Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-12
Agricultural Colleges from the Farmers
Standpoint.

IEHCllCe anu lHeOfG COnlDlUeu luuSI WUGh
out the problems of agricultural progress
1t is of equal importance for an agricul-
tural college to employ practical farmers
us teachers of certain branches, rs to num-
Der able chemists, hotanists and military
officers among its faculty. If it is neces-
sary for the qualification of ambitions pro-
feSsors that the students of the agIicul-
lural colleges should excel in literary,
scientific, military and mathematical at
tainments, let it be remembered that such
course is departure from the original
purpose of their organization, q disap-
poinlment to the agriculturists of the land,
and a certain cause for failure in the nsti-
tuition itself. If there are young men who
prefer to perfect themselves in the higher
branches at the state college instead of at
Harvard Yale or Dartmouth, why should
they monopoize the privileges of an in
stituton founded and endowed to encour-
age the practice of agriculture? If the
young aspirant for scientific fame must
needs spend four years time, and one
thousand five hundred dollars of his faith
cr's money, to graduate at the state col
lege, cannot the young farmer be accom-
modated with a shorter term, devoted to
purely agricultural teachings-say three or
four months during the winter seasonal
far less expense, while leaving him free
to practice his theoretical lessons, and earn
his living on some farm, during the re-
naming eight or pine months of the
year?
Many of our ablest physicians and sur
geons have worked faithfully and dill
r ho 70
sufficient means to attend II medical
school or college, lectures and investiga-
tions the other one-quarter; many prom
ising lad has earned his bread by daylight,
and attended evening school or spent his
leisure hours in study at home; many a
teacher has reached eminence in his call
ing, who was obliged to alternate intervals
of labor and study. How many farmers
can be induced to sell their farms to obtain
the means of sending a son to college, be-
sides donating to the lad his time for four
wears? Farmers must be reached from
their own standpoint; few country boys
are born with silver spoons in their
mouths, yet is this sufficient reason why
hey cannot attend Il state college? Is
there any justice in the state Of Massachu-
sets endowing lis agricultural college
with five hundred thousand dollars of the
peoples money, and then permitting the
managers to placard the doors, " None
but rich mems sons admittcd?' If two
hundred students can be accommodated
within present buildings aud taught by
present faculty, while but seventy under
graduates are now in attendance, could
not one hundred and thirty additional stu
dents be admitted for few months in
sruction each year at II very slight in
creased cost to each individual?
The agricultural college should attract
not repel, should be the central sun of pro-
gress, its light and heat Illuminating every
farm and farmer in the state, not the cold,
pale moon shining only by reflected light
The public soon learn to value an institu.
zion according TO its deserts The COM
munity seldom undertakes individuals oil
organizations, and if they attract no fol
lowing nor support, no friends, or cham
pions, it is safe TO attribute the cause to in.
herit weakness somewhere. Agricultural
colleges should raise only such corn
wheat and rye rs possess superior feeding
qualities for man and beast, and distribute
he seed at cost throughout the state; they
should breed only the best herds of cattle
and focks of sheep. for the benefit of the
live stock in the state; they should be able
to determine the best fertilizers, the bes
methods of draining, irrigating and cult
waiting, spreading such information broad
cast. The college farm should be the
model flrm of the state. Are practica
| farmers to be induced to support II state
college simply because II doctor of laws
prcsides, or II master of arts gives instruc
ton, or because bachelor of science
superintends the farm? Are farmers to b,
convinced of the utility of a college simply
| by an array Of books. specimens, cabinets
collections and munitions of war? VIVA
more convincing arguments do the Massa
chusetts farmers need that the state col
lege is not managed in the interests o
practical agriculture, than the yearly off
cial reports of the college faculty? Ameri
can CuLtiUatOr.
The farm itself is the best school for TIT
farmer. A company of farmers, meeting
by previous agreement in the cultivated
fields of some neighboring farmer to spenc
an hour in investigation, discussion ant
explanation concerning some growing
crop, could not fail of learning importan
facts and of receiving valuable sugges
tons. This would be technical education
and object teaching united this would b.
happy combination of the theory o
farming with its practical illustration
Every community of agricullurist boasti
of some farmer who raises the best field o
corn, another the best crop of potatoes, ;
| third who raises the finest animals or pro
duces the most salable butter. Could hi,
brother farmers d9vote an afternoon tC
any better advantage than in visiting in e
body this example of excellence? Are
not these suggestions full Of practical and
profitable possibilities Can the farmers
clubs and grange clubs advance the cause
of agricultural in any more judicious man.
ner than through the inauguration and en-.
conragement of farmers field meetings
during the coming season. Such an ex-
pertinent, conducted with system and an