112 T HE PHILADELPHIA FLORI ST. [August 



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culturistl Is so important a profession as that of the cultivation of the £®j 

 soil to be suffered to lie in abeyance, when the light of more extend- ^A 

 ed knowledge, in reference to the laws which guide its operations, \ 

 can be both explained and exemplified to the rising generation by 

 the intelligent teacherl 



Heretofore the means considered most effectual in disseminating 

 agricultural knowledge consisted, for the most part, in the establish- 

 ment of agricultural societies, the holding of cattle shows, &c, all 

 of which have been eminently useful. The Highland and Agricul- 

 tural Society of Scotland, for instance, has placed that country, not- 

 withstanding the many natural disadvantages under which she labors, 

 in the foremost ranks of the nations of the world, as regards this 

 great division of labor. Admitting to the fullest extent the incalcu- 

 lable amount of good which weil-managed associations of this kind 

 are capable of effecting, still, however, I am of opinion, that until 

 the minds of the rising generation of farmers be properly expanded 

 by a suitable agricultural education, the influence and usefulness of 

 such associations must be very greatly limited. The opinion of a 

 man, so eminent for his scientific attainments and great philanthropy, 

 as Professor Hitchcock is known to be, should carry much weight 

 with it on a point such as this. I shall, therefore, take the liberty of 

 quoting his views on the subject. He says — "Both in England and 

 Scotland, and indeed in Ireland also, agricultural societies have been 

 an important means of advancing practical farming. Some intelli- 

 gent gentlemen, whom I met abroad, were even of opinion that these 

 societies were all that is needed, and that schools would be superflu- 

 ous. But men do not so judge in respect to other departments of 

 knowledge. Societies have long been in active and successful opera- 

 tion in the various physical sciences; but they are not thought to 

 render schools and colleges unnecessary. The societies aid the 

 schools, but the schools must train up men to be efficient members 

 of the societies." 



We know that our old farmers are prejudiced in favor cf the pecu- 

 liar modes of cropping and management which characterized the 

 husbandry of their fathers, and that they still cling to them with a 

 tenacity of purpose which it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, 

 to completely overcome. We know, also, that most of their practices 

 are at variance with the well-established principles of modern agri- 

 culture ; and that by adhering to them, through ignorance, and by 

 transmitting them to their sons, who, in most instances, are as igno- 

 rant as themselves, a perpetuation of the evil is continued. How, 

 then, are we to proceed, with the view of removing most effectually, 

 the principal cause — ignorance — which appears to operate so pow- 

 erfully in retarding improvement! Simply, in my opinion, by af- 

 fording a suitable agricultural education, in our ordinary schools, to 

 all the youths in attendance who are destined for the tillage of the 

 soil. The information which would be thus afforded, on agricultural 

 matters, would enable those who would receive it to conduct the bu- 

 siness of their farms, in after life, in accordance w r ith the most ap- 

 proved practice, to effect judicious improvements in those depart- 

 ments of their labors which admitted of such, and to dispel, by de- 

 grees, those erroneous prepossessions, in favor of particular modes of 

 >o management which have heretofore formed so great a barrier to pro- 

 gressive advancement in the art of culture and in its accompanying 



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