TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1837-39. 189 



riculture in this country by laws, among a free, independent, 

 arid enlightened people, who are already aware of the want 

 of instruction, and are seeking for it. The different State 

 Governments, the agricultural societies, and the agricultural 

 journals, have all signally promoted the interests of differ- 

 ent branches of agriculture ; it wants only the knowledge 

 of the means of putting the improved parts of this great and 

 useful machine together, so that every part may operate ac- 

 cording to the law of science, to produce the desired effect. 



A beginning only is wanted, and the science of agricul- 

 ture will spread over the whole Union, like all useful im- 

 provements. Congress, always acting wisely for the welfare 

 of their country, will doubtless apply a portion of the Smith- 

 sonian legacy to the promotion of agriculture, by establishing 

 an agricultural institution, which would be an enduring monu- 

 ment in honor of the testator. 



Your memorialist, therefore, presents a plan of such an 

 institution, with designs for the buildings, and estimates for 

 all the requisites. 



Such an institution, being the first in the United States, 

 would be the rlursery of scientific agriculturists for the 

 whole Union ; their education should therefore be as perfect 

 as possible, to enable them to qualify themselves to serve as 

 directors, professors, and superintendents, for similar estab- 

 lishments. 



This institution is calculated for one hundred pupils; and 

 the number should be increased by degrees, from the profit 

 of the farm. 



The lectures should be free, and the price of board mod- 

 erate, as half of the number of the pupils should be practi- 

 cally employed every day on the farm. 



For the convenience of medical attendance in cases of 

 sickness, together with the facility for attendance at Divine 

 worship, this institution should be located within the bound- 

 ary of the cit} 7 of Washington. 



AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTION 



The object of such an institution should be to show how 

 to gain the highest clear and permanent profit from agricul- 

 ture, under any circumstances. 



That such results are not effected by the mere imitation 

 of a certain tillage in every climate, of different soils and 

 localities, is obvious; it needs, therefore, rules and laws, 

 founded on experience and science. To design such rules 

 and laws, it requires scientific and practical knowledge. 

 Therefore, the institution of an agricultural school must^be 



