388 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



commenced at once ; and when an education is obtained, 'it should 

 not be thought a misuse and abuse to enter the ranks of mechanics 

 and farmers. 



It is not a matter of satisfaction to call up the short-comings of 

 our farmers and mechanics, or to find fault with the agriculturist 

 and laborer. But when complaint is loud and deep that they can 

 but keep soul and body together on account of the parasites that 

 feed upon their labor, it is fair that they take upon themselves the 

 degree of blame that properly attaches to them. Let them first 

 qualify themselves to adorn a higher position, let them take the 

 requisite steps and work for desired results, let them defend their 

 rights and immunities in society and government, then they will 

 no longer be treated as mud-sills. 



The large grant of land by Congress, conditional upon further 

 appropriations by the different States, for the purpose of giving 

 them a better education, is a tardy but real acknowledgment of 

 what belongs to their class, and of what they need. The discus- 

 sions and deliberations, in various quarters, which this measure 

 has awakened, has led, as yet, to no special interest among a 

 great majority of those for whose benefit the appropriation was 

 made. Politicians, speculators and managers of bankrupt literary 

 institutions, seconded by a few farmers, who are not the best 

 representatives of their class, hovered around the bequest and 

 threatened to swallow it up. The laborer is asleep and dreaming. 

 If he goes to vote annually, and receives a little flattery for what 

 he has done, he seems to think that it is about all he is entitled 

 to. He scratches hard at the vermin that infest him and feed 

 upon his labor, and puts the best face he can upon his condition, 

 all the while inwardly praying that something will turn up to take 

 him and his out of and above the calling of laborer. lie is so 

 accustomed to hard usage and robbery that he expects nothing ; 

 aud even doubts the sincerity of the government. He has given 

 up looking for fortune in farming, luxury in labor, or a life of 

 fame in years of toil and fatigue. lie considers education not 

 suited to his lot, and has learned to laugh at " Book Farming," 

 and science in the field, and refinement in farm life. This is a 

 terrible fault. 



That we^ire as well situated, all things considered, — including 

 parasites — as those of other places, I quote from a leading agri- 

 cultural paper, published not far from the "Hub." "Taking all 

 things into consideration, we think the farmers of New England 



