16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



standing of its mysteries, and devoted to social and civil life, 

 with a proper and refined conception of their duties — give us a 

 college like this, and Massachusetts will have accomplished an 

 educational work, which will give her an influence wherever 

 land is divided among freemen and cultivated by an intelligent 

 yeomanry. Nearly half a century ago, one of the best observers, 

 thinkers and writers on agricultural topics in this country, one 

 of the earliest advocates of agricultural education, labored for 

 an institution like this. I refer to Judge Buel, of Albany. In 

 his correspondence I find the following : " I consider the plan 

 suggested by the Albemarle Society as defective, inasmuch as it 

 makes agriculture an auxiliary study. It ought to be the prin- 

 cipal, and botany, chemistry, polite literature, &c, made sub- 

 servient to this great study. The pupil should go to it with the 

 express view of learning to be a farmer, and should be taught 

 so much science, blended with experimental and practical 

 knowledge, as should best promote this primary end. Of what 

 vast importance would a well-conducted experimental farm 

 connected with such an institution soon become to the agricul- 

 tural interest, and to the Union at large." 



I do not think that a practical agricultural college would be 

 derogatory to the dignity of Massachusetts, or that it would 

 belittle and cramp those engaged in the business of conducting 

 it. He who will guide such an institution into successful oper- 

 ation need have no fear that his light will be " hid under a 

 bushel ; " his candle would flame from every housetop in the 

 country, beneath whose shelter the farmer, and gardener, and 

 lover of the land and animals, finds repose. To that altar all 

 explorers might bring their gifts. The geologist with his strata 

 and soils, the chemist with his laboratory and tests, the natural 

 historian with the laws of the animal and vegetable kingdom 

 written down in his scientific statute-book — all might find there 

 a common hearthstone around which they might gather, and 

 find a common object of interest — the subduing and utilizing 

 the earth on which they have made their investigations. And 

 if there are those who believe that the great minds of this and 

 all time would find no home on such a spot, let them remember 

 that for such a purpose as that to which this institution would 

 be devoted, labored those wise and thoughtful statesmen and 

 philanthropists, who, while they toiled for man's civil and social 



