-# Agricultural Education. 395 
All the remarks I have ventured to make in the foregoing article 
have been advanced without seeing Mr. Downing's strawberry 
beds, and are based solely on any own investigations and on the 
unerring order of nature. Previous, however, to the conclusion 
of my comments, I hope to inspect the beds he has referred to, as 
I am desirous that the Strawberry Question should be settled, and 
set at rest forever; it having hitherto savored too much of wheat 
changing to chess or rather of a worn out bull changing to a pro- 
lific heifer. In the meantime I shall be gratified at any facts and 
arguments calculated to sustain the following statement made by 
]\lr. Downing, and also that the " many persons," referred to by 
him may be named, so that their strawberry beds may be examined. 
" Notwithstanding Mr. Longworth's incredulity, we still assure 
him that two years ago we raised a remarkably large and fine crop 
of Hovey's Seedling strawberry, u-ithout the froiimity of any sort 
whatever. The same results have, to our own knowledge, been 
attained by many persons this reason, who have grown large and 
perfect crops of the same variety for the first time, in gardens 
where there has been no other strawberry of any kind, or only in 
distant portions of the same garden. We have examined these 
plants of Hovey's Seedling when in flower, and found the blos- 
soms large, and perfect in stamens and pistils.'' 
Note — The italicism of some passages in the above extract is 
my own, and intended to elicit attention thereto. — Fish. Journal. 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
BY L. DURAXD. 
Much has been said "of late, and written, on the all important 
subject of agriculturral education. And yet a great deal more 
remains to be said, before much will be done on this subject. As 
to the best way of bringing about a thorough reform in this 
matter, we of course do not pretend to devise. That there is a 
necessity of more earnest and efficient effort to educate the farmer 
and his sons in their business, every one who is at all interested 
must see at once. We of course shall not attempt to lay out any 
plan, or rule, whereby this system can be brought about speedily, 
but shall simply give a few plans which we think have been, and 
still continue to be, leading steps towards accomplishing this great 
object. And first, agricultural papers and journals we think have 
done much, and are still doing more, to elevate the farmer, and 
excite him to emulation in his calling, than all other objects put 
