agricultural course Of
the college.
The last report Of the trustees to the leg
islature closes with these words "But ur-
gent as are our wants in all these directions,
we wish to impress upon your honorable
body that what we need or rather what the
state needs most in its university, is first,
aid for poor young men and young women
in the form Of scholarships, aud next, the en-
dowment of one or two prOfessorships in the
agricultural department"
This, like all the other acts Of the trus-
tees, witnesses TO their honest desire to make
the agricultural college as efficient as IpOssi-
Bile. In consequence of the cutlery against
the college an investigating committee was
appointed, consisting of James X. Tobey, OF
Calais, ID. s. Storrs of Island Pond, Edward
S. Dana, of Cornwall, and State Senators
Walton and Alleu, who made a report en-
tirely endorsing the management of the col
lege and stating that it was complying ex-
actly and explicitly with the letter and spirit
Of the law aud legislature composed
mainly Of farmers, acquiesced in the report.
With regard to the value and even ne
cessity of thorough education for the high.
est success on the farm, we think none have
doubts. Tho rapidly increasing number
who are bringing science aud education to
bear in their farm operations renders it more
and more necessary that all who follow the
occupation, in order to achieve any consider
able degree of success in competition with
such farmers, must meet intellectual ability