164 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



been said that education turns young men from the farm. That 

 is no longer true. 



More of our young men are taking a course in college agri- 

 culture than ever before. Where four were enrolled at Orono 

 five years ago, today there are 100, including Agriculture and 

 Forestry. The students who graduate from this course now can 

 find as remunerative positions open to them as in the trades and 

 professions. I have in mind a young man who graduated from 

 Bowdoin two years ago and then took a poultry course at 

 Cornell and has gone home onto the farm and is raising poultry 

 by the thousands. I know another young man who took the 

 dairy course at Orono and then worked in a butter factory a 

 few years and is now looking around to buy a farm, who told 

 me only a few days ago, — "Why the farmers have no idea of 

 the possibilities there are in dairying." 



When we used to keep old fashioned scrub poultry, and fuss 

 along with contrary hens, who wouldn't lay in winter nor hatch 

 chickens until June, I took no interest in poultry, but after we 

 purchased incubators and thoroughbred stock and I saw there 

 was a chance to use brains and make them pay, then I became 

 interested. Every year I see new possibilities, and have a con- 

 tinual interest and desire to improve on the year before. 



Even a naturally bright boy or girl can grow up on a farm 

 wholly ignorant if no one leads them on to study and observe. 

 Even our schools do not teach them much practical knowledge 

 beyond the three Rs. We are waking to the fact that in this 

 competitive age our children must be taught to use their eyes 

 and hands as well as their brains. I have three girls now stud)'- 

 ing Latin, Geometry, Ancient History and such studies when 

 I think they would be better ofif to be studying sewing, domestic 

 science and hygiene. In olden times they had to be trained in 

 many things at home but now these arts and crafts are left to 

 the mills and factories, and the city children, especially, are play- 

 ing in the streets. Every summer I have a boy sent me from 

 Boston for a few weeks and his father always writes, — "Set the 

 boy at work, treat him just as you would your own. There is 

 nothing at home for him to do." 



Suppose you walk down the street and meet a beautiful girl. 

 Her sweet face and pretty clothes awaken an interest, but if 

 you never learn her name, occupation or residence, you forget 



