The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-08


an article on "Thc Agricultural College
Question:" taken from the Rutland Her.
aid and Globe, which very forcibly
present the views of all the intelligent
farmers of the state upon the present
application of the agricultural college
fund. We would by no means call in
question the justice of the writer's re-
marks upon that particular part of his
subject, and in fact it cannot be done.
But conceding This, it would he inter.
esting to learn how GARNER" would
make the agricultural college fund more
useful to the state than ii now is. lie
says il "should lcgitimately have been
expended in the education of the sons
of the farmers and mechanics of the
state, to prepare them not only for pri.
vate success in their various callings
but also to engage in the great work Of
developing the agricultural and mcchan.
ical resources of the state" Now it is
proverbially easy to tear down, but hard
to build up. The friends of Burlington
claim, and their claim seems founded OF
experience, that an agricultural schoo
cannot be maintained in this state, and
that an industrial school cannot be
maintained in connection with one
The reason is plain. The farmers Of
Vermont feel 10 active interest in agri
cultural education. The farmer who
intends son to follow his own pursuit
keeps him at home upon the farm and
educates him himself. He does not pro.
pose to have him wasting valuable time
at an agricultural school, learning what
he could learn more thoroughly at home
If he educates a son, he does not educate
him for farmers laborious and humble
calling, but for lawyer, minister
perchance congressman. Agriculture
al colleges in this country are notorious
ly failures. However ample their
funds, however practical and valuable
their curriculum, however learned and
competent their board of instructors,
they fail of their end-the education OF
farmers-because the Young men do not
go to them TO be educated. The num-
Der of graduates from the highest en-
dowed aud best managed agricultural
schools in other states is insignificant
and altogether out OF proportion to the
expense drumming them. Therefore. un-
til "Farmer" can make his fellow farm
ers see that the reason why they are fall
ling behind in the race for prosperity.
why terrible competition is fast cut
ting off their profits. why mortgages
remain unpaid, why dissatisfaction and
with their calling are
daily driving them from their farms and
into worse conditions elsewhere - in
short until he can make them understand
that the reason why farming does not
pay" is the want of that intelligent
method and economy which scientific
knowledge put into practice alone can
give, he ought to admit that there is
force in the plea of the advocates of
Burlington that they arc doing MS well
with the fund as can at present be done.
The time may come when an agricul-
tural school will be practicable in this
state, and in so far as "Burlington III
iuence" seeks TO prevent that consum-
nation, il deserves the reprobation of
every man. Bnt il now looks as ifpub-
lie opinion in the state, while admitting
the views as to the Righteousness of the
present disposition of the fund express
ed by "Farmer," was prepared to let
that institution keep the funds in peace,
because of the general apathy on the
subject, and the seeming Improbable
ness of keeping up the disc ussion.