282 Promotion of Scientific Agriculture. [June, 



formations the most rapid, and under a government not only recognizing 

 the equality of our political, civil and religious rights and privileges, 

 but such as encourages and cherishes the aspirations of the humblest 

 to acquire wealth, and to seek position and power — is it not a matter 

 of surprise that we have not thrown wide open the portals of science, 

 and so far enlarged the circle of liberal attainments as to furnish scope 

 and motive for the highest mental improvement of the greatest number ? 

 We would not be understood to ask for an expansive and over-refined 

 education, but for a thoroughly practical, useful, and, at the same time, 

 liberal one. An education, begun and prosecuted to its completion, 

 under the broad doctrine that man was not made simply to know, hut to 

 know and to do ; that work, not mere knowledge, is the true condition 

 of his manhood here, and is to be his glory hereafter. 



This is the object for which we plead, and time would fail us to 

 .enumerate all the multiform and various advantages which would legiti- 

 mately flow from such a benevolent and enlightened policy. 



We propose to consider some of the advantages that would follow from 

 schools of science, devoted especially to the interests of Agriculture. 

 These may be classified under the denominations, physical and moral, 

 or material and immaterial. 



Agriculture is the embodiment of all the physical sciences, which, 

 until recently, have been an unraveled mystery to the world, and hence 

 the proper estimation and improvement of it must necessarily be con- 

 nected with all that is called progress, and comprehend its vital elements. 

 The advantages which have already followed the discoveries of modern 

 science, may be seen in everything that pertains to human use and con- 

 venience ; even the clothing of to-day is better and cheaper than that 

 of former generations. In every department of business, which contem- 

 plates the supply of our wants, the steps of this progress are visible. 

 Perhaps there'is no department where progress is less marked than in 

 that of farming— the great business of feeding and clothing men. This 

 branch of human industry seems to have been overlooked, just according to 

 its importance. Here, where knowledge united with economy most concerns 

 every individual, it has been singularly lost sight of, though some bene- 

 ficial changes have reached even the most plodding and hopeless of this 

 class, yet by no means so extensive as are in keeping with the spirit of 

 the age. However we may speculate as to the causes which seem to 

 have retarded improvements in agriculture, it must be obvious to every 

 reflecting mind that they must continue to be slow, without more 

 extended means of enlightenment, and without greatly multiplying 

 through these means the charms of the country, and the subjects of 



