1847.] Transactions of the State JlgricuUural Society. 17 



we presume will not be considered orthodox by those who stand 

 in the ranks of the literati of our country, viz., that the study of 

 Latin and Greek is a bar to the general education of farmers' 

 sons; we allude to those who design to pursue farming for a li- 

 ving. If this is true, and we have no doubt of it, we may readi- 

 ly imagine what the result might be, if instead of the undue en- 

 couragement of the study of the dead languages, agriculture and 

 its collateral branches were encouraged. We should, no doubt, 

 see the academies filled with students; where one is educated, 

 five, or perhaps ten, would be, under the new plan. And why 

 should not such a change be made? The farmer's son may be 

 educated with a good agricultural education, and all that is ne- 

 cessary as a citizen, without spending time to study the dead 

 languages. If the mind is applied to the investigation of any 

 subject it becomes disciplined. Close and intense reflection upon 

 the phenomena of nature unshackled, would be much better than 

 the study of these languages. We quote Professor Johnston; by 

 his opinion we feel sustained. He thinks — " It is quite certain 

 that the course of education pursued at most colleges and univer- 

 sities, is quite unsuited to qualify men for the common business 

 and pursuits of life. Indeed, it would seem in many cases to 

 operate as a positive disqualification; and men who have distin- 

 guished themselves at our universities for their classical and scho- 

 lastic attainments, are often thrown upon society as helpless and 

 incompetent to provide for themselves, or to serve the community, 

 as children." 



But again, our plan for educating farmers' sons is simple, and 

 we believe feasible, and we think too, will prove effective. Let 

 then, their education in agriculture begin in its elements in the 

 common school. At the proper age let them go up to the acade- 

 mies, and there pursue, in conjunction with agriculture, algebra, 

 mensuration, geometry, natural philosophy, physiology of vegeta- 

 bles and animals, geology and chemistry, and political economy. 

 These may be pursued in several successive winters, depending 

 much upon circumstances. The summers may be spent upon the 

 farm at home, and under the care of the father or some experi- 

 enced farmer, where the scholar may put in practice these princi- 

 ples of agricultural chemistry which he has been taught. If the 

 mind has been properly awakened at the academy, these alternate 

 periods of study and application of principles and of work, will 

 go together, and will become the most effective way to the im- 

 provement of the individual. But the individual will not be be- 

 nefitted only; the family and the neighboring families must also 

 partake more or less of the benefits of the plan. The principles 

 of agriculture must be spread widely, and so must its improve- 

 2 



