336 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Instruction will be given on the subject the coming term, 

 which commences March 35th, in connection with the lectures 

 and experiments in chemistry. The plan of adding scientific 

 agriculture to the branches already pursued, originated from 

 the belief that scientific agriculture must be made a regular 

 branch of study in our literary institutions before we can make 

 farmers scientific men, and produce a permanent improvement 

 in our system of rural economy. It is our object to afford 

 facilities to our young men for obtaining a thorough English 

 education, especially to obtain a knowledge of the various 

 branches of natural science, tliat they may be able to under- 

 stand and apply the great principles of scientific agriculture 

 which lay at the foundation of all successful practice. We pro- 

 pose to teach them botany and physiology, mineralogy, geology, 

 and chemistry with its application to agriculture, and to afford 

 them the opportunity to witness the operations of tillage under 

 the direction of a teacher. No labor will be required, but the 

 opportunity will be given for those who feel disposed, and a 

 fair remuneration paid. The instruction in scientific agricul- 

 ture will be connected with the processes of analyzing soils. 

 Fully believing that this plan will be of the highest practical 

 advantage to the farming community, and the only one which 

 will ultimately elevate the employment, and raise up a genera- 

 tion of scientific farmers, we confidently present it to the com- 

 munity for their co-operation and patronage.^ 



I am indebted to Mr. Jonathan E. Holt, Andover, for the 

 following information : — 



The Teachers' Seminary opened in 1830 in a stone build- 

 ing on Andover Hill, fully equipped with chemical labora- 

 tory and physical apparatus ; also lecture rooms for 200 

 scholars. Connected with the school was a farm of about 

 150 acres. The trustees in 1838 voted that instruction in 

 scientific and practical agi-iculture be added to the duties of 

 the teacher of mathematics. The catalogue of 1841 states : — 



Arrangements have been made for teaching Scientific & 

 Practical Agriculture. Instruction is now given by lectures, 

 but a text book is in course of preparation, and when it is com- 

 pleted. Agriculture will be taught as a regular branch of study. 



* Transactions of the Essex Agricultural Society, 1840, p. 136. Salem, 1841. 



