NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



131 



do with the great mysteries and laws of nature, 

 and you can no more expect agriculture to nourish 

 without knowledge, than you can expect religion 

 to flourish separated from the practice of virtue 

 and morality. What science has done for com- 

 merce on the ocean, she has yet to do for agricul- 

 ture on the land. The American farmers are look- 

 ing anxiously for some guiding star to direct them 

 in their calling. He believed that star had risen ; 

 that its glimmerings can he seen, and that with 

 faith in it, it would lead to glorious results. 



Professor Fowler, of Amherst College, inquired, 

 why at this day there should be any doubt of the 

 value of education as applied to Agriculture ? Es- 

 pecially, why should this doubt exist in Massachu- 

 setts ' One reason, he believed, is that the advo- 

 cates of agricultural education are not distinctly 

 understood in their principles or purposes. It was 

 not true that science, in its application to agricul- 

 ture, was independent of labor and capital. Mere 

 book knowledge is not better than practical knowl- 

 edge drawn from experience, and the friends of 

 this movement do not entertain or sustain any such 

 theory. Science, without common sense, will not 

 succeed. What they mean, is, that science, with 

 common sense, energy, and practical experience 

 will accomplish the desirable results at which they 

 aim. He supposed a young man about to enter 

 into a partnership with earth and nature, in hit? 

 profession as a farmer. To enter into this partner 

 ship profitably, he should understand the elements 

 of the soils, the laws of geology and of the vegeta- 

 ble kingdom, in order that he may adapt the one 

 to the other. The laws of animal physiology it is 

 also necessary for him to understand, in order to 

 adapt his stocks to his crops. The laws of chem- 

 istry, of the composition of soils, of mechanics, the 

 great laws and agencies of nature, all should be 

 known and observed by him, in order successfully 

 to prosecute his calling.. The great improvements 

 in other arts, by the application of science, were 

 alluded to in this connection, and the speaker 

 asked, is agriculture the only art that is to receive 

 no aid from science? is she, the oldest daughter of 

 nature, after having fed her sister arts, to be dis- 

 missal without any dower? This ought not so to 

 be ; the friends of agriculture ought not to allow 

 this so to be. He came to the conclusion that it 

 is the duty of the friends of agriculture, and the 

 duty of the Legislature, to establish an institution 

 independent of all others, from which this knowl- 

 edge and science can go forth. Establish it with 

 limited means at first, and then let it grow, as the 

 occasion may demand and as its usefulness may be 

 exhibited in its results. 



Mr. Proctor said, I concur most heartily in the 

 general views of the resolutions now before this 

 meeting. They say, in one word, that it is the 

 bounden duty of the government, both National 

 and State, to do something for the encouragement I 



and protection of the interests of the farmer. Is 

 not this so? Who are the farmers? Are they not 

 three-fourths of the whole community ? How are 

 they rewarded comparatively ? Look at their re- 

 sources exclusive of the lands they occupy, and 

 will it not be found that the one-fourth, comprising 

 the commercial and the manufacturing interests, 

 have more than the other three-fourths? Is there 

 any equity in this ? Is not the farmer as useful 

 and reliable as any other class of citizens ? On 

 whom has the State ever relied in time of danger — 

 if not on the yeomanry of the country? Those, 

 then, who are her main stay in time of peril, have 

 a right to aid and encouragement in times of pros- 

 perity. How can this aid be best applied? Will 

 it not be best done by educating and fitting them 

 to pursue their employment with intelligence and 

 success. 



But first and foremost, should the State take 

 this matter under its own fostering and guardian 

 care. Let there be established a department of 

 agriculture, analogous to that of education ; — to 

 whom shall be entrusted the entire supervision and 

 direction of all matters connected with this subject? 

 and soon will it occur to them to mark out the 

 path of improvement. Until such a Board is es- 

 tablished, no appropriation of money is asked. 

 And when established, the probability is, no ex- 

 pense will be incident thereto, except that of sus- 

 taining a competent Secretary — all of whose time 

 will be required, in connection with the operations 

 of the Board. Surely no valid objection can be 

 made to an appropriation so trifling, compared with 

 the benefits to be gained. Much has been, and may 

 be said in relation to the education of the farmer. 

 Some say this can be done best, by establishing 

 agricultural teachers, in the existing colleges and 

 schools. That teachers of this description may be 

 advantageously introduced, no one will for a mo- 

 ment doubt ; — and that it would be highly useful 

 for all, whatever occupation they contemplate, to 

 know something of the science of agriculture will 

 be readily granted ; but that the smattering of in- 

 formation there attained will be adequate to the 

 object in view, no one acquainted with it can for a 

 moment believe. Agriculture is a science — a sci- 

 ence most complicated, and difficult to be under- 

 stood. Its perfect comprehension needs a combi- 

 nation of all the other sciences — chemistry, geolo- 

 gy, botany, and mathematics', are all involved in 

 the study of the science of agriculture. No one 

 can hope to master this science, without becoming 

 an adept, in each and all the others. It is not suf- 

 ficient to learn them technically and formally — but 

 he must enter into the philosophy of them, and 

 understand the reasons of the changes brought 

 about. 



Mr. Bagg, of the Hampden Society, spoke of the 

 necessity of the appointment of a body of men com- 

 petent for the work — who should collect and em- 



