Ko. 149.] 175 



The occupation of tilling the soil is exerted so laboriously on 

 the physical frame of the agriculturist, and the whole of his 

 time so absorbed in the pursuit that he has but little to spare 

 beyond the hours of rest. lie thus has frequently but little time 

 and leisure to make himself acquainted with the progress of this 

 art in other countries, and even in lils own State and country he 

 is often in equal ignorance of what improvements intelligent 

 cultivation is producing, owing to his being in that profession 

 which of all others travels least. The farmer of all others, 

 knows least of what his brethren are doing, and he requires not 

 only that some one of experience should occasionally communi- 

 cate to his neighborhood the ai)parent improvements in practice 

 recommended, but also, that such an one should do it with that 

 amount of skill and provision tliat would ensure remuneration, 

 or prevent loss whenever it might be carried into practice. 



The early period of life at which many young men commence 

 to farm, prevents them having the advantage of seeing the better 

 practice and more enlightened experience of our intelligent cul- 

 tivators ; and since this is a practice not likely to be altered in 

 this or the next generation, it is desirable that some opportunity 

 would be alTorded whereby in one spot might be found concen- 

 tered facilities for observing good practical agriculture, for learn- 

 ing the theory of their art, and for perfecting themselves in gen- 

 eral education. Even a single year spent by a youth at such an 

 institution would exercise an important influence upon him in 

 all his after conduct upon a farm. It would render him more 

 alive to the importance of an agricultural education for an agri- 

 culturist, and give him that tone of mind which would induce 

 him to adopt acknowledged improvements. 



Notwithstanding the various geological surveys carried out so 

 extensively in many of the states, and in none more so than this, 

 yet it is remarkable that much of the information contained 

 therein has not reached or influenced the agricultural commu- 

 nity. The points of distinction between American and Euro- 

 pean soils have not been fully contrasted. Nor has the difier- 

 ence which a varied climate and latitude exerts upon soils of a 

 like chemical and physical character, been much attended to. 

 This is to be lamented, for without attention to this particular, 



