1847.] The Farm on the Flats. 265 



pentletl for their benefit as well as others. Then the question 

 comes up, would a farmer's college be for their benefit?" 



" Certainly; that is too plain to need proof." 



'' I don't see it in that light. I don't see, in the first place, 

 what our boys would learn there which they can't learn in our 

 schools and colleges which are already established." 



" Why, there would of course be a model farm connected with 

 the college, and there they would see experiments tried, and the 

 best modes of culture practically illustrated." 



" The way that would work, according to my way of thinking, 

 would be this. The farm would be a first rate one to begin with, 

 and then there would be the state treasury to draw upon to carry 

 it on with. Every thing would be after the most expensive or- 

 der. All sorts of tools and machines must be used, and manures 

 of every kind. It is most likely that the farm would look well. 

 Now it might be very well to have our boys get their ideas of 

 farming on such a farm, if, when they set up for themselves, the 

 state would give each one of them a good farm, and stock it, and 

 furnish them with tools, and what not; but if they have to come 

 home and take up with fifty acres of stoney side hill, like mine, 

 I doubt whether their ideas of farming gained at college would 

 do them much good; whether they would grapple with the stone 

 and brush, as well as they would if they had always stayed with 

 me. They w^ould pretty much all of them come home knowing 

 more than their parents, and the old ways would be given up 

 and the new w^ays could not be carried out for want of capital." 



" YoLi would have them kept in ignorance that they may be 

 contented." 



" No, I vvould have no such thing; but I would not have them 

 form habits which are not adapted to their circumstances, I 

 would not place my boy for three or four years, where he would 

 form habits of dress too expensive for his means; nor would I on 

 the same principle, have him form habits of farming that are too 

 expensive for his means. But as to habits of farming, they 

 would not be formed at any college you could make. They 

 are to be formed at home if they are formed at all. Just consi- 

 der one point more. They see what is going on by way of cul- 

 ture and experiment. Perhaps they are required to take a part. 

 They know it is all at the expense of the state, and no matter 

 how much is wasted. Will habits of economy thus be formed, 

 and in regard to most of us, can we prosper by farming, unless 

 we are economical in all matters pertaining to our business?" 



" The officers must take care that nothing be wasted." 



" When did officers in the pay of the state ever do that thing 

 effectually? It would be very easy to spend a half a million on 

 such a college as you propose, and some men would make money 



