NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



125 



as had been suggested, but they should have a sci- 

 entific man to aid them. We do not know how to 

 appl}' our manure. We need some mode to teach 

 farmers. 



Hon. Dr. Gardner, from Bristol County, said 

 that though he thought well of the report of the 

 Agricultural Commission generally, he differed 

 from it in some respects. He thought it best to 

 have agricultural instruction in connection with our 

 colleges. This would be more economical. He then 

 read the remarks of Dr. Wayland, of Brown Uni- 

 versity, showing that he had suggested this plan in 

 relation to that college. He also read from Mr. 

 Colman to the same effect. He thought an inde- 

 pendent agricultural college would cost $100,000, 

 perhaps $200,000. 



Col. Wilder said that he had heard nothing this 

 winter reproachful to farmers on account of their 

 ignorance. Mr. Cole replied that he had, and that 

 his remarks on this point extended over the space 

 of 8 or 10 years. He was tired of hearing of it, 

 and thought it was time to reply to it. 



Col. Brooks, of Princeton, said that he had at- 

 tended to various kinds of business, which had 

 brought him in contact with different professions, 

 and he agreed with Mr. Cole, that farmers were 

 not behind other classes in making improve- 

 ments. He found that farmers were as intelligent 

 as any other class, and more honest. They are 

 still and retiring, and not like some who put them- 

 selves forward with a large amount of brass in their 

 face. He thought it best to leave farming to far- 

 mers, and let them manage their own affairs; and 

 law to lawyers, and physic to doctors. Establish- 

 ments for agricultural education should be managed 

 by farmers, not by men appointed by the governor 

 and council, so that it would be all mixed up with 

 politics and offices made a sinecure for men of 

 other professions who could not earn their bread in 

 their own calling. Farmers are as learned in their 

 business as these learned gentlemen; (referring to 

 gentlemen of various professions around him;) but 

 they are retiring. There are many intelligent far- 

 mers in the Legislature, but they are still, while a 

 lawyer of two years growth is always talking. 



Col. Page, of New Bedford, made some general 

 remarks on the subject of agricultural education, 

 and observed that he had come into the hall with a 

 view of seeing farmers of the Legislature, and 

 other farmers who meet here, and learn their views 

 on the subject. He said that a great many were 

 engaged in agriculture, and they had made great 

 improvements, and now the question is, how shall 

 they learn more ? If you would have your son learn 

 a trade, you would send him to one thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with that trade; and we want an establish- 

 ment where farming maybe learned thoroughly. 



Plums in the Wild Cherry. — Mr. William G. 

 Churchill, Deerfield, N. H., informs us that he has 



had the Green Gage plum and common cherry 

 grafted into the Pigeon cherry, on his farm, the 

 former two and the latter three years' growth, and 

 they are both in a flourishing condition. We have 

 seen several varieties of the cultivated cherries 

 growing in the Pigeon cherry (a very small red 

 cherry) but we never saw it used as a stock for the 

 plum. 



REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL 

 COMMISSION. 



We lately referred to the publication of this re- 

 port. It commences with general remarks on the 

 subject of agriculture, and proceeds to show that 

 science had done a great deal for other arts, and 

 that it should be applied to the improvement of ag- 

 riculture as w-ell as to other branches of industry; 

 that, for want of scientific farming our lands are 

 becoming exhausted, all over the country, even in 

 the fertile West; and that government should do 

 something for the education of farmers, qualifying 

 them for their calling, as well as educate men for 

 other professions. 



Since the appointment of this commission, Prof. 

 Hitchcock, one of the members, has travelled in 

 Europe, where he examined into the character of a 

 large number of agricultural schools, on which he 

 has made a report in detail, which constitutes the 

 principal part of the commissioners' report. This 

 part furnished by Prof. H. shows a great amount 

 of labor, and close investigation, and that he had 

 diligently and ably attended to his commission. It 

 contains a large amount of interesting matter, which 

 may aid as imperfect models in the establishment 

 of similar institutions in this country. But as the 

 governments and character of the people in Europe 

 differ widely from our own, it cannot be expected 

 that any foreign institutions will serve as a per- 

 fect model for an American school. Yet Prof H. 

 deserves much credit for his industry and zeal in 

 the cause, in presenting so large amount of well ar- 

 ranged matter on this subject; also for the plans 

 and suggestions which he has presented for con- 

 sideration. 



We copy the conclusion of the report, showing 

 the general plans which the commission recom- 

 mended. 



CONCLUSION BY THE COMMISSIONERS. 



With these views and statements, the commis- 

 sioners having had the various subjects connnitted 

 to them under consideration, and feeling that the 

 great object of agricultural education is one of vital 

 importance, not only to the farmers of Massachu- 

 setts but to the pr()Si)crity of the commonweallii, 

 beg leave to submit the subjoined recommendations, 

 and earnestly to commend the wliole subject to the 

 favorable attention of the Legislature. 



But, inasmuch as it has been the custom of the 

 State to disburse her funds for educational and char- 

 itable purposes, so as to encourage and enli.-^t pri- 

 vate munificence in conjunction with legislative 

 aid, your commissioners offer their recommenda- 

 tions on the following conditions: 



