16 INTRODUCTION. 



presented, there is the least design to depreciate any one of 

 the manifold agencies in operation for the accomplishment of 

 the same great object of agricultural improvement. Of these, 

 perhaps the Press is the most important, and the one with 

 whose influence we could least afford to dispense in the pro 

 motion of this cause. But the Press scatters material a large 

 part of which is lost, for the want of leading principles in the 

 minds of its readers which such a system would best furnish, 

 and according to which its countless facts might be arranged. 

 The nucleus of knowledge and enthusiasm once created by 

 such a method of instruction, it would attach to itself these 

 floating fragments of experience and observation, and, like the 

 growing crystal, build them up into its own substance, and 

 make them part of its own life. 



The Farmers' Club is a most efficient agency, but it is often 

 a dead and cumbrous heap for want of the fire which might be 

 kindled from such a flame. The Agricultural Fair is a most 

 potent instrument of progress, but, without some system of 

 agricultural education behind it, is a mere confusing chaos of 

 illustrations, comparatively worthless, as the chemist's experi 

 ments would be without his explanations, for lack of the knowl 

 edge of the great principles to be illustrated. All of these 

 agencies have contributed to make possible the introduction 

 of such a system of agricultural education as is here discussed. 

 The system once in operation would react upon these earlier 

 agencies, and give them increased vigor and efficiency. 



The Convention and course of lectures recently concluded, 

 was so far successful as to justify the announcement of its repe- 

 tion in February, 1861. It is regarded, however, as important 

 chiefly as having furnished the means of determining how such 

 a course may be made most useful and attractive in the future. 

 While retaining, therefore, in the Course of '61, the fundamen 

 tal idea of this system of Agricultural Education, viz., that of 

 the combined College and Convention, the second course will 

 be carried out with various modifications which have been 



