37G Wisconsin state Agricultural society. 
ers as a class were being burdened with worthless, worn out agri¬ 
cultural literature, in worthless agricultural newspapers; “ much of 
it ” he said, “ was got up like the man’s razors to sell, not to sell to 
boys, but to grown men. They are filled with quack doctors adver¬ 
tisements, rare chances to make $75 a month, new and useful gang 
plows, lightning rods, hens’ eggs, China potatoes, chromos, and the 
like, and where a farmer has a family of boys who are looking away 
from the farm for a money making business it works mischief, and 
requires considerable time to explain away the dazzle.” 
You know whether my friend’s statements are correct or not. If 
they are, let your voices be raised against it, if you dare. Editors 
are men of enterprise. Their enterprise is commendable. But if 
villainous compounds are advertised for pay, and you know it, you 
need not spend your time in reading, nor in taking the stuff. There 
is enough else to read; you had better read the patent office report 
which Gen. Bragg will surely send you when he is squarely in his 
congressional chair. 
The respectable press has given to the farmer,, to all classes, 
wisdom, knowledge, power. It has elevated the social, moral and 
intellectual condition of the race. It is the great schoolmaster 
abroad. We had better have been without this centennial year,, 
than without the press. 
AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 
Only thirty years ago the first actual professor of agriculture was 
appointed in an American college. Now we have similar profes¬ 
sorships in nearly every first-class college in the Union. 
The “ scientific course ” in our colleges and state universities is 
conceded to be the most popular course amongst all, save, perhaps? 
the old Greek and Hebrew scholars and superannuated clergymen. 
Why? Because our boys and girls do get a little common sense 
mixed in with their education. 
There are now in existence about forty agricultural schools, aided 
by private and state aid, in the United States. Their influence is- 
seen and felt throughout the land. 
I believe our sister state, Michigan, has the honor of establishing" 
and putting into successful operation the first state agricultural 
college in America. It derives its entire support from the gov¬ 
ernment. Prof. Daniells, of 
