ANNUAL REPORT—CONVENTION. 
6 3 
in the cause of agriculture, that has not, in this state, been adopted. 
That is for each society to furnish at least one student the means 
of getting an agricultural education. Large premiums are paid 
each year for the best horses and cattle, and sheep and swine. 
This is well. It ought to be so. But would not a great good be 
accomplished if each society should furnish one or two young 
men, who had shown themselves worthy of such encouragement, 
with a means of thoroughly fitting themselves for farmers? Such 
men would return to the farms with well trained minds, and with 
that knowledge which would aid them in successful culture of the 
soil, and, in doing so, would aid greatly, by their influence and 
example, in advancing the interests of farming. 
The various agricultural societies of Massachusetts gave, in 
1871, nearly $200 for the aid of students at the Agricultural Col¬ 
lege. Their example is worthy of being followed by the agricul¬ 
tural societies of every state in the Union. Money so spent would 
be like seed sown in good soil, that would spring up and bring 
forth an hundred fold. 
No student should be entirely supported, but he should be so 
aided that he can readily help himself to the remainder by his 
own industry. 
The objection will come to this proposition that these societies 
do not propose to do missionary work. But that is the very work 
they are to do. They are created to go about doing good to the 
cause of agriculture, and they are to help that cause in every way 
possible. Is not bringing out worthy young men, and fitting 
them for high positions as farmers, one way of accomplishing 
good? It will not do to decry missionary work. The congres¬ 
sional land grant was not given to establish colleges for the educa¬ 
tion of lawyers, or physicians, or ministers, but to educate farmers 
and mechanics. 
The state of Wisconsin is not asked to print the reports, to fur¬ 
nish an office in the capitol, to pay express charges and postage,, 
and to supply stationery for a society to advance the interest of 
any one of these professions. Such gifts are only made to the 
farmers. They are given for the farmers’ use. They are then to 
be used in that way that shall help the farmers most. 
Let every legitimate means be used to advance the farmers’ in- 
