262 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The movement now making in connection with the Maine State 

 Seminary at Lewiston is of the character indicated. Its aim is to 

 enlarge very materially the facilities already secured for imparting 

 to young men who may desire it, such a scientific training as shall 

 best prepare them for the successful pursuit of agriculture, and it is 

 hoped, that not only may this be carried into efiect, but that all sim- 

 ilar institutions may do likewise. 



With regard to our Colleges, it is believed that however well they 

 may have met the requirements of the times when they were insti- 

 tuted, few of them, if any, have sufficiently modified their course 

 of instruction to retain equal adaptation to present educational 

 wants, now that so great changes have since passed upon men and 

 things. 



The time was, when there were abundant and satisftictory reasons 

 why classical studies should occupy the prominent position and de- 

 mand the large proportion of the term of study which was accorded 

 to them. In a word, experience had proved their utility and so it 

 was fitting and proper ; — and it would be as erroneous as it would 

 be illjudged and unnecessary, to depreciate the benefits which may 

 accrue to the scholar from their pursuit at the present day, some of 

 which can hardly be secured by any other method. But at the 

 same time it is to be remembered, that changes of great magnitude 

 have taken place; great enlargements of the boundaries of know- 

 ledge have been made ; new interests have arisen, and these, as well 

 as pursuits formerly carried on in a purely empirical manner, like 

 agriculture for example, now see the importance of scientific re- 

 search, and demand both the further prosecution of its investigations 

 and the diffusion of so much scientific knowledge as has been already 

 acquired and possesses a practical bearing on their business. Science 

 now asks for the prominence formerly given to the classics, and for 

 the same reason, to wit — experience has proved its utility and its 

 adaptation to the wants of the age. The day has passed when the 

 dead languages may hold undisputed supremacy in College halls. 

 In due proportion with other subjects, according to the relative im- 

 portance of each, long may they hold the place they justly merit. 

 We would not discard the old to introduce the new. The aim is not 

 to supercede but to re-arrange ; and if possible to enlarge the 

 sphere of education. Without interfering with other fields, Natural 

 Science presents a peculiar field of its own; new, rich and varied, 



