86 



PROF. SHEPARD ON AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. 



Prof. Shepaed has discussed it with so 

 much point, that we take the liberty of 

 laying his remarks before our readers. 



Quite a number of the agricultural 

 schools, which have been started in vari- 

 ous parts of the country, have entirely 

 failed. This failure has no doubt arisen, 

 in many cases, from a want of proper or- 

 ganization and direction in the schools 

 themselves ; but, we think, still more fre- 

 quently from a want of sufficient funds or 

 endowment to place them on a secure and 

 proper basis at the outset. An agricultural 

 school can be of little benefit in this coun- 

 try, except it embodies the soundest prac- 

 tical and scientific ability in the country. 

 Smatterers in science and slip-shod farmers 

 are not the materials out of which to form 

 an institution to teach improved modes of 

 husbandry; modes by which land maybe 

 made more productive, and capital profita- 

 bly employed. And it may be laid down 

 as an axiom, that persons of real ability, 

 whether as successful practical farmers or 

 scientific men, will never be found in any 

 schools where their ability is not well paid 

 for. The best talent in any department 

 of human knowk-dge or labor, in Ameri- 

 ca, always finds its reward. The ablest 

 chemist commands the largest salary ; 

 the best practical farmer raises the largest 

 crops. 



Now, wp think it may be further stated, 

 as a fact not admitting of dispute, that men 

 of this stamp will not leave their avoca- 

 tions — respectable and profitable as they 

 are' — and undertake any institution where 

 their talents are indifferently paid for, and 

 the success and position of the institution 

 doubtful and uncertain. Hence, agricultu- 

 ral schools generally, cannot succeed, un- 

 less they are well endowed in the outset, 

 either by public or private means, — with 

 funds sufficient to command men of the 



first abilities ; we mean men of tried prac- 

 tical ability — not speculative men. 



For this reason, we are strongly in favor 

 of having at least one large agricultural 

 school in each one of the great agricultural 

 states, supported at the cost of such state. 

 The great body of the people of such a 

 state is composed of farmers — its great 

 interest is agriculture ; and, next to com- 

 mon schools, (vvhich have for years past 

 been so liberally supported by some of the 

 states,) we conceive no public education 

 more important, or better worthy of being 

 put upon the public charge, than agricultu- 

 ral sckools. 



RoswELL Colt, Esq., of New- Jersey, has, 

 we learn, petitioned Congress lately to set 

 apart and appropriate a certain portion of 

 the public lands for the use of each state,* 

 the income from the sales of which shall be 

 used for the maintenance of a great public 

 farm school in such state. We see no ob- 

 jection to this plan, which, without imposing 

 any direct tax, would speedily furnish those 

 ample means by which alone, as we be- 

 lieve, really useful and practical institutions 

 of this kind can be maintained. Ed.] 



But leaving the more elementary schools, 

 I proceed to speak with more detail of the 

 agricultural school, a topic which is begin- 

 ning to take a deep hold of the public 

 mind. 



Many persons appear to think, that our 

 college course can be so modified, as to ful- 

 fill at the same time, the literary and the 

 agricultural requisition. It does not appear 

 to me, that such a plan is likely to succeed. 

 Heretofore most certainly, whatever else 

 the college has afforded, it has turned out 

 iew practical farmers. Even those, who 

 enter as well drilled and expert in farming 

 operations, by the time they reach the ter- 

 minus of their course, if they do justice to 

 the college studies and become thoroughly 

 imbued with the spirit of the place, become 

 rather awkward on the farm ; and it very 



♦ Ten miles square to each slate. 



