6o 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
cation. I am confident that great good is to be reaped, is now be¬ 
ing reaped from it by the farmers, the mechanics and by those en¬ 
gaged in all industries. And yet I would say, make your son a 
master man, and he will make a master mechanic, or a master of 
whatever business it may be his choice to pursue. 
I have before intimated that the farmers and mechanics do not 
fully realize the benefits to be derived from such an education, 
as these industrial colleges offer. The prejudices against “ book¬ 
farming,” as they formerly chose to call it, have mostly passed 
away, and they willingly accept the good that science brings to 
them. But they are not sufficiently anxious for it; they do not 
hunger and thirst for it as they ought, and hence are backward 
about seeking it. 
This indifference arises from the want of proper appreciation of 
the good they might receive from this education. This is so well 
illustrated by a personal incident, that I trust I may be excused 
for repeating it. 
A year ago, I read before a convention similar to this, a paper 
showing the relations of science and agriculture. A farmer in the 
state, one who stands high in his particular branch of farming, 
said he “ did not think much of that address.” 
A short time since, I read a paper before a meeting of dairy¬ 
men, upon the co-relation of forces, as applied to feeding, water¬ 
ing and sheltering farm animals, and this same farmer thought it a 
most excellent address. 
The difference between the papers was that in one a special sub¬ 
ject was so elaborated that the farmer saw its practical application, 
while the other only aimed to show the general relations of science 
and agriculture, and the practical applications were not as plainly 
pointed out. But they both alike represented science in agricul¬ 
ture. 
Every one feels that these industrial colleges have duties to 
perform, in the advancement of the several industries of their 
respective states. They were created in the interests of practical 
industry. Agriculture, mining, the mechanic arts, all have their 
rightful claims upon these colleges. But does it not follow that 
there are counter claims of the colleges upon those who represent 
these industries? 
