98 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



section to each agent, with the understanding that his work for 

 the year is to be performed in that section, and then that he is 

 to be transferred to another. By a rotation of appointments 

 and a succession of labors, the varied attainments of tlie lec- 

 turers would be enjoyed by the whole Commonwealth. But, it 

 may be asked, what, specifically stated, shall the work of the 

 agents be ? Only suggestions can be offered in answer to this 

 inquiry. An agent might, in the summer season, visit his fifty 

 towns and spend two days in each. While there, he could 

 ascertain the kinds of crops, modes of culture, nature of soils, 

 practical excellences and practical defects of the farmers; and 

 he might also provide for such experiments as he desired to 

 have made. It would, likewise, be in his power to give valuable 

 advice, where it might be needed, in regard to farming proper, 

 and also to the erection and repair of farm buildings. 1 am 

 satisfied that a competent agent would, in this last particular 

 alone, save to the people a sum equal to the entire cost of his 

 services. After this labor was accomplished, eight months 

 would remain for the preparation and delivery of lectures in 

 the fifty towns previously visited. These lectures might be 

 delivered in each town, or the agent might hold meetings of the 

 nature of institutes in a number of towns centrally situated. In 

 either case, the lectures would be at once scientific and practical ; 

 and their practical character would be appreciated in the fact 

 that a judicious agent would adapt his lectures to the existing 

 state of things in the given locality. This could not be done by 

 a college, however favorably situated, and however well accom- 

 plished in the material of education. It is probable that the 

 lectures would be less scientific than those that would be given 

 in a college ; but when their superior practical character is con- 

 sidered, and when we consider also that they would be listened 

 to by the great body of farmers, old and yoiuig, while those of 

 the college could be enjoyed by a small number of youth only, 

 we cannot doubt which would be the most beneficial to the State 

 and to the cause of agriculture in the country. 



An objection to the plan I have indicated, may be found in 

 the belief that the average education of the farmers is not equal 

 to a full appreciation of the topics and lectures to be presented. 

 My answer is, tliat the lecturers must meet the popular intelli- 

 gence, whatever it is. Nothing is to be assumed by the teacher ; 



