396 Agricultural Education. 
together. These perhaps growing from small means, small pa- 
tronage, and little influence, up to powerful influences, have 
become mighty engines, in carrying forward this work. And 
next up to this, we think that agricultural associations, and 
farmers' clubs have done much toward bringing about this object. 
These societies have been in operation so long, and their objects 
are so well understood by all farmers who take any interest at all 
in them, that their support needs no commendation from us. 
What can be more interesting to the eye, than the annual gather- 
ing of the farmers of the county and state, at the cattle shows, for 
it is here that they meet to exchange civilities and greetings, to 
compare their practice and theories together, and thus the day is 
spent in cheerful hilarity and excitement, and no farmer we think 
can go to his home without saying that he has profited by the gather- 
ing. But it is with this organization as with all others, we have 
not yet arrived at perfection in management. One great difficulty 
as yet is, in the distribution of " premiums," so as to have all 
parties satisfied, for we find that mankind are a little selfish yet 
and will continue so for some time. Perhaps it is next to im- 
possible to have premiums so given out, but that there will be 
some " grumblers" left. As an improvement, we think with 
others, that giving out agricultural books and periodicals for 
premiums, instead of money, would be an inducement for farmers 
to read more then they have done. One other reform we would 
suggest, and it is that gentlemen " committees" would put their 
" veto" at once, on all fat animals, which have been " pampered" 
and laid over from one fair to another, merely for the sake o? pre- 
mium. For agricultural education, as we understand it, does not 
consist in raising fat steers, large porkers, or dark red cattle. 
Another means for the promotion of agricultural education has 
lately come up, and it is the formation of agricultural schools, 
with an experimental farm connected. And of these institutions, 
we think that one or more ought to be established in every state, for 
it is here, with good management, that farmers might depend 
that their sons would receive a thorough (practical and scientific) 
education, to fit them for their business. But it may be said, and 
with some truth, that perhaps the great mass of farmers could 
never find the time, nor spare the means to send their sons to zn- 
stitutions of this kind for an education. As a remedy for this, 
we cannot see any better plan than the establishing in every state. 
of JYormal Schools, like the one in your city, for the education of 
teachers in agriculture and the sciences, and these teachers to be 
distributed throughout the state, in our common schools, and thus 
a system of agricultural education would be introduced into our 
schools which would meet the condition of all classes, whether 
rich or poor. If this system is carried out as begun, we look 
