178 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



ing the foundations, in body and in character, not only of their 

 successors in their own calling, but of the future leaders in almost 

 all the walks of life. The great responsibility thus resting upon 

 them cannot be too forcibly expressed or too keenly appreciated. 



In handling a crop of corn, we send to market only merchantable 

 ears; but all sound corn, and even some soft ears, may serve varied 

 and useful purposes. The little nubbins, if properly treated, may 

 make the best of bread. We are taught, however, that in good 

 husbandry, to secure a perpetuation of the species and obtain a 

 profitable crop, the very best and most perfectly-formed ears 

 should be selected, at an early period of their growth, and saved 

 for seed. 



The farmer and his family are essentially the seed-corn of our 

 land. It is of vital importance to make such selections as shall 

 reserve the very best for agriculture and thus improve, generation 

 after generation, the purity and quality of these fountain-heads of 

 supply, the farm-homes of the country. 



Unfortunately, the general practice in this particular is exactly 

 the opposite of what it ought to be. Parents make heroic efforts 

 and show much self sacrifice in educating sons and daughters off 

 the farm, but it is a rare thing to see the same exertions put forth 

 to specially educate their children for the farm, so that they may 

 enjoy agricultural life, be successful in it, and profit by it. 



One reason why farming has been held in such low estimation, 

 is the idea which has so largely prevailed, that anyone can be a 

 farmer. Many seem to think that from instinct alone, and without 

 education or the aid of science, one can perform all that is neces- 

 sary in that employment, and that success depends mainly on the 

 amount of physical labor expended. Hence it has been too much 

 the practice that when a person of ingenuity or fond of research — 

 a youth of promise and eager for distinction — has appeared in the 

 ranks of farmers, his attention has been immediately turned away 

 from agriculture to some other field. 



The boy with an inclination for study and a taste for knowledge, 

 instead of being provided with an education to render him pecu- 

 harly useful on the farm, not only by applying science to its opera- 

 tions, but also by enlightening his father and brothers in this and 

 other branches of useful learning, is at once exiled from the home- 

 stead and put in training for one of what are called the " learned " 

 professions, — and despite the fact that all of these are over- 



