Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-04-10
Our College Presidents on Agricultural
Education.

Alta recent agricultural meeting, at which
both President Hubert of Middlebury, and
President Buckham, of Burlington, were
present, the former is reported to have
spoken thus q have attended two or three
of these meetings. At one of them | heard
paper read by a farmer which acknowl-
edge that | could not comprehend. On in
quiry, found that the author was a thor
ough scientific thinker, one whom | would
put against any college professor. He was
a specialist, like old professors. | asked
him if he would take my son and show him
his business, teach him farming scientifi-
cally. He said he would. Then if he would
take two, four, or five, which he thought he
might do under some considerations, such
as the payment of board and some compen-
sation for tuition. Finally, l asked If he
would take twenty. Why said he, that
would be opening an institution | said
that was Just what | meant. With some
additions to his house, he thought he should
enjoy this plan. This is my idea of an ag.
ricultural college. We want just such an
institution, with living man at the head"
The gentleman here referred to we sup
pose to have been our friend G.. G. Pringe,
of Charlotte; and certainly the high eulo'
GUM bestowed upon him is thoroughly mer-
tied Yet he is, and always has been, a
plain, working farmer With such as he,
and that other Vermont boy, Professor At
1 I al C
duction for an efficient teaching corps for
an industrial school of the highest ORDER
At the same meeting President Buckham
said "If | had revelation from heaven
that my boy was going to be a farmer |
would give him the most thorough educa-
ton. | do not want to have others look
down on him. He should learn to speak in
public, and influence men by writing. But
the time comes when he deliberately chooses
to be farmer. Now what kind? There
are two kinds, scientific and practical. You
cannot get first-class work except on a scien-
tific basis. Routine work can be done by
rule. But the master workman on the great
Victoria Bridge or the Chicago Tunnel must
be scientific workman. The locomotive
engineer must understand his machine in
every part, while some mechanic only knows
how to repair separate parts. So the farmer
should understand his engine like a master
workman; the laws and forces by which he
works. soil, atmosphere, animal life, plant
life, heat, electricity, mechanical forces.
l.. H.,
farmer; no other draws on so large circle
of sciences, and applies their laws to his
calling as he, such as mineralogy, botany,
meteorology, mechanics, political economy.
He cannot afford to leave out either. Of
all workers, farmers need to know these
most"
No better talk than this has ever been
heard upon this subject And well did Hon.
+. d. Mason voice the average sentiment of
the thinking farmers of the state when he
said that he thought our two College Pres.
idents had some good ideas, and there were
hopes of them. What he wanted was agri
cultural schools which will combine theory
and practice, science and art, and a hand tc
execute-a system that will couple the ex
ercises of the schoolroom with the labor OF
the field. The education our farmers need
is not impaired by our colleges"
But why can we not, letting by-gones
be by-gones," unite in utilizing our advan
tages ? Have not the time and the mel
come Why stand we idle ? Are we wait
ing for two thousand Agassiz's to keep our
district schools, before we begin?