Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
Our College--Still Again.

We have received litter from one Of our
readers who takes the "other side" Of this
question as compared with DR.. Hoskins. He
says:
"Why will not some farmer who is
really in earnest in his desire to give his
son the benefit of the "higher education for
farmers" about which we hear so much, send
HIM at once to Burlington to see what may, on
pinch, be done with him there. The college
might for the sake Of getting a chance to try
its hand on one of these anomalies consent to
enter into bonds for hundred or two thous-
and of dollars that he should not be shrived
and shrouded and spirited away and con-
verted into lawyer or priest or doctor, but
that he should be returned safe and sound
to his fond parents after some stipulated
period. One thing is certain-the man has
never yet appeared at the door of the college
and asked for instruction in any branch and
been turned away empty. 1t is not a fear
that such will be the case, that actuates the
enemies and critics of the college, but the
determination that the trial shall not be made
if BY any possible effort Of theirs it can be
prevented. 1t is 10 very fact but an effort
to build themselves up at the expense of
somebody else. They are ambitious to get
the contral of funds belonging to somebody
else, no matter whom, nor by what means.
b."
In last weeks Freeman one of those level.
headed Pomfret farmers had letter on this
same matter in which he says:
vermont has an agricultural college. l
know very little about it except that there is
very little Of it for anybody to know about.
We have the thing in name and local habi-
tation, and even with drop Of a fund be-
slowed by politicians ever watchful for tn G
farmers good, but the practical substance is
yet among the things OF the future, if amoug
the things of any kind. And there seems to
be nothing like general apprehension, not
only as the steps necessary to make the
dream Of a great institution of learning
devoted to the education of farmers living
reality, but as to what that reality should be
like when made And | am unable to see
tangi- bic progress in the matter. The whole
idea being new we are quite without prece.
dent OF any kind aud the very men who must oil
necessity support and direct the enterprise
whenever it is supported and directed are
mostly doing nothing more than advancing
crude and discordant theories in the promises
and talking wildly about the subject from be-
ginning to end"
The two points here made the writer
"Peter," develops in long article, and they
are essentially well made. In the first place
there is but precious little to show for at
agricultural college, though what the future
may produce we cannot say. We suppose
the farmers feel dispeascd and restless be.
cause the university has swallowed up SO muct
money, the income of that fund, and car
show 80 little as the result for the benefit o
the farmers. 1t does not prove the thing t,
say there is a classical and literary course
those existed before the university secured
these funds The farmers do not deny tina
the present instruction is good, of a superio
order indeed, but they feel that the fund
designed for agricultural and industrial in
structon have been Incorporated by bein
devoted to other purposes, This is the com
plant Of the farmers, and, if it is true, thei
complaint is just. We certainly think the,
are correct in one particular, namely this
the college has not, 50 far as we know, mad
provision for agricultural and industrial in
struction over and above the old universit,
course anything like what these special fund
would justify. Prof Cressy's lectures, a
good as they are and as much as we hop
the farmers will attend them, are a mer
bagatelle.
As to "B's." suggestion that some farmC
Q send his son to Burlington for an education
) we think it is a wise and practical one b
. hits the nail square on the head, and we r,
8 peat and re-eniorce and emphasize his SUI
3 kobllOus 4NOM IL oOllO Will uOl uO
q we think as "B." does that they might no
Z their peace. The college proposes to Civ
2 2 such instruction as is needed, and now
2 some good, sensible, practical farmer, with
son worthy Of him, send that son to Burln
10 ton and test the matter, Yes, "B.," "
20 are right, and now, as you are a friend
the college, and one of the most we'll al
. widely known agriculturists of the state, al
o have a son whom, Of course, you wish
have follow the noble calling of his honor,
30 father, suppose you put him there and ha'
g him pursue the regular agricultural course
20 20 study in the college aud lot us sea what W
e come of it, Besides you, let other parer
q who are the special friends and champions
% the college do the same. If the profess
% friends Of the college will not do this, it c
Is not be expected that those who do not tru
s5 its wisdom will do it.