INTRODUCTION. 15 



In relation to the present reports, although they are far from 

 needing any apology, it is but justice to the reporter to say 

 that they were made during the hurry of a convention, six to 

 eight hours of whose time were occupied every day with public 

 meetings, and under a pressure of material which compelled 

 him to make selection his object, rather than completeness. 

 In justice to the lecturers, it is proper to say they are not to 

 be held responsible for any inaccuracies of statement which 

 may possibly have crept into the reports, or for the occasional 

 inadequate presentation of their discourses. This was often 

 necessitated by the pressure of other matter on the columns of 

 the paper for which the reports were prepared. A few omis 

 sions which occurred, from the same cause, have been supplied 

 from other journals, at the suggestion of the writer of this 

 introduction. One of the gentlemen who took part in the 

 course, regarding it as entirely impracticable to give brief 

 reports any practical value, has requested that his lecture should 

 be omitted in this publication. His wishes have been respected 

 by the publishers. 



Let the enterprising farmer, who would attach his sons to 

 the calling to which he has devoted his own life, and put them 

 on the road to success in their pursuit, beware of the false 

 economy which is disposed to reason that an agricultural paper 

 once a week, or a report of a convention once a year, is all that 

 is necessary to effect this important object. Let him give his 

 children the advantage of association with the men whose 

 example dignifies and elevates his calling, and demonstrates it 

 as noble a road to fortune and to happiness as any that nature 

 or art has opened. Let him insure for them, by contact with 

 such men, somewhat of the zeal and enthusiasm and knowledge 

 which has been the secret of their success, and the efficient 

 instrument of their advancement. Thus only can so important 

 an object be realized. 



Let it not be imagined that in this attempt to set forth some 

 of the advantages of the system of Agricultural Education here 



