146 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



manifested in action if not in words, and young men are quick to 

 observe it. Their pride of character is touched. They discover 

 at once that it is the occupation they follow for which they are 

 thus treated. They reason that if farmers' boys are not to be ad- 

 mitted into circles of society sometimes looked upon as higher 

 they will not be farmers ; they will seek some other occupation ; 

 will choose some other position in life If a boy has any pluck at 

 all he means to be respected by respectable people, and will make 

 choice of his occupation accordingly. These with other reasons 

 that might be named, turn the mind away from farm life, and 

 induces the constant migration of young men and women to the 

 city or wherever else they hope to better themselves. 



How long and to what extent this state of things is to exist it 

 is difficult to foresee. It is certainly time that the public mind 

 was awake to the matter, and if any remedies can be applied they 

 should be speedily. One way is to elevate labor and make it hon- 

 orable. Much has been done in this direction by diffusing useful 

 knowledge. Men of science and of large and expanded views 

 have thrown themselves into the work of investigating the laws 

 and principles of agriculture, and have given the results of their 

 investigations to the world. The knowledge thus obtained has 

 shown us that the study and 'practice of agriculture in its true and 

 successful, legitimate issue is yet but in its infancy; that to suc- 

 ceed it is necessary to understand the principles that lie at the 

 foundation of success. As well might the engineer attempt to 

 run his locomotive with speed and safety without understanding 

 the first principles of his machine, as for the farmer to expend his 

 time and labor successfully without some adequate knowledge of 

 agricultural science. Happily a spirit of inquiry and research has 

 arisen among many practical men, which augers great and benefi- 

 cial results to agricultural labor. Books and agricultural, papers 

 are sought after, and read with avidity. Agricultural societies 

 and farmers clubs have been formed ; boards of agriculture and 

 agricultural schools and colleges have been established. Many 

 of our young men are now in a course of training preparatory to 

 farming. Men of intelligence and culture are reducing the princi- 

 ples they understand to practice. This is a very important point 

 gained. It is one thing to understand a principle, it is a very 

 different thing to apply that principle to practice so as to secure 

 all the benefits which may follow its proper application and use. 



What we now most need is men of this character who have the 



