APPENDIX. 1 35 



to meet all these wants — to do all the work that will ever be 

 demanded. So that such an outlay is entirely unnecessary. 

 When the means and opportunity for the teachers of our acad- 

 emies to acquire an agricultural education are provided, the ele- 

 ments of agriculture may then be profitably studied, in a some- 

 what higher phase than in the common schools, the same as 

 mathematics and other studies now are; and this, it seems to 

 your committee, is all that can be expected through their agency. 



3. — Stock Farm, E xperimental Farm, or Farm School. 



Probably these several names are used to indicate nearly, if 

 not identically, the same thing. In most minds, such an insti- 

 tution unites a school with general farm operations, in all their 

 varieties, as a mere experimental matter. They contemplate 

 experiments on different breeds of cattle, horses, sheep and 

 swine, to determine what are the best and most profitable for 

 our climate and location ; in modes of breeding, raising, and 

 feeding animals for all purposes for which they are required; to 

 ascertain which are the best breeds, and the most effectual and 

 economical methods for the farmers of the State to follow; in 

 multiplying the quantity, improving the quality, and preparing 

 manures for the use of plants, to obtain the largest results at 

 the least cost ; in ascertaining the crops most profitable to be 

 cultivated, and the varieties of each the most perfectly adapted 

 to this end; in modes of cultivation, application of manures^ 

 selection and pres.ervation of seeds, and in all other matters of 

 interest to farriers. With this is to be connected a school where 

 the science of all this is to be taught in connection with the 

 practical farm operations. All this must be had, to secure any 

 practical results of iniportance. 



Your Committee are free to admit, that this is a most mag- 

 nificent scheme ; and were they merely looking for some great 

 and splendid affair, they could not hesitate a moment in deter- 

 mining on its adoption; but they feel they are charged with a. 

 duty different from this — to inquire, what would come of this ? 

 Is it adapted to the present wants of our farmers ? Can it, by 

 any possibility, meet the republican condition of our agricultu- 

 rists, and generally improve the farming interests ? Does it 

 promise any results commensurate with the outlay required ? 



