MR. gray's address. 15 



in a preparatory course, may finish his education by ob- 

 taining a scientific knov/ledge of agriculture previous to 

 entering up the great business of life. 



We would not establish institutions for the mere study 

 of agriculture, but would connect it with an extended 

 course of English education. We are no advocates of a 

 superficial course of training. We would discounte- 

 nance the idea that a competent knowledge of this sub- 

 ject, sufficient to answer the ends designed, can be ob- 

 tained in a single term, or a single year; nor do we be- 

 lieve that every young man, whose duty it may be to 

 till the soil, is capable of gaining a scientific knowledge 

 of the subject; but we would propose the course to those 

 young men who are to become the leading minds in so- 

 ciety, (and there are many such in every county, in 

 every town throughout the state,) we would make them 

 scientific farmers, and, scattered as they would be among 

 the farming community, their example and influence 

 would soon give character and permanency to the pro- 

 fession, and bring all under the power of its beneficial 

 effects. 



There is not, to my knowledge, a single institution in 

 the country where agriculture is actually taught in any 

 of its departments. There are institutions where men 

 may be instructed in almost every other art but this. 

 There should be at least one place where the subject may 

 receive that attention which its importance demands; 

 one ray of light to show, if nothing more, the darkness 

 which really exists. It is impossible for me to under- 

 stand the reason why farmers have not ere this estab- 

 lished schools* for the study of scientific agriculture. 

 They have given iheir money to educate ministers^ 



* •' Every American farmer," says Dr. C. T. Jackson, (whose opinion is enti- 

 tled to special consideration,) " who prides himself on his freedom and intelli- 

 gence, should exert himself to rescue agriculture from a mere routine of mechani- 

 cal drudgery, and should endeavor to instruct his children in the scientific princi- 

 ples of the art. Besides increasing the agricultural produce of the country, 

 such means will surely aid in the advancement of civilization, and will afford a 

 constant source of rational enjoyment to the intelligent, educated farmer. I do 

 not understand why the agricultural community have been so long willing to 

 forego the benefits of a scientific education, nor why they have not established 

 colleges or schools for instruction in the principlea of this, the first and most 

 important of the arts." 



