52 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



the transactions of the State Agricultural Society, and the doing; 

 of the State Legislature during its recent session, as well as th 

 published opinions and addresses of individuals, abundantly show 

 But would such a school fulfil the expectations of its friends 

 Would it be able to call the class of young men on whom we mus 

 rely from remote sections of the State to any one location whic 

 can be chosen ? Would it diffuse the greatest amount of agricu^ 

 tural science among the people with the least expenditure of tim 

 and money ? Finally, would it be able to maintain a perman 

 existence amidst the endless changes of party, and fickleness 

 legislation which characterizes our State 1 



Doubtless if such a school were established, with an expendit 

 of money sufficiently lavish, not only to make the tuition free, 

 also to pay the greater share of the board for those who wou! 

 attend, a respectable number could be gathered in from some qui 

 ter. But we may seriously doubt whether it is necessary, in tli. 

 country, to hire our youth to be educated. And even if it wer 

 we believe a more economical mode of doing it could be devisi 

 than this. For the annual appropriation of $8,000 or $10,000 

 sustain such a school, would well sustain a separate professorsh 

 in at least ten institutions already established in different parts 

 the State, and thereby extend instruction to more than five tim^le 

 the number that could be gathered into one place. But we are t 

 that a model farm is as necessary as a school ; and that the theo 

 and practice of agriculture must be taught together, and therefc ' 

 a State institution is necessary. A model farm, if we understa ■ 

 the term, is a tract of land on which the various branches of hw 

 bandry are carried on according to the strictest principles of scieni' 

 But where shall it be located ? in the valley of the Mohawk 

 Genesee, or on the hills of Herkimer 1 Shall it be on a sane 

 clayey, or alluvial soil ? We are very much inclined to thi 

 that a model farm in one location, or on one soil, would be V€ 

 different from a model farm in another and on a different soil, 

 is true, the same principles might govern the practice in be 

 places, but the difference in the circumstances under which lh|<;| 

 would be applied would make a wide difference in the practiiiMJn 

 aspect of the farms. Again we doubt the propriety of thu^ -f 

 templing to connect the study and practice of agriculture ir| 

 school designed for youth. For what is the real object of edu( 



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