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THE ftENESEE FAKMEB. 803 



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and proper that the first institution established for that purpose should be on the farm of "WAsnrNO- 

 TON. Agriculture is an experimental science ; and yet there is not one acre of land in the whole 

 republic exclusively devoted to experimental purposes. Congress has been publishing annual reports 

 on rural affairs, emanating from the Patent Office, for the last ten years, and who can name one 

 new fact which Government has developed, calculated to make two blades of grass grow where 

 one grew before ? Congress has caused no agricultural experiments to be made, has revealed no 

 new truth, uor elucidated oue doubtful practice in any department of husbandry or tillage. There 

 is no lack of agricultural journals and book-publishers to print and circulate all really valuable iufor- 

 mation that may be called into existence by scientific researches. Hence, instead of expending so 

 many thousands of dollars in needless printing. Congress should be instructed by the people to 

 expend an equal sum in making investigations designed to illustrate in a clear and practical manner 

 the true principles of agriculture. This is what the great farming interest most needs, and what 

 the estate of Washingtox on the Potomac is admirably adapted to accomplish. 



" A Washington Agricultural Institute established at Mount Vernon, and properly endowed or sup- 

 ported by the Government, would do more for agriculture than the West Point Military Academy 

 has done for the army and civil engineering. Hitherto there have been insuperable difficulties in 

 the way to prevent the founding of agricultural schools and colleges in the several States which 

 are entirely unknown to American statesmen. Two of these difficulties we will name: one is the 

 want of thoroughly educated men to serve as professors in agricultural institutions. We have no 

 such men in this country, because it has never possessed a single college and experimental farm for 

 the complete professional education of teachers of rural arts and sciences. The young men educated 

 at West Point, are duly prepared to teach military arts and sciences to all engaged in military 

 operations, whose advantages for the acquisition of professional knowledge have been less favorable. 

 We can never have competent teachers of' agricultural sciences before we create at least one institu- 

 tion for their thorough education." 



The plan has many features calculated to commend it to public favor. It may be set down as a 

 settled fact that if the Government is to purchase the estate in question at all, a good round sum of 

 money is to be annually expended upon it. To this we have no objection if that exi>enditure can 

 be made to contribute in any reasonable degree to the improvement of the condition of the popula- 

 tion of this country. There is force in the suggestions of the American. If it is contemplated to 

 carry into pwxcticc on the estate any of the principles inculcated by Wasuington, we know of none 

 more worthy of attention than the provision for agricultural improvement of the country. Agri- 

 culture was the great theme upon which his mind, in days and years of rest from the public service, 

 was accustomed to dwell, and to which he contributed to a greater degree than any man of his 

 day. It seems, therefore, fitting that in any disposition which shall be made of Mount Vernon, this 

 leading interest of the country should have paramount attention. — Home Sentinel. 



The remarks credited to the Rochester American in favor of the establishment of a 

 Washington Agricultural Institute on the Mount Vernon estate, are a part of an article 

 written by the proprietor of this paper. We have reason to know that such a monu- 

 ment to the illustrious Farmer of Mount Vernon would be gratifying to the present 

 owner of the property, and to Mr. George Washington Park Custis, the adopted 

 son of Greneral Washington, who resides at Arlington, near the federal metropolis. 

 The country greatly needs a National Institution for the purpose of cultivating all the 

 sciences most intimately associated with agriculture, in connection with the practice of 

 husbandry and other rural arts. Science and practice, the study of sound principles, 

 and the satisfactory illustration of such principles on the farm, must operate together 

 before we can achieve the best results. In this way theories will never outrun their 

 usefulness, for experience will at once correct their errors. 



Agriculture being an experimental science, to advance it, more and better experiments 

 are indispensable; and why should not Government aid a little in the making of these 

 needful experiments ? Farmers every where ask for more light, that they may see and 

 understand why one soil is so much better than another, and thereby be able to improve 

 all the arable lands in their possession at the least possible expense. Let them send in 

 their petitions to Congrass to purchase Mount Vernon and erect thereon an institution 

 that shall be to agricultural arts and sciences what West Point Academy is to military 

 arts and sciences. Pupils at such an academy, coming from all the States, and carrying 

 home with them a thorough practical and scientific education, would be able to found 

 and sustain State institutions wherever needed. From the want of competent profes- 

 sors or teachers, such institutions have hitherto never been called into existence ; and to 

 educate teachers there should be at least one national college of the very highest order. 



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