The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-01-25
The Farmers Institute.
HELD N PAW PAW, JANUARY II AND IS, 1877:

Reported for the True Northerner.
The farmers OF our county have never given
so large patronage to any similar meeting held
in Paw Paw as they did to the Institute to-day.
The more intelligent class OF farmers we're well
represented and on Friday gave come spirited
and instructive five minute speeches. Ar
rangemer;s had previously been made by the
County Agricultural Society TO accommodate
those from afar. and hon. j. j. Woodman was
made the presiding officer. on assembling
Thursday evening" Mr.. Woodman sad
Farmers OF Van Buren, County and OF West
ern Michigan We have met together to COM
pare views and discuss questions intimately
connected with farming and the science Of agrl-
culture. Although agriculture existed before
literature or government and was made by
Creative wisdom the first and most important
calling OF man, yet 1t was left for US of the
nineteenth century to place it where it Justly
belongs-among the sciences to be taught in
the schools, studied as necessity and followed
as profession. The history OF the Old World
has been but the history OF oppression to the
tlller OF the soil; he has been deprived OF the
ownership OF the land be cultlyates and made
mere tenant, serf. fixture OF the soil de-
pendent upon his lord and master, and forbid
den to stand up IN the pride OF his manhood
and the image OF his Maker and show himself
the peer of others in social life, intellectual
culture and political influence. Il was not un-
ul the compact signed in the Mayflower, which
resulted n enactment OF just laws, that agri-
culture burst ats letters and became recognized
as the most honorable OF all avocations OF life
The establishment OF free institutions brought
new era IN the history OF agriculture. The
farmer is now the owner of the soil, thinker,
manager and executor. Self-interest and laud-
able ambition TO excel has led him TO seek
knowledge from science, observation, expert
ence, and discussion and interchange of views
upon practical questions. Free schools, agri-
cultural colleges fairs, associations and insti-
tutes have been established and disseminated
knowledge and tripmphed over ignorance. The
superstltlons OF past ages are being fast dis
PEELED by truth and the light Of knowledge.
Science may never be able to explain tue growth
and decay in the vegetable world, or to fathom
Geology. utilize Chemistry or Meteorology;
knowledge cannot prevent drouths, storms,
heat or frosts, blight or mildew, or the depre-
dations OF insects, but it may overcome the ef-
fects OF these in a great measure. That STU
dent is fortunate who leaves school with Gull
tlvated taste for study and correct knowledge
of the principles underlying the great truths of
science. Education 10 be useful must be prac-
teal and thorough The great questions of in
terest TO the American farmer OF to-day are.
How to raise crops for profit, and How TO keep
up the richness and fertility OF the SOIL The
soil can be made 10 produce more, and this
should be understood. These institutes are
for mutual benefit and the dissemination Of
useful knowledge, and if rightly conducted will
result in much good. There are men here,
fresh from the field, and ripe IN age and ex-
perence, sand men OF learning with their wis
dom, science and demonstrations, and 1t only /
remains for us to engage in full and free in
terchange Of views upon the interesting SUBJ
iects that will corae before Us TO make this one
OF the most profitable gathering OF farmers
ever held in this county We are happy to
welcome so many to this intellectual treat, this
farmers love FEAST" and invite you to accept
the hospitaities OF our people.
President Abbot said he had not at any pre-
cedlng institute made the Agricultural College
the theme OF his address He had sometimes.
when called upon, given some account of it.
1t was not his intention to speak OF it except
IN one aspect-as an institution TO educate
students. The institution was founded at the
urgent request Of the farmers OF the State in
1855 and was opened to students in 1857. 1t
was found that less than ] * per cent of the
ora At ~ nfh b
This college sends forth from forty 10 fifty per
cent OF its graduates into the ranks of farmers
Students are admitted on such qualifications
as can be had in the common schools of the
State. Arithmetic, geography, grammar, read
ing, spelling and writing are not taught at the
college; these studies are required, and all
that are required TO enter. full course of
study consumes four years, but students are
received for select courses of their own choos-
ing. The full course embraces. besides pro-
fessona studies, some studies leading to gen.
eral culture and information aud discipline in
the use OF language. Farmers certainly need
to be able to think clearly, and il is well known
that clearnsss OF thinking and clearness Of ex-
preston go together. To be able to tell what
he knows is means OF influence among men
and would 20 far to give to the farming class
the social and political position they should
take. Political Economy is science. the ele-
ments OF which farmers ought to know. Some !
persons have objected to the college for giving
a fraction Of Its time to these non-professional
studies, but the farmers never do-they know
too we'll the benefits OF general education. !.
Mathematics through trigonometry, surveying,
civil engineering and bookkeeping
are taught. In mechanics the branches are :
aught which farmers.most need to know-road
making being included. II has seemed to some d
persons that the pure mathematics are carried {
too far: special students may select and leave
them out il they choose, but il is well known
that the relliest way to understand the dIrec- =
ton and amount OF forces is through trigonom- I
etry. Students are taught surveying and have
practice in it and in levelng andsn plating
md drawing. The college has instruments for
their practise. Zoology and entomology is an q
other department OF study The farmers are u