The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-11-07

not graduated three such students during
the last fifteen years" Now" / said,
"when you consider that the first two states
named teach practical agriculture on the
farm, and that the last three teach only the
theory and precious little of even that, you
can account for this strange contrast" The
doctor thought few moments and then
said, "This agricultural college business is
greater humbug than thought 1t was, but
why don't the state take hold Of the mat
ter?" " 1t cannot. The act of Incorporating
the institution is like the laws of the Modes
and Persians in Daniels time; 1t cannot be
changed by the state. And the University
of Vermont don't propose to alter its ways
to benefit the farmers, | suppose. But can
nothing be done?" Connecticut got out of
the difficulty by establishing an agricultural
school, and Rhode Island is getting out in
the same way" "And that is why you
propose a school for Vermont" Yes, this
is the only state that has not the proper ia
cilities for such education as young farmers
most need" $50 you don't like to have
your native state get behind?" Not in so
important a matter. have no personal end
in view, as you well know | shall be none
the better If such a school is established
none the worse If it is not" I" But is it re-
ally necessary that students should work?
Would it not be better for them to spend
their time in study than to be doing. what
they do at home ?' " In the first place it
work while daily. Then some may attend
who do not know anything of farm work
Then few farmers boys are properly trained
at home to handle tools and take advantage
of work. There are scientific principles
underlying many of the simple operations
on the farm which few farmers understand.
1t seems simple matter to hitch a span of
horses to a plow, but it really requires a
good deal of skill to do it right. Then If
students don't work they soon lose all rel
ish for it and interest in it, and never make
real practical farmers. Besides, the stu
dents can pay large part of their expenses
by labor, and the state can get thousand
or two dollars year, from farm" There
would be no chance for coeducation in
such a school" Coeducation is one of the
doctors hobbies, so his remark did not sur
prise me. /" l think there would" / said.
Domestic economy and housewifery could
be taught in the same school. The boys
could study and work, and the girls could
study and cook" 4" A capital idea, only |
should pity the boys stomachs. But what
will spoil your nice little plan all around
will be the cost of the thing. If Governor
Dillingham; had only to wave his hand and
cry Presto, changer and thus cause a set
of buildings to rise from the ground like a
fairy palace, all furnished and with nice
farm, the legislature might vote an annual
appropriation to carry it on. But the farm
ers especially will vote against anything
ludJ is going W DtutllJ butlllStlNtS, uOh L
know why it is but have known farmers
who could give five dollars to start brass
band or get up Fourth of July celebration,
far easier than they could give their wives
a dollar to get something they really
needed" Eyes, but you don't expect such
men get into the legislature" No. But
it's farmers nature, at least hereabouts,
to do nothing to promote agriculture. May
be they are outgrowing it, but the Univer-
sity folks can go up to Montpelier and coax
them fellows into voting money to build a
hall for military tactics or some such tom
foolery that never will do the farmers or
the state any good plaguy sight easier
than dozen such men as Mr.. Messer, for
instance, could get them to start a farm
school that would pay for itself a dozen
times in the next ten years." How much
would it cost to start such school?'' " II
some town would give farm with decent
buildings on it, perhaps school could be
carried on year or two without expanding
more than four thousand or so in getting it
up. But to do the square thing, the state
ought to expend twenty-five or thirty thou
sand. Then an institution could be estab-
lished that would be an honor to the state"
" Economy first, honor second, if"-just
then red-headed boy rushed up and yelled
frantically, Doctor doctor, Mis- Jinkins'
baby lawful sick, an she wants yer tcome
rite over this minnit." The doctor hurried
away and our talk ended.