CONNECTION OF THE BOARD WITH THE COLLEGE. £33 



benefits which would accrue to the college itself from such a con- 

 nection. 



I stated, in the commencement of my remarks, that agricultural 

 education is yet in its infancy. And it is so. But while the ap- 

 plication of science to the art of tilling the earth has attracted the 

 attention of the best educators of the age, it has been determined, 

 as a general rule, that devotion to matters of practical importance 

 lies at the foundation of the best system of instruction in this 

 branch of education. In the school founded by Fellenberg, at 

 Hofwyl, in Switzerland, were combined: 1, a pattern farm; 2, an 

 experimental farm ; 3, a manufactory of agricultural implements; 

 4, a school of industry for the poor ; 5, a boarding gchool ; 6, an 

 institute of agriculture, theoretical and practical. And so success- 

 ful was this institution, that at one time its pupils were "employed 

 at high salaries, in various parts of Eui'ope, to superintend and 

 direct the labors of agriculture. Dr. Bright, in his recent travels 

 in Hungary, saw one of them who had the superintendence of an 

 extensive estate which he visited, the products and revenues of 

 which had been quadrupled in a short time by his judicious man- 

 agement. The same traveller enumerates eight schools, on the 

 Hofwyl plan, which had been established by the government, or 

 by individuals, in the Austrian States. In these the course of 

 study generally lasts three years, in which time the pupils are 

 instructed in natural philosophy, chemistry, natural history, and 

 veterinary science ; while upon lai'ge experimental farms they are 

 taught agriculture, the management of fruits and forest trees, and 

 the care of cattle, sheep, swine and bees." 



The Emperor Napoleon established a school at AlfoEt, where "all 

 the branches of science connected with agriculture are taught. 

 Chemistry, botany, the anatomy of cattle, farriery, with the 

 mechanics, and as much of geology as is known, and farm woi'k 

 and domestic economy in every branch, and down to the smallest 

 article, are there, exhibited and explained." The effect of this 

 school was to improve in many respects the agriculture of France, 

 by introducing new and better modes of cultivation, machinery of 

 various kinds, and by sending into the provinces scientific men, so 

 educated that their science was made practically useful. 



"At the school established by the Emperor of Prussia at Moglin, 

 the value of the farm was increased, in twelve years, from 2,000 

 to 12,000 rix dollars. The branches taught in this school were 

 mathematics, chemistry, geology, botany, veterinary science, ento- 



