MAINE STATE SOCIET"^. 57 



at all times to be made to foster this growing tlioughtfuluess, 

 which will in due time make known its own deficiencies, and 

 conversely therefore its own intellectual wants. The fool 

 deems himself an expert logician, a profound philosopher, an 

 educated scientific man. The honest thinker, however, is pain- 

 fully conscious of his own short comings, and struggles to rise 

 superior to them. Every such hearty endeavor will evince 

 some decided improvement which is but a stepping stone to 

 other and grander successes. What therefore, is necessary to 

 arouse a greater degree of thoughtfulness, as well as foster that 

 which already exists among farmers ? Or, to assume the language 

 of our subject — "what is the most practicable mode of supply- 

 ing the intellectual wants" which this increasing thoughtfulness 

 discloses ? 



The establishment of Agricultural Colleges under the control 

 and patronage of the State was always a favorite project with 

 the late lamented Downing, whose life and teachings ought 

 ever to be held in grateful remembrance by those who honor 

 the utterance of a sincere and noble heart, and cherish a'desire 

 for the culture and adornment of our "waste places." It is a 

 matter of great regret that he never lived to sec his designs 

 carried out, or even fully matured in his own mind. Farther 

 attention might possibly have suggested essential modifications, 

 or a total abandonment of the plan. It has always seemed to 

 our mind a costly, and on the whole, a very incomplete remedy 

 for existing evils. It necessarily removes the student, to a 

 great degree, from the appropriate field of his labors, prevents 

 the test of actual experience on his own lands, institutes a 

 speculative rather than a sound and convincing thoughtfulness, 

 and brings to bear other influences than those which a proper 

 attention to his calling demands. While in the practical carry- 

 ing out of the plan, it yet remains to be proved that the requi- 

 site attention to the out-of-door demands of such an institution 

 can ever be made to harmonize with a devotion to the more 

 scholarly requirements of the college discipline, which have ever 

 been found to be adverse to manual labor. The pupil may be 

 able to write an excellent and convincing essay on the com- 

 parative value of different breeds of cattle, but will that fitly 

 prepare him for the ofttimes unpleasant and always exacting 



