90 



•GENESEE FARMER. 



ApRn. 



The Farmer.— His Position, I^^poiisibilities, 

 aii'l Duties. 



NUMBKR SFAEN. 



In my last number 1 referroJ to llie establish- 

 ment of Agricuhural Schools, an<i their influence 



in elevating the farniing interest of the country. |'0" ever made before. I am perfectly willing, 



by Dr. Lee, near Rochester — and that they pro- 

 vide that, for ten years thereafter, five thousand 

 dollars be appropriated annually for the same 

 purpose. I liave no doubt that such an appropri- 

 ation of money would do more reU good towards 

 advancing the real interests of the people, and 

 the cause of science, than any similar appropria- 



Reflection but increases my conviction of the 

 •atility and practicability of the pursuit of agri- 

 culture as a science. I am clear in the opinion 

 that it may and should be taught rs a distinct 

 branch of education in all our schools, high and 

 low ; but I have no idea that this will be accom- 

 plished at once, nor without persevering effort 

 and patient industry on the part of the farmers of 

 the State. The stud}- must i»e introduced gradu- 



indeed I think there should be a similar appro- 

 priation for the eastern part of the State, 1 ask 

 the intelligent farmers of Western New York to 

 think over the subject, and if the proposition 

 strikes favorable, that they bestir tliemselves to 

 carrv it out. It may be done, and done this ses- 

 sion of the Legislature — and now is the time to 

 do it — the best time that will occur for years. — 

 A recent visit to Albany has satisfied me that we 



ally,, and slowly find its way into the school '"^y now succeed in securing this appropriation, 

 houses scattered"over the State. It will have to ai^^l I fully believe it will be an important step 

 encounter prejudice, inditTerence, and downright towards the permanent advance and improvement 

 iw 1... . .. .,, • ., , ^ of the agricultural interest of the State. 



I would also suggest, in connexion with the 



opposition — but for all that it will in the end pre 

 vail. 1 now invite the farmers of the State to a 



few facts stated in a general way ; by and by. if i above, an appropriation from the same fund (the 

 need be, I may enter into particulars. 



We have in this State some five or six Colleges 

 and Universities: these for the last ten years 

 have been receiving annually, more or less, from 

 the funds of the State ; and tliey are now ma- 

 king a vigorous eff^i^rt before the legislature to 

 cpntinue the full amount of this bounty. In ad- 

 dition to these Colleges, there are a great num- 

 ber of Academies, which, for a still longer time. 



Literature) of one thousand dollars, to be offered 

 as a premium for the best class of text, hooks, on 

 agricultural subjects or science, adapted to the 

 use of our Common Schools. This trifling sum 

 comparatively, would, I think, secure a class of 

 school books, absolutely necessary to the pursuit 

 of agriculture in our district schools, and thus 

 supply a desideratum really indispensable. 



I have thrown the above suggestions out hasti- 



rtave received a portion of the funds of the State. ! ly, but not without much reflection on the sub 

 To all this I raise no objection — enter no com-iject — and I have yet to hear that they are no: 

 plaint — but simply ask the question, have these I practicable and worthy of the most earnest atten. 



institutions of learning, these Colleges and Acad 

 emies, ever made agriculture a prominent or 

 even secondary branch or consideration in their 

 sourse of study 1 In truth, have tlio fiirmers of 

 the State over received one dollar from the State 

 in aid of their calling, in an educational point of 

 yiew ? And why? Not, I imagine, so much 

 because the State ha-^ been unwilling, as because 

 there have been no agricultural schools, until 

 recently, which the funds of the State could aid. 

 I ask, is this right and as it should be 1 Is it not 



tion of farmer; 

 Penn Yan. 



D. A. Ogdex. 



Ffh. 18-n 



Agricultural School. — We thank Mr. 0(;- 

 DEx for the interest he takes in our Agricultural 

 School. The above letter was intended for the 

 March number, but it came too late for insertion. 



We have not abandoned the idea of getting up 

 an Agricultural Institution; and have delayed op- 

 erations a few months only to see what success 



. - is likely to attend the eff'orts now making to found 



time the farmers began to ask the Legislature of ^ University in this city. To the numerous cor- 

 the State to bestow a portion of the educational ! j.pgpoj^je,^tg ^^,|jo ^.^^^^ written us on the subject 

 funds of the State, to aid Agricuhural Schools ? \^^^^,^ ^^hool, whose letters we have had no time 

 It seems clear to my mind that while our law j to answer, we desire to say that we can accomo- 

 makers are giving their thousftnds to our Col- date five or six pupils in our family and labora- 

 leges, we, as agriculturists, ought to insist that tory. The analysis of soils, fertilizers, milk, 

 they give an equal amount to sust^iin or estab- ; plants, <i-c., in connection with the cultivation of 

 ]ish agricultural high schools, where the farmer's h 00 acres of land, and the care of fifty cows, will 

 sons may be educated to pursue the calling of i give these pupils a fair chance to learn much of 

 their fathc^rs — and wjiere young men may learn j the science and practice of rural economy. Those 

 the principles and practice of fiirming, and fit | that do not work will be charged $'30" a quarter 

 and prepare themselves to become teachers. I j for board, tuition, chemicals, &c.— E». 



suggest that the farmers of Western New York ' 



aslt the present Legislature to appropriate from ; Clover Roots. — A gentleman in Norwalk, 

 the Literature fund ten thousand dollars, to aid! Mass., says that he has Icnown roots of clover to 

 in sustaining the agriculfui-al school, e-^tablished jgrow three feet in a season. 



