Proceedimis of the Farmers' Club. 323 



being careful to confine myself in each instance to tiie most authentic 

 practical conclusions, for it is certain tliat practical data have the 

 most direct interest for rural economy." 



Says Liebig, in his work on Agricultural Chemistry : "■ It is not 

 every one who is called by his situation in life to assist in extending 

 the bounds of science ; but all manJchul have a claim to the blessings 

 and benefits which accrue from its earnest cultivation." Again, he 

 says: "Perfect agriculture is the true foundation of all trade and 

 industry." And he adds : " I have endeavored to follow the path 

 marked out by Sir Humphrey Davy, who based his conclusions only 

 on that which was capable of inquiry and^rcx?/." 



In a late address by Dr. Geo. B. Loring, President of the New 

 England Agricultural Society, he says : "I am satisfied that the (our) 

 present loose system of agriculture will be abolished before the young- 

 est man in this room dies. I am satisfied that the business of farming 

 will be systematized so that every man will feel he has something 

 behind him besides accident to guide him in the business of carrying 

 on liis farm." 



In Copeland's late work on agriculture, etc., the author says : " 1 

 maintain that in agriculture, experience must govern theories^ 



Even the meml)ers of Congress, when enacting the law in relation 

 to lands " for the benefit of agriculture, &e.," before referi'ed to, 

 caught an inkling that something in the way of the practical^ might, 

 by possibility be reached, and tlierefore provided that the avails of the 

 lands might be applied " to the purchase of experimental farms, 

 whenever authorized by the Legislature of the State," but this is the 

 only allusion or provision in the act to tlie subject, while so much as 

 relates to agricultural colleges, specifies and restricts the State, leav- 

 ing the inference irresistable that what was really of practical benefit 

 to agriculture, was in their minds, an undefined idea, and the legis- 

 lators of the States that have acted upon the subject, seem as ready 

 shift the Mdiole duty and responsibility upon individuals who are so 

 magnanimous as to offer to take the sole chai-ge of the interests of the 

 agricultural connnunity into tlieir keei)ing by having the dispensing 

 of the avails of a million acres of land (or less) committed to their 

 hands. 



Is it not strange that a people so jealous as ours of New York, of 

 their public schools, should be so dead to the true interests of agri- 

 cultural advance and improvement? It is now authoritatively stated 

 •that the land appropriation of this State to the Cornell University is 



