11 



ter able he is to apply their principles to his business. 

 Let me ask, where can the 3^oimg farmer so well ol)tain 

 that education, as at the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- 

 lege, an institution no longer an experiment, but a well 

 established success, where modern literature and the sci- 

 ences as applied to agriculture are well taught, and at a 

 moderate expense. 



The slow growth of agricultural knowledge has proved 

 the necessity of scientific research and a practical expe- 

 rience joining hands. Neither can do without the other, 

 but both united and working for the same end can make 

 much greater progress. It is time all jealousies should 

 cease. The scientific man may, from his profound learn- 

 ing, advance theories, but the practical man must work 

 them out, and prove their truth or error. I believe that 

 the agricultural college, with its noble farm, is especially 

 adapted to bring about this concert of action ; and no 

 where else can our young farmers so well become ac- 

 quainted with the results of science applied to farming. 



Moreover, I know of no way by which the farmers can 

 be so well and economically protected from unscrupulous 

 manufacturers and venders of worthless fertilizers, as by 

 having them there honestly and carefully tested, and 

 their real value made known to the community without 

 fear or favor. But few farmers can afford the time and 

 expense for the necessary experiments, or have the abil- 

 ity to conduct them in a way to show fairly the com- 

 parative value of such materials. I trust that an espe- 

 cial effort in that direction will be made in that institu- 

 tion, established as it is by the bounty of the United 

 States and of Massachusetts. I think we have a right 

 to expect this work faithfully performed. It would do 

 much to insure continued confidence and future support, 



