FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 25 



"HOW TO KEEP THE BOY ON THE FAKM." 



R. H. SHERWOOD^ WATERVLIET. 



I trust the girls won't feel slighted about this subject, for it is un- 

 derstood without question of doubt if the boys stay on the farm, the 

 girls will stay and keep them company. 



This question is often discussed and we read hardly a magazine or 

 paper but there is some allusion to it which emphasizes its importance 

 and the solving of it certainly is debateable. I will give my own views 

 from personal experience and observation. I may not introduce any new 

 ideas but such as I give I thoroughly believe in, though I may be mis- 

 taken in my conclusions. 



"Men are simply grown up boys," and I fear many fathers and 

 mothers have forgotten that they were once young and had "foolish 

 notions" — "wanted to have a good time" — have a good looking rig to 

 drive" — "go with a girl or boy to some entertainment or dance," and 

 possibly have forgotten the resolve made then (if their parents objected) 

 viz., if ever they had boys or girls of their own they would encourage 

 them to have a "good time." But merely to have a "good time" is not 

 "the whole duty of man." The pleasure and the happiness we enjoy 

 are, however, very important incidents in our career. 



I think the farm with its necessary diversity of work, some more dis- 

 agreeable than others, has been made to appear too irksome and dis- 

 couraging. 



"How skillful grows the hand 



That obeys Love's commands. 

 It is the heart and not the brain. 



That the highest doth attain." 



The following I believe are the essentials to the successful solving of 

 this very important question of "How to Keep the Boy on the Farm" 

 viz., Adaptability — Education— Parent's Responsibility — Profit. 



The old-fashioned family used to have a doctor, lawyer, ])reacher and 

 farmer among its boj's, and sometimes the vocations were very un- 

 judiciously allotted. I don't believe that every farm boy should be a 

 farmer, for we must spare some for city life, for bankers, merchants, 

 professional men and politicians. The majority of the best and most 

 successful city men are farm bred. I think that every farm boy that is 

 ambitious, honest and sincere has a marked advantage over the average 

 city boy. The farm educates us to be natural and real. The develop- 

 ment of the crops, animals and the constant environment of nature, it so 

 becomes a part of us, and impresses our lives with the fact tliat there 

 is a Creator and man is an important incident in the wonderful affairs 

 of creation. In fact we are educated to be natural in thought and ac- 

 tion. The city boy hears of these things but has no practical under- 

 standing of them, liis life is artificial, sky scrapers, i)avements, made 



