12 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



curriculum that will be of more practical benefit than the teach- 

 ing of agriculture in the rural districts and the mechanic arts 

 in the city schools. This gives the farmer boy an opportunity 

 to learn the science of his business and brings within the reach 

 of the poor boy in the city a school of technology. We believe 

 the bill introduced in the 59th Congress by Representative Davis 

 of Minnesota has many features that commend it. This bill is 

 an extension of the Morrill Act, and proposes to place a prac- 

 tical, industrial education within reach of the masses. It pro- 

 vides that the government shall meet the individual states half 

 way in the establishment and maintenance of public school 

 instruction in agriculture, the mechanic arts and home eco- 

 nomics. We cannot lay too much emphasis upon the thorough 

 teaching of agriculture in the rural schools. This preliminary 

 training in agriculture will do much towards making an intel- 

 ligent, successful farmer, and those who have the means and can 

 take an extended course at the Agricultural College, will be pro- 

 ficient in their calling. When our people are educated along this 

 line, agriculture will become a more desirable and more profit- 

 able occupation. As it is the leading industry, it is eminently 

 fitting that the State should educate her citizens in this direction. 

 Our country homes are the bulwark of the Nation. Upon 

 the rural sections rests the responsibility of maintaining and 

 developing a government of the people, for the people and by the 

 people. Let us give them the best facilities for education, and 

 in them we shall find the best type of intelligent citizenship. 



