THE FARMER'S WANTS. 345 



duty and another, which, if rightly improved, would soon make 

 them intelligent men. 



We know of a person who, having occasion to travel much by 

 railroad, carried the little manual before referred to in his 

 carpet-bag, and by reading it at intervals, while riding, actually 

 made himself so familiar with its contents as to be able to answer 

 every question appended to the work. This was a great acqui- 

 sition, and cost him really no "time" at all. 



Let it be recollected that such a course of application as we 

 propose will not be required during the whole of a farmer's. life. 

 If he wisely improves only a few years, especially in his younger 

 days, the great work will be accomplished, and he will be left 

 free, as he should be, to attend to other branches of knowledge. 

 Will any man, especially any young farmer, grudge the time or 

 effort ? 



We will not detain you longer by dwelling upon any other 

 real or supposed objection to the general plan presented. If 

 those we have already noticed have been satisfactorily met, if 

 there be no insuperable obstacle on the score of expense, if 

 lecturers may be had, if an audience may be secured, and the 

 whole farming community thus have the means of constant im- 

 provement and progress, then we think the matter is worthy of 

 attention, and the object we have had in view in presenting it is 

 attained. 



How gratifying would it be to know that two or three hundred 

 of these clubs existed, scattered all over this Commonwealth, 

 yet all united together in promoting the cause of agricultural 

 education ! 



Were such the case, how soon would there be an effective 

 demand for an agricultural college, in which to prepare men 

 especially to lecture before and instruct all these farmers' clubs 

 or agricultural schools, as they virtually would be, and how 

 peculiarly appropriate that Massachusetts should take the ini- 

 tiative, and lead off in a movement so needful and beneficent ! 

 How justly proud we are of our common school system ! How 

 much true glory it reflects upon the State ! What an appropriate 

 addition would this make to her great educational establish- 

 ments ! And what an enhanced interest would the people take 

 in the proceedings of all our large agricultural societies ! How 



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