AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. This is a theme which we now find embraced in nearly every agricultural report published. And though the principle of practical and even specific education is unquestioned, it cannot be denied that there is great diversity of opinion in regard to the mode of educating practical men, and especially farmers. Our idea is not a new one, however; it has occupied the minds of statesmen and philanthropists for thirty years past, and is partially reduced to practice in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe, where there were 350 agricultural schools in operation six years ago; nine of them in Belgium, alone, and all supported by government. That the principle has worked well in Europe all admit, and that it will work still better here, no thinking man can doubt, unless blind to the necessities of agriculture and the practical tendencies of the age. And the experiment is to be tried in our sister state of Michigan, whose legislature created a separate agricultural college two years ago, and richly endowed it with lands held by the state for educational purposes. A college has been established in New York, also, which will go into operation soon after that in Michigan. And in this state we have funds sacred to the cause of higher education, which might be devoted to the establishment of an agricultural school, and yet be made equally available to every other interest in the state. A university, open to all, yet mainly calculated for the education of practical men in the sciences underlying their life-pursuits, and especially teachers for our primary schools, would seem to be well fitted to subserve the interests of all. And even if called an "agricultural college," there may be reason in the name, for we are a majority of the whole people. We pay most of the state taxes, also, and it will not be denied that our special interests lie at the bottom of most others. Commerce, manufactures, trade, the fine arts and the learned professions-even the value of city lots and railroad stocks-rest mainly on the success of agriculture; and yet we have been left to educate our sons, for the farm, as we were educated on it; and it does not seem to be understood that we can communicate no more than we know ourselves! We have referred to the education of school teachers, in connection with a high school, for ourselves and others, because it is thought desirable, if not necessary, to have common school teachers, in rural districts, somewhat informed in regard to rural matters, and particularly in the natural sciences applicable to the arts of production. And it is deemed more economical, in point of cost, and more politic and popular, to connect a normal school with our university than to establish it on a separate foundation; for the same appliances would answer for both, and no separation of interests be left for future jealousy and conflict. Further special argument does not appear to us necessary at this time, but should it be required, we refer you to the 3d, 16th, 26th and 400th pages of our first volume of Transactions. TREASURER'S REPORT. Hereunto appended will be found the biennial statement of our treasurer: Report of the Treasurer of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, January 7th, 1857. Premium plate on hand,.. Less premium plate in hands of I. Speer, Chicago, $100 00 $1,339 00 39 00 139 00 Balance in the treasury, 3d January, '55,. $1,200 00 111 80 71.00 12,735 00 Received of Mr. , to be added to premiums on beehives, Received of L. B. Chandler, for membership,.... 10.00 1.00 14,128 80 Expenditures by the executive board, for premiums and other expenses, during the year 1855. See vouchers No. 1 to 192, and vouchers No. 316, 317 and 318,...... .... 11,491 11 $2,637 69 The State Agricultural Society has on hand the following pre Amount of receipts brought forward............. Expenditures by executive board for premiums and other expenses, during the year 1856. No. 319 to 329,. Add balance left from Chicago fair,.......... $9,037 95 8,354 73 683 22 2,637 69 Leaving a balance in the treasury, 7th January, 1857, of.. ......... $3,320 91 JOHN WILLIAMS, Treasurer Illinois State Agricultural Society. SPRINGFIELD, January 7, 1856. The undersigned, a committee of the executive board of the Illinois State Agricultural Society, appointed to examine the books and accounts of the treasurer, would report: That they have performed that duty, and take pleasure in saying that they find his accounts kept in a plain, intelligible manner; that vouchers and full explanations were given us for all expenditures, showing the balance in the treasury, as appears by his books, $3,320 91. We take this opportunity to express our approbation of the manner, the industry and fidelity with which he has executed his trust. JOHN GAGE, All of which is respectfully submitted, on behalf of the execu tive committee of our society. JOHN A. KENNICOTT, Corresponding Secretary. LIST OF ORIGINAL MATTER, COLLECTED AND PROPOSED FOR A SECOND VOLUME OF STATE AGRICULTURAL TRANSACTIONS. Biennial Report of Executive Committee: JOHN A. KENNICOTT. Proceedings of State Society. Proceedings of Executive Committee. Official Awards, 1855. Official Awards, 1856. Reports of Committees at Fairs. Reports of Special Committees. Statements of Premium Crops. Proceedings of County Societies. Proceedings of Institutes, &c. ESSAYS, PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, &C. "Agricultural Resources of Southern Illinois:" Ex-Gov. John REYNOLDS, Belleville, Illinois. "Wire Fence:" COL. HORACE CAPRON, Alden, McHenry county. "Farmers' Railroads:" L. W. ASHLEY, Anna, Union county. "Sugar" CAPT. GEO. BARRELL, Springfield. "Cultivation of Evergreens:" SAMUEL EDWARDS, Danville. "Cultivation of Evergreens:" J. P. EAMES, Mendota. "The Horse :" S. C. ROGERS, M. D., Plainfield. "Nursery Labeling," &c., &c.: WM. STEWART, Quincy. "Southern Illinois:" O. S. BAKER, Belleville. "Rearing and Managing Cattle:" CHARLES W. MURTFELDT, Oregon. Rearing and Managing Cattle:" WM. STRAWN, Livingston county. "Advantages to be derived from the Cultivation of Flowers:" O. ORDWAY, Lawn Ridge. "Advantages to be derived from the Cultivation of Flowers:" Rev. J. A. WIGHT, Chicago. "Embellishment of a Country Home:" T. McWHORTER, Millersburg. "Sugar Millet:" Clinton G. TAYLOR, Pleasant Ridge, Rock Island county, Illinois. "Broom Corn:" W. H. WINDOW, Littleton. "Cultivation of Potatoes:" A. L. MILLER, Hamilton. แ "Mulching:" D. F. KINNEY, Rock Island. "Land Reform," &c. . JOHN GAGE, Waukegan. "Tree Physiology:" S. J. WALLACE, Carthage. "Culture of the Vine:" H. L. BRUSH, Ottawa. "Historical Researches and Cultivation of Bread Fruits" (cereals :) FREDERICK BRUNDELL, M. D., Peoria, Cottage and Farm Architecture:" CHARLES BETTS, of the Prairie Farmer, Bur Oak, Michigan. "Design for a Farm Cottage," (premium,) with specifications and remarks on Rural Architecture: JAS. A. MILLER, Alton, Illinois. "Meteorological Observations:" FREDERICK BRUNDELL, M. D., Peoria, Illinois. "Physical Education:" E. R. Roɛ, M. D., Bloomington, Illinois. NATURAL HISTORY. "Useful and Noxious Grasses of Illinois:" J. A. LAPHAM, Milwaukee, Wis. "Catalogue of Illinois Plants :" J. A. LAPHAM, Milwaukee, Wis. "Catalogue of Plants in a wild state, near Peoria:" FREDERICK BRUNDE L, M. D. "Animals Injurious or Useful to Vegetation:" ROBERT KENNICOTT, West Northfield, Illinois. ADDITIONAL LIST. Address of BRONSON MURRAY, ESQ., before the La Salle County Agricultural Society. "The Farmer's Great Want:" Prof. J. B. TURNER, Jacksonville, Illinois, |