EorCATioNAL Topics. 491 



edge on to the farm from any educational institutions which 

 are now in existence, even though they may be (tailed agri- 

 cultural colleges. 



I am compelled by daily observation to acknowledge that 

 there is truth in what these good and practical farmers say. 

 And yet I cannot get over wanting to see a closer connec- 

 tion between knowledge and agriculture, through the schools 

 and colleges of the country. I see the men of other avoca- 

 tions educating youtli preparatory to their work with success. 

 I see not only the divinity and law and medical and normal 

 schools trainino; tlie risino- venerations for their work in these 

 branches, but linding no difficulty, such as the farmers find, 

 in persuading their graduates into the paths in life for which 

 they are fitted. I find the principle being extended into the 

 mechanical branches, so that in the technical schools, such 

 as the Cooper Institute, in New York, the Technological 

 School, of Boston, (which shares with the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College the income of the funds bestowed by 

 Congress for industrial education in that State,) and similar 

 schools in nearly every large city and many large towns all 

 over the country, turning out students who immediately 

 engage in the very business for which these schools liave 

 fitted them, and rapidly rise over the heads of the men who 

 have had only a practical training, and become the great 

 builders, the great contractors, and the leading manufactur- 

 ers of the day. 



Seeing this I cannot help asking what there is in farming 

 which prevents it from sharing in these great benefits to be 

 derived from knowledge imparted to youth, to be used in 



