This, I say, a severe
man would think, though I dare not determine so far against so
customary a part now of good breeding. And yet, who is there among
our gentry that does not entertain a dancing master for his children
as soon as they are able to walk? But did ever any father provide a
tutor for his son to instruct him betimes in the nature and
improvements of that land which he intended to leave him? That is
at least a superfluity, and this a defect in our manner of
education; and therefore I could wish, but cannot in these times
much hope to see it, that one college in each university were
erected, and appropriated to this study, as well as there are to
medicine and the civil law. There would be no need of making a body
of scholars and fellows, with certain endowments, as in other
colleges; it would suffice if, after the manner of Halls in Oxford,
there were only four professors constituted (for it would be too
much work for only one master, or Principal, as they call him there)
to teach these four parts of it. First, aration, and all things
relating to it. Secondly, pasturage; thirdly, gardens, orchards,
vineyards, and woods; fourthly, all parts of rural economy, which
would contain the government of bees, swine, poultry, decoys, ponds,
etc.
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