No. 151.] 219 



The noble hall in which you are assembled, is dedicated to the latter. 

 Where are corresponding advantages for our profession? Where is 

 the professional school for the farmer? We commit no fraud upon 

 others by using the word profession. Agriculture is a profession. 

 Its high requirements of science, and such action of the convention 

 as its interests demand, will ere long entitle it to the appellative of 

 " learned profession." We repeat the question — Where is the pro- 

 fessional school for the farmer? Where? Let it be asked aloud, till 

 the sound of it reaches the south, and west, and north ; till echo rolls 

 back from the Green and Rocky Mountains, the empty sound. Let 

 the convention repeat it, and repeat it, till a voice from every State 

 answering " here," shall drown echo's wearisome reply. 



From this State three infant voices have reached our ears. During 

 last spring the public prints announced that an agricultural school 

 would be opened in the western part ot this State upon the farm of 

 Gen Harmon; another in Dutchess county, upon the farm of John 

 Wilkinson, Esq., and under his care; the third in Orange county, as 

 has been already noticed. In Franklin College, Tennessee, some at- 

 tention is paid to agriculture, and it appears by public announce- 

 ment that James Gowen, Esq., of Philadelphia, has purchased a pro- 

 perty near his farm at Mount Airy, with the view of establishing an 

 agricultural college. 



It is worthy of remark, that these five, and so far as we are in- 

 formed, only efforts, have been made by private individuals, with the 

 exception, perhaps, of the Orange County Institute — -single-handed 

 enterprise. Of the Orange County Institute it is only proper for us 

 to say, it is in its earliest stage of growth, now six months old, with 

 five youths in training. Its fruit cannot be matured so as to have a 

 reflex on its welfare under several years. Eighteen months hence, it 

 hopes to present to the friends of American agriculture its first offer- 

 ing at the shrine. of science united to practical skill. At present, 

 from the nature of the case, it casts itself upon the public favor, 

 with no other testimonial than personal references as to character and 

 qualifications of its instructors. If worthy, we ask for it the nour- 

 ishing patronage of American agriculture. 



But whether we, or our fellow-laborers succeed or fail in our enter- 

 prize, let not, we pray, the great cause o^ an elevated and libera! 

 professional education for the farmer, stand still, waiting the issue ot 

 these feeble efforts. Let its progress be kept onward, and onward, 

 until the American Farmer shall delight his leisure with the v/ritings 



