430 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



the curculio, and all the mischievous members of 

 entomology, •would very likely commit their rava- 

 ges as if in utter ignorance of such an institution. 



r.— Not at all, Mr. Waddles. I should antic- 

 ipate a good degree of harmony. We hear noth- 

 ing of the kind in the European schools. 



W. — But we know that the scientific men of 

 Europe do iTot agree upon those very matters 

 which an agricultural college ought to teach. Our 

 agricultural professors, perhaps, would be as wise 

 as our present Board of Agriculture ; no one, 

 probably, thinks they would be wiser ; for they 

 are the most eminent men in their calling, select- 

 ed from all parts of the State. Yet does our 

 Board do everything harmoniously and satisfac- 

 torily ? It is not to be expected, though a hin- 

 drance. The only thing which I ever heard of 

 their being unanimous about, was upon the reso- 

 lution to petition the Legislature to introduce a 

 system of agriculture into our common schools. 

 So said one paper, at least. The Secretary's Re- 

 port says, "almost" mianimous. Yet with all this 

 unanimity, only two of them appeared to discuss 

 the subject at the Legislative Agricultural Meet- 

 ings. And that's the last I have heard of the 

 matter. On the whole, I am inclined to believe 

 that a faculty of professors would not be able to 

 permanently advance the cause of agriculture, and 

 would not throw more light upon the subject of 

 vegetation than some of our best farmers — so dif- 

 ficult is it to find and tread a path not already 

 beaten. 



T. — Well, then, I must say it would not be 

 properly managed. They ought simply to teach 

 what are regarded as the best methods of soil 

 culture. 



W. — That is, the system well known. 



T. — Nothing more nor less. 



W. — But who would go, or send a boy to a 

 school to learn that which is usually known and 

 practiced among farmers ? A purely agricultural 

 college on this basis, would fail for want of pat- 

 ronage, as a lad would go on to a well-managed 

 farm and earn his livelihood. If of a general, 

 scientific character, scholars might attend, but not 

 to learn farming, as they have at the Michigan 

 Agricultural College. 



T. — But I proceed upon the presumption that 

 it be properly instituted, and well managed. What 

 that would be, I frankly confess I can't at pre- 

 sent say. 



W. — Again, Mr. Twaddles, I am inclined to the 

 belief that such an institution would be more po- 

 litical than agricultural, especially if endowed 

 by the State, with the Governor and Council hold- 

 ing the appointing power. Would such an insti- 

 tution give tone and character to agriculture in 

 Massachusetts ? And provided it were all its 

 friends could wish, and was not, as some think it 

 would be, a useless expenditure to the State ; that 

 it fulfilled its mission, and was an honor to old 

 Massachusetts ; would you not feel prouder to 

 point out to a foreigner, a hardy, independent, 

 well fed, well clothed and well housed yeomanry, 

 than to a stupendous and successful agricultural 

 college ? 



T. — Certainly, I should ; but I would prefer to 

 do both. Yet how do you propose to educate 

 farmers — not by merely drudging on the soil — 

 toiling, sweating, eating and sleeping — all hand- 

 work, and no head-work ? 



W. — By reading, reflection, in connection with 

 the farm, and by seeing what others have done. 

 Surely, no man need be at a loss for books and 

 papers. In Great Britain, where it is said not so 

 many agricultural journals are in circulation an- 

 nually as are struck off by a single press here, 

 farm schools or colleges may be more important. 

 With so many facilities as we have here in Mas- 

 sachusetts for improvement in the cultivation of 

 the soil, I should consider the establishment of 

 an agricultural college as an act of supereroga- 

 tion — merely a fifth wheel to a coach, upon which 

 some of the larger insects would fasten, and mar- 

 vel at the dust they raised. Men working their 

 own farms would shout in derision at it, and half 

 of the agricultural journals would wage a perpet- 

 ual war against it and its management. The an- 

 imadversions upon the Patent Office doings and 

 Reports, in this department, may give us some 

 hints. And here I may observe, for want of a 

 better opportunity, that M. Lavergne freely ad- 

 mits, in spite of the agricultural schools of France, 

 the superiority of British husbandry. 



T. — Well, you can think as you choose ; but I 

 still go for more head-work, and less hand-work. 



W. — Yes ; but knowledge must be executed. 

 Much head-work is too apt to make mere fancy 

 farmers, and as you must know, has been the ruin 

 of many. The Board of Agriculture could point 

 to you instances of such, perhaps in its own cir- 

 cle. A knowledge of chemistry, botany and ge- 

 ology, will not hoe one's corn, or dig his potatoes. 

 Then again, when a farmer becomes learned and 

 somewhat refined, he is very apt to leave his ma- 

 nure fork to harder muscles and coarser brains. 



T. — ^Yes, sir, so he is ; and that's the reason 

 why we need to mal^e agriculture more attractive, 

 by some method or other, to keep the young 

 farmers at home. 



W. — Pray, how can you talk so when your own 

 example has been against it ? Some men will 

 make formers of some of their sons, but would 

 you do it ? I question whether there is a single 

 member of the Board of Agriculture that would 

 forcibly encourage a bright boy of his to engage 

 in farming ; and perhaps he thinks there is no 

 necessity of it. You know very well, that an am- 

 bitious lad who has been reared on a farm, longs 

 to quit it, and go out into the varied world, and 

 try his fortune. It is all very well. Such as he 

 may return some time or other, with capital and 

 contentment to remain. But if they do not, the 

 presumption is that they choose to remain away. 

 Then there are some Avho had rather remain at 

 home, having no taste to battle for a livelihood 

 in the checkered throng, or to become a merchant, 

 minister, or tin-peddler, 



T. — But if we educate the farmer as we do some 

 other classes, the ambition of nearly all would be 

 to remain in agriculture. Why should not the 

 farmer know as much as the clergyman ? 



W. — He certainly does of his calling, and may 

 have as much native sense. But an extended ru- 

 dimentary education will not save young farmers 

 where the certainty of a life of hard labor is be- 

 fore them ; and if it did, what would become of 

 all the educated farmers ? Learned professions 

 are apt to be overstocked. 



T. — Go to the West, on the new lands. 



W. — Yes ; land is too dear, and rapidly becom- 

 ing otherwise occupied in Massachusetts for them j • 



