21 



id, then this precise thing, so far as it can be applicable, is needed by the 

 >eople of this Commonwealth in order to bring to a focus the information 

 hat is had now and is to be had all through the State, and to put life into 

 >ur Societies and make them more activ in promoting the cause of agri- 

 ulture. 



REMARKS OF THE HON. MR. BROOKS, OF PRINCETON. 



JR. PRESIDENT 



I am very loath to rise in this meeting. I do not know as I shall say 

 ny thing to the purpose, not being accustomed to speak in public. 

 Phis resolution seems to squint towards a college. If it has that ten- 

 ency, I shall be opposed to it ; for I do not believe that the farmers are 

 repared to spend money in instituting a college. I think it would do them 

 o good whatever. This resolution seems to interfere with one which has 

 ist passed. We have passed a resolution for a Central Board, making it 

 heir duty to collect this very information and compile it into a book. It 

 eems to be the same duty here. If that is the case, two such resolutions 

 re not necessary. As for lecturing to the people, I doubt whether that is 

 dvantageous for the very best reason to my mind in the world, that the 

 jcturer will not know what to say ; that he has no data on which to make 

 ut any speech, beacuse science, as I understand it, is based upon facts. 

 Vhat facts has this Commissioner that are applicable to agriculture in this 

 State? I say, sir, generally speaking, no fact. And why, &ir? Because 

 ic science of agriculture has not yet grown up in this country. We are 

 ependent entirely upon Europe, as I understand it, for our agricultural 

 cience. You may pile this room full of European agricultural books, and 

 ou may condense all the knowledge which they contain applicable to this 

 ountry into a primer. Therefore, if this gentleman goes out to lecture, 

 e has nothing to found his lecture upon. And to be dependent upon 

 Europe is of little or no use to us, inasmuch as our circumstances, our 

 icts, our influences are entirely different in connection with agriculture 

 ere, from what they are in Great Britain or in Europe. 



I have not had the pleasure of reading the report of the Commissioner, 

 did not get it into my hands till yesterday afternoon. But I understand it 

 ives an account of a vast number of agricultural schools in Europe. Sup- 

 ose we take the Prussian system ; do you believe it can be carried out 

 ere? I believe that the farmers will not agree that it can do good. For 

 tat reason, and for the reason that I have said that we have no science yet 

 trmed, it seems to me that an agricultural school cannot be a benefit. 



There is another reason. We must begin at the end ; that is, we must 

 3gin at the bottom. We must create ourselves. This Board, so far as it 

 light be made useful, is a very good thing, sir; and if it does not squint 

 >wards a college, 1 might be in favor of it. It might be useful in collect- 

 ig information all over the State. The gentleman says that young men 

 sandon their farms because they cannot improve. Perhaps that may be 



