422 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Sixth — Can an enterprising fruit-grower keep abreast with his time, for the 

 most part, without German and French? Are they necessary? 



Seventh — What are the qualifications for a preserver of fruits, including 

 canning? 



Eighth — Is manual dexterity required in a farmer or fruit-grower, and how 

 is it to be acquired? 



Ninth — Is it desirable to be able to draw? 



Tenth — To what extent is a literary education necessary or desirable? 



Eleventh — Can a pomologist or farmer remain in the front rank of his 

 vocation without attending associations? 



Twelfth — To what extent do the penologists of Michigan suffer from lack 

 of education, from ill-directed effort, and ignorance of well-known principles? 



Very sincerely yours, D. C. Hauxhurst. 



Battle Creek, Mich., June 1, 1880. 



Keplt : — Although the above was a private letter, the questions are of 

 general importance, and we therefore answer them through the Rural Home. 

 We number the replies to correspond with the questions : 



First — A boy should be educated, primarily, to become a man, to develop all 

 of the attributes of manhood, as true manhood is the end or purpose of his 

 existence, while the vocation he is to follow is rather a means to an end. At 

 school a boy learns how to pursue those studies which he should continue 

 through life. If his parents have the means, it is well for the child to study 

 in school the various branches of mathematics, geography, literature, physics, 

 metaphysics, and general science that he may wish to pursue through life, as 

 far as it is absolutely necessary to have a teacher. 



Second — The answer to this can better be given in reply to subsequent ques- 

 tions, although we will say here, that, in addition to special studies mentioned 

 in subsequent questions, it would be well for a boy intending to follow the 

 vocation of tilling the soil, to acquire a good knowledge of natural philosophy, 

 that he may understand the principles on which machinery operates, and also 

 light, acoustics, meteorology, etc. Anatomy and physiology would assist him 

 in caring for his dumb beasts. 



Third — To till the soil, grow crops and fruit, it is quite essential to an intel- 

 ligent understanding of the whole subject that a boy shall learn the composi- 

 tion of the soil, of the various plants, and the fruit they bear, of the plant-food 

 in the soil and the best way to promote its solution and absorption by growing 

 plants, and the best way of saving, compounding, and applying fertilizers, so 

 as to realize the maximum of good with the minimum of loss. Such knowl- 

 edge is to be gained from the study of chemistry. It is also desirable to know 

 how plants grow, their various parts, and their offices or functions, and how to 

 learn the name of strange plants by analyzing their flowers, leaves, etc. Such 

 knowledge is gained by the study of botany. 



Fourth — Almost everything the farmer or pomologist grows is subject to 

 insect depredations, and new ones make their appearance almost every year. 

 By studying entomology he is enabled to learn the names, characteristics, and 

 habits of those insects, and is better prepared to make intelligent warfare upon 

 them. He may also learn what insects are enemies and what friends, and be 

 deterred from destroying the latter. Almost every insect that afflicts mankind 

 has an enemy that preys upon and destroys it, and such should be spared. 



Fifth — Microscopy will assist materially in examining and identifying insects, 



