12 OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES. 



to work a change in this belief in the minds of those 

 who hold the great mass of the land under control ? 

 Not surely until the newly started colleges shall have 

 made some more vigorous practical demonstration than 

 they have made thus far. The bearings of science 

 upon agriculture were well taught previously under 

 the wing of the established universities ; what the 

 public had reason to hope from the new endowment 

 was such practical exhibit of the economic value of a 

 thorough system in tillage and management, as should 

 carry conviction to the popular mind. As yet we 

 wait in vain. Looking at results thus far, I am 

 strongly of the opinion that a few thousands devoted 

 to the gratuitous distribution of one or two sterling 

 agricultural newspapers would have worked more 

 good to the farming interests of the community, than 

 the millions which have been committed to the wis- 

 dom of the several State legislatures. I have no hope 

 that these views will meet the concurrence of those 

 who have present control of the funds ; nor do I 

 mean to express a doubt of the honesty and good 

 intentions of those who have become the supervisors 

 of this great trust ; but I am strongly of the assurance 

 that the common sense of the country is largely dis- 

 posed to ask of the scientific gentlemen who have 

 been so largely the recipients of this congressional 

 bounty some practical demonstration upon the land, 

 of the faith they hold and teach. 



