Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-02
A Loss to New England Agriculture.

1t Is with deep regret that we inform our
readers that j. w. Sanborn, Esq, farm man
ager of the New Hampshire Agricultural
college, has accepted the position of pro-
fessor of agriculture in the Missouri State
University. We regret it, in spite of the
pleasure we find in knowing Mr.. Sanborns 8
talents, energy and good service to the cause
of agricultural science thus, and so early,
meets with acknowledgment from lead
ing institution of one of the great States of
the Union. The west has right to pick up
our best men in New England as they are
developed. Its penetration and liberality
in doing so is what makes the west great.
But in this case it has coveted and taken
one Of the few men amongst us who has
proved his fitness for work the need of
which is very great. Our agricultural col
leges languish for want of capable teachers,
far more than for lack of scholars. Most of
the professors "of our agricultural col
leges, are collegians of the old school, whose
only possible model is the literary college,
and whose sole ambition it seems to be to
wrest the institutions from whose funds
they are paid as much as possible away from
leges of the industrial arts, and to make of
them pale shadows, having no use or place
in any true educational system. This is the
reason why so many of them are failures
Every New England state has educated and
able farmers, who, if called to the work,
would, like Mr.. Sanborn, make the indus.
trial colleges beacon lights of progress.
There are in Vermont to-day dozen men
whom we personally know who might, if they
had the opportunity, do as much to promote
the fame of our agricultural college as Mr..
Sanborn has done in our sister state. But
if one of them, or any one like them, is
chosen for the work (or if he should chance
to be, is allowed to do it }, it will be thun-
dering surprise. How not to do it, so far,
has been the problem. Mr.. Sanborn has
filed only the post of farm manager, but he
is the single man connected with the New
Hampshire Agricultural college whose name
is known to the farmers, or through whom
the college has any reputation at home OF
abroad. We trust some one may be found
to replace him, not only in the interest Of
the college itself, but of New England agri
culture, and as an example to the other in
du strial colleges. But if such another is
found, it will be on farm, and not in a
class room. Under the Sanborn manage
ment the New Hampshire college farm has
given the past year clear net income Of
Sl,052, besides giving to the public between
four and five hundred dollars in the cost Of
experimental work of the highest value
made public through the press. Mr.. San
born has demonstrated that farming can b,
made to pay and in the last place, too
where anybody has expected it,-a colleg,
farm. In some points, by his experiments
he has upset popular ideas, but he has don't
it practically, by measure and weight. II,
has proved that we may cut our hay tot
early, as well as too late. He has showr
that the German feeding tables are not re
liable guide for American farmers; and
(perhaps the greatest miracle of all }, h,
has shown that beef can be grown at a prof
in New Hampshire. He has done much II
popularize the growth of grain in New
Hampshire in showing how, by large field
and machine culture, it can be done at a
good profit as in the west. These ar
some of the things Mr.. Sanborn has done il
the few years of his work at the New
Hampshire college, and much more he ha'
in hand which must, we fear, be dropped
and come to nothing, in consequence of hi
removal to the west. Perhaps he may hsv
a successor who will continue the work. bu
lightning rarely strikes twice in a place. Ii
the departure of Mr.. Sanborn from New
Hampshire, that state suffers deprivation
akin to that which Vermont endured in tn
removal of Professor Collier. The latter
on wider field, has shown how great wa
our loss; aud we are quite sure that tn
time is not long ere New Hampshire will b
regretting in vain, but deeply, that matte
of dollars and cents should have permitte
such sacrifice Of strength where strengt
is so greatly needed in the Granite state.