272 WISCONSIN AGRICULTUEE. 



They have thus voluntarily conceded that the pre-requisites for 

 eminence in other pursuits were not essential to the jDrofession 

 of agriculture — that with no talent, genius or skill, a man might 

 be a farmer, but he would not answer for any other trade or 

 profession. 



No good and sufficient reasons can be urged why agriculture 

 should not be taught as a branch of learning in our common 

 schools — none why in these schools it should not have its com- 

 petent instructors, its libraries, its apparatus and cabinets. At 

 least there should be an agricultural department in our high 

 schools, academies, colleges and universities, where our young 

 men who design following the profession of farming may be 

 suitably educated for their high and dignified calling. 



Some few States have gone nobly forward ia the discharge of 

 their duty Avith reference to the long neglected profession of ag- 

 riculture. Maine took the lead in this great work, and establish- 

 ed its schools principally devoted to scientific and practical in- 

 struction in farming. Connecticut, I think has an agricultural 

 school — so has Massachucetts and New York, and if I mistake 

 not, professorships of agriculture in several of their colleges. 

 And shall Wisconsin, though among the last to be admitted to 

 the sister-hood of States, be the last, intelligent and progressive 

 as she is, to undertake so important, so noble a work ? No — she 

 will not be behind — she has the will and the means requisite, 

 and will move forward to dispute, through the provisions she 

 shall make, and the agencies she shall put into operation, the 

 palm of agricultural interest, thrift, prosperity and wealth, with 

 the oldest States in the Union. 



There can be no time better than the present, for securing the 

 desiderata of which I have been speaking. A portion of the pro- 

 ceeils of the Swamp Lands, when sold, might be set aside as a 

 fund for the endowment of an Agricultural College, and the 

 purchase of lands for a Model Farm. These can be obtained far 

 more cheaply now than at some future period. And when once 

 such a school with its model farm, has been established on a per- 

 monent basis, the most important results are sure to follow. 

 "Agriculture is suddenly raised from its abasement, and placed 



