484 [Assembly 



part a clear idea of agricultural science and its importance to the 

 rising generation. 



This establishment will not, I trust, have any affinity to those 

 sickly and ephemeral manual labor schools that have been erected 

 with the laudable motive of opening resources to the young and in- 

 digent student, who has a generous aspiration for classical literature 

 or the sciences, but whom chill penury compels to sustain his aca- 

 demical expenditures by his own muscles, without the smallest idea 

 of proficiency in agriculture and mechanic arts. 



The main element of the farmers' school should be to foster every 

 science which lies at the basis of sound agricultural learning, but 

 makes her own the grand leading principle. And the experimental 

 farm will, under judicious hands, test and perfect agricultural ex- 

 periments, by the introduction, or artificial improvement of new spe- 

 cimens of animal and vegetable productions. 



There is. much theme for congratulation, that so many distinguish- 

 ed agriculturists have arisen from occupations not assimilated to 

 their new and ancient pursuit, by the instrumentality of science, and 

 a disenthralment from the shackles ef early prejudices, so detrimental 

 to the full development of human energies, and the progress of great 

 improvement. 



Those whose curiosity was not limited within the circle of their 

 own profession, and to whom a course of academical studies was no 

 impediment to the growth of qualities conducive to success, shine as 

 constellations among the starry host, with a prominent and unrivall- 

 ed lustre. For the man of science, skill and observation, applies 

 his time and talents — nay, more, his fortune, to the advancement of 

 agriculture; but the dull plodding laborer originates nothing, any 

 more than the beast with whom he labors. Give that excellent la- 

 borer even the lowest rudiments of education, and let him be armed 

 ■with perseverance and good sense, and his vigorous and fertile mind, 

 without the advantages of wealth and liberal instruction, will have 

 an element to fill the course of a Buel or a Fulton. 



A Virgil tunes his harp to those imperishable rural strains which 

 bring back his countrymen, distempered and goaded by the disease 

 and stings of civil wars, and they rush to adorn the altars of Ceres 

 with her own grateful and harmonizing productions. And the Ro- 

 man government hastens to encourage the acclimation of articles of 



