AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4061, 27 August 1870, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES.

Recognising the importance of a thorough knowledge of »griculture in a country so capable of growing every product of tho earth, the Government of the United States several yeara ago {wsely made provision for,, the endowment of colleges, in which both' the theory and practice of agriculture should be taught. The Act, which waB passed by Congress in 1862, and approved by President Lincoln, was entitled "An Act donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benetit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," f ranted ,to each State, for such purposes, 0,000 acres of land for each Senator and Representative in Congress, according to the apportionment under fche census of 1860. The Act provides that all moneys realised by the sale of these lands shall be invested in stocks of the United States, or of the States, and that only the interest thereof shall De expended for the purposes named. The Legislature of each State which accepts this bequest must establish one college of agriculture and the mechanic arts, erect suitable buildings, choose a faculty of professors, and prescribe such a course of study as will have a tendency "to promote the liberal education of the industrial classes in the seve al pursuits and professions of life," by making the leading feature and objects of such instruction to be, "to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts," including "military tactics," and not excluding "other scientific and classical studies." The design of Congress appears to have been to establish a national American system of education for the benefit of the whole people. The Legislatures of twenty- three States have responded to this magnificent donation of Congress, and have either established o> commenced agricultural colleges. The following States have organised independent institutions : Michigan, Pennsylvania, lowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maine. The following States have incorporated their agricultural colleges with other seminaries oruniversities : Connecticut, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Kansas, Maryland, California, Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The States of Ohio and Indiana have accepted the donation ; but, as yet, have only commenced. The first six States have farms of i from 400 to 1,000 acres attached to their [ agricultural colleges. In Michigan and other States where independent colleges have been established, theory and practice are combined, and the latter follows the former closely and constantly. Professors lead the students from the class-room and lecture-room to the field, the garden, or the workshop. The professors must all be scientific and practical men ; and they must stand at the head of their students and exemplify their instructions. The Stats Agricultural College of Michigan, which is located near Lansing, has a farm of 633 acres i under a high state of cultivation, and has all 1 tne students, 108 in number, that can possibly be accommodated in the present buildings. The State Agricultural College of lowa, in Story county, on the line of tho Cedar Rapids and Missouri railroad, has a farm of 648 acres of laud, with a magnificent college building, 156 feet in length, 70 feet in width, and five Btoreys high, including the basement and Mansard attic. The State Agricultural College of Illinois has a farm of over 1,000 acres in Champagne county, which, with its buildings and ornamental grounds, cost 400, OOOdol. and hich was presented to the State by the enterprising citizens of that county. The State Agricultural College of Massachusetts has a farm of 384 acres near Amherst, which, with its buildings to accommodate 1 10 student's, was purchased by the State and the citizens of Amherst »t an expense of 220, 000d01. But the expenses of each student amount to 9 50d015. per annum, in addition to the manual labour required. There are no free scholarships. The State Agricultural College of Maine has a farm of 375 acres, near Baugor, wlr'ch was presented by the citizens of that town, and improvements made to the extent of 15,000d01. >by the citizens, and 30,000d01a. by the State. It is not free. The ouly free agricultural colleges are at the Weßt. Not asking or soliciting assistance from private individuals, the Legislature of Michigan purchas' d the farm for her cullege, improved it, stocked it with the choicest imported animals, erected the college and farm buildings, and employed the professors, at an expense of the sum of 198,820d015, besides the donation of Congress, which has amounted to a fund of 600,000d015. The Legislatures of Michigan and lowa have placed the education of the industrial classes on a firm and solid foundation, for they have each enacted that "Tuition in the College herein established shall be for ever free to pupils from this State." As the students are required to labour three hours a day for their board and other expenses, the boy of the most humble parentage stands on the platform of equality with the inheritor of wealth. People may talk about the older States, concerning the excellence and superiority of their educational institutions, but it is with feelings of pride and enthusiasm that the citizens of the great West; can point to Michigan as the standard-bearer in the cause of education among all the States of the Union. Look at her State University, with 1,200 students ; at her Normal School, with nearly 400 students ; at her A gricultural College; at her County Union or High School ; and at her District Grammar and Primary Schools— all of which are endowed by the State, with tuition and text-books free.