Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-13

Mr.. Tnkham, the agricultural editor of the
Montpelier freent0 has recently been look
ing over the New Hampshire Agricultural
College and gives the following results OF his
observations
Other States have agricultural colleges
as well as Vermont, and still they are not
happy. New Hampshire, our next door
neighbor over the river has .oue which is
located ut Hanover and this is about how
they are situated 1t has a cash fund of
more than one hundred thousand dollars ::
the best building for Its purposes of any
in the country, which mas connected with
it, or rather has the privilege oi unlimited
use of one OF the most expensive farms in
Grafton county. On this farm the students
have the chance to work at so much per hour,
which is not much improved 1t has access
to all the libraries, laboratories and other
scientific appurtenances of Dartmouth col
lege, and with Its gilt of about fifty scholar
Ships and other pecuniary thelps to students,
with faculty OF fair abilities and board ui
trustees who are devoted and earnest. and rs
one of their agricultural papers express 1t,
are willing to follow any course winch pro-
misses success - with all the Sc facilities ard
Inducements it had last Year but nine stu
dents, only one of whom entered that year.
and the best and most earnest friends of the
college are substantially agreed i'll acknowl-
edging it II failure.
In conversation with some of the students
and alumni OF iirst-cass position, whose in
telllgence and candor We had full faith in, We
gathered the following facts There entered
III 1877 one student to the agricultural col
lege who staii awhile got sick of 1t and
LETT three graduated at the commence
ment ot 1878 I'm spring., AMI there Were
seven or eight now in college. When ques-
TONED as to the alleged indigni,ies put upon
the agricultural stuuents, said there WAS some
truth IN the statement, and some cause for
1t that they were not students OF Dartmouth.
but of the New Hampshire Agricultural Col
lege that they were admitted with an inic-
nor preparation TO that allowed In Dart
mouth, III either classical or scientific de-
partments, and while these courses took four
''long years, the agricultural college required
but three short" years, graduating them i'll
spring with the degree OF i. 5. then they
go away and call themselves graduates and
alumni of Dartmouth. The selt-rcspoct of
the students of Dartmouth would not per-
mt them 10 recognize as equals the students
of college which accepted students with
limited preparation, and graduated them
from ar inferior course. The idea that these
distinctions were because they were farmers
sons was secuted as ridiculous, Ms n large ma-
Jority of the students, and some OF the best
as well as the most popular, are sons OF far
mers, and their intended or possible future
business has no influence i'll causing these
distinctions, and further that classical col
lege receiving students with so little prcpa-
ration and graduating them from such an ill.,
terior course would not find It's students re-
ceived at Dartmouth on terms of equality
loss If they classed themselves as alumni OF
Dartmouth. This is the Dartmouth boys
side of the story, and TO us il seems to have
some force.
Concerning the occupations taken hy the
graduates of the New Hampshire Agricutu-
raj College. We learned from the statistician
of the college that one had taken theology,
one medicine Others, dentist, druggist, civil
engineer, architect, one teacher in Indian ter
rtory and ono clerk in millinery store, but
did not know of one farmer.
Whatever may be the opinion us To the
CAUSES, tho best and most earnest friends OF
the college are substantially agreed in pro-
nouncing IT II failure.
This being the case. the NEXT thing in or
der is to decide how failure may hc changed
to success. Some think there Is no demand
for course of study designed to teach prac-
teal agriculture, and that boy goes to col
lege for something else than to learn blowing
applying manure, hoeing and harvesting
crops, which can better I've learned on farm.
These are generally men of II liberal educi,-
uun. who would give a boy thorough men
tai drill at college without any reference To
his future calling or occupation. But some
OF the farmers take IL different view Medi-
cai colleges teach medicine law schools law.
and an agricultural college should tcnch ag-
riculturc and when II boy has gradu-
ated ut an agricultural college he should he
able to farm 1t" with science and profit.
Another class think the course ui instruction
too short and its field too narrow. that far
mer 'sfon or the studentat an agricultural col
lege tior We suppose 1t ls not intended toe
clule all boys except farmers boys from enter
ing it. should Toe given as thorough trimming
in his line of study would be Thought
necessary IN any branch of science.
These would make the course of study irur
tull Years instead of three short ones and
from these various and conflicting views the
management must ind the right and proper
thing To be done, and they ijnd 1t pretty
tough Job.
The huimoN in a number early in the
year contained an article on tho subject.
probably written by the president, which
states substantially what has been decided
on rs the plan OF its future course, which
''contemplates IL high and well-rounded but
purely English education, aud to furnish at
the same time all the knowledge directly
suhseryient TO agriculture irbiCl c,iI b, tnnM
IN It Schooi.'
We clipa portion OF the article
Now and then "a conpla int has been made of the
location of the col eye in Hanover, and something
said of removing It But, so far as can learn,
thl, inca ns nothing but an occasional solitary com
,.lasu M nara II In has of fsar