34 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



mology, than those whose daily occupation brings them so much 

 in contact with these sciences ; that through their distant and 

 casual glimpses, they should lAiow more of the book of nature, 

 than those before whom its pages lie constantly open. 



The agricultural college will do something toward remedying 

 this. It will be a guiding light, a starting point, a repository 

 where all that is known of tillage shall be embalmed ; which shall 

 elevate the mind to its proper sphere in farming ; which shall 

 be a place where men may make sure use of the experience of 

 the past, as stepping-stones toward something higher. It is not 

 our purpose to enter into any argument for agricultural col- 

 leges, but it seems that New England, with her mixed crops, her 

 soil so undeveloped and so capable of development, will absorb 

 them into her educational system with alacrity. They may 

 educate men away from the plough, but they need not do so. 



If a boy is to become a merchant, he prepares himself not 

 only practically, by an education gained in the counting-room, 

 but also in the broad principles of the law, and political economy. 

 The lawyer must become versed in jurisprudence, ere he dares 

 trust himself at the bar. The physician must get deep into 

 pharmaceutics and pathology ; and one by one almost all civil- 

 ians have been dropped, during this war, from the roll of high 

 military officers. To-day, what men seemed to doubt at first, is 

 plain, that 'men who have studied the theory of war deeply, are 

 best military leaders. But the agriculturist has generally been 

 forced to pick up his knowledge as best he could, at the plough, 

 in the newspapers, and by dear experience. 



Scientific farming has been brought into great disrepute by 

 its votaries, or those who pretend to be such. Some of these 

 might be called amateurs, anything but scientific farmers. 

 Many of these try to till the soil on the strength of theory alone, 

 and fail. The large expenses incurred, and the small results 

 obtained by these, have caused men to shun anything which 

 savored of science. Many of these having large fortunes, have 

 tilled the soil for show, pleasure, and experiment, rather than 

 profit. There are others who have farmed for a livelihood, but 

 ignorant either of the theory or practice of farming, have seized 

 upon a hobby, and in following it, have set at naught the rules 

 of economy and judgment. Tliese hobbies have led them to 

 cultivate crops unsuitable to their localities. 



