No. 57.] 149 



rous. The cultivatorj horse rake, and barrow-drill are used by a few 

 of the best farmers. 



AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. 



BY A. J. WYNKOOP. 



Since writing the above, I have been reflecting upon the impor- 

 tance of agricultural information, or rather agricultural education, 

 being more generally disseminated; and would respectfully suggest 

 for the consideration of the N. Y, State Agricullural Society, the 

 propriety of recommending the establishment of an agricultural 

 school in each county, connected with the societies already formed. 



The prosperity of our State and the perpetuity of our form of go- 

 vernment so essentially depend upon the proper, thorough and prac- 

 tical education of the great mass of the people, that it does seem 

 to me that every philanthropist and Well wisher of the human fami- 

 ly should feel an interest in this important subject. Much has been 

 done within the last year to ameliorate the condition of the unfortu- 

 nate slaves of appetite, in the temperance reformation; and if a few 

 will work with the same zeal, to awaken the public mind with re- 

 gard to the importance of a thorough agricultural education, doubt- 

 less it may be accomplished. 



There is a radical defect in the academical and collegiate institu- 

 tions of our country in this particular, that while attending to the 

 cultivation of the mind, the exercise, indispensable to the formation 

 of a healthy and robust constitution, is essentially neglected. 



The establishment of county agricultural schools will remedy this 

 important defect, giving to the pupil exercise in the open air, which 

 is indispensably necessary to the formation of a healthful constitu- 

 tion, w^iile acquiring an essential part of an education, a knowledge 

 of the best method of cultivating the soil. There is another and 

 perhaps not less important error, too common in the high schools in 

 our country, viz: boys, both from inclination and the foolish fashions 

 of the day, early learn, what they are never willing to forget, that 

 it is ungentlemanlyf and beneath the character of a freshman or so- 

 phomore, to perform any manual labor, and if the parent or guar- 

 dian has wealth, they, as a general thing, help instil into the minds 

 of the youth under their direction this idea, alike destructive to fu- 

 ture usefulness and happiness, by furnishing the means necessary 

 to enable them to live while at school without labor. The idea that 

 it is dishonorable to labor, is at war with the best interests of the 

 individual and the spirit of our free institutions, and should be the 

 very last instilled into the minds of those destined soon to exercise 

 the responsibility of a free and independent citizen of this glorious 

 republic. 



There are many other errors, which the Innits of this communi- 

 cation will not permit pointing out. 



