Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-09

demonstrate the fact that useful men in any
department Of business can only be developed
by the combination Of the practical with the
scientific and theoretical in their education z
Our schools in all departments, where any
exist, are founded upon this principle.
II our sons choose the legal profession wo
find schools provided where not only the
principles Of law are taught, but where the
student is required to apply them where
supposablO legal cases are tried, involving
the same principles as the genuine ones which
are brought before our courts of justice, and
the students legal knowledge aud acumen are
put 10 thorough test, that he may learn
the practical bearing of the principles and
theories which have been taught him.
In schools where surgery and medical
science are taught the same practical appli.
cation Of principles is required. The stu.
dent, whether male or female, is required TO
demonstrate the statements Of the textbooks
by direct reference to genuine subjects.
Difficult surgical operations are performed
in presence Of the classes, aud students are
required to witness, and often to participate
in practical work, that they may become ia.
miliar with the details of medical practice.
In divinity schools even, where if any
where this practical feature could be
omitted, l am told that students are re.
quired to practice the writing of essays or
sermons designed to illustrate the various
doctrines taught, and especially those varie-
ties or shades Of doctrine upon which the
sect having the institution in charge base
their peculiar, distinctive belief.
In mercantile colleges, not only the prin.
ciples Of book keeping and penmanship are
taught, but the student is required to per-
form all the details Of the business for the
pursuit of which he is being educated.
While we give the lawyer, the minister,
the doctor and the merchant each u special
practical education, why should we except
the farmer There is certainly no branch
Of business which more imperatively demands
this practical feature, in the education of
those fitting for its labOrs, than that of agri-
culture. We might as we'll undertake to
educate an engineer without an engine,
sculptor without marble, malet or chlsel, a
painter without his easel, pallet or brush,
and each Of the latter, without reference to
the works Of the great masters in their re-.
spoctive departments, as to attempt to edu-
cate farmer without farm, stock and
crops.
All admit, that special preparation is
required for difficult, special service. hence
schools where young men can make the study
Of applied science in its various departments
q speciality, are demanded, and as l have
shown, established. and this is in accord
ance with the plainest dictates Of reason and
practical common sense. Is the science and
practice Of agriculture 30 easily understood,
or Of so little Importance, that we may rea.
sOuably make this an exception Can the
call for the establishment Of schools where
our farmers sons who have deliberately
chosen the calling of their fathers, can study
applied agricultural science, be justly pro-
nouuced inconsistent with the com mon prac.
tice with regard to oil other professions /?
If the farmers Of Vermont ask only that
their sons who are to succeed them on their
farms shall have corresponding educational
facilities with those who select other call.
ings, ask Pres Buckham if the demand is
unreasonable If so, will he point out our
error If the demand is just one, will he
aid us in securing those educational facili-
ties, which the proper development of our
agricultural resources demand, and which
the best interests Of the state demand7
FARMER.