186 ' BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



"While physical labor and industrious habits arc matters of im- 

 portance, to be taught to all sons and daughters, they should never 

 be permitted to interfere with or dwarf that mental and moral 

 culture which is essential to perfect manhood and womanhood. 

 Something besides hands are necessary on the farm; and the busy 

 world outside of agriculture, which looks to the farm for its re- 

 cruits, demands not only hands, but brains and character. 



Then let the children and the young people on the farm be 

 taught aright, and every possible step be taken to give them broad, 

 liberal, progressive training. Let all be impressed with the great- 

 ness and the importance of agriculture, the dignity of the calling, 

 and the need of studying to procure its enlightened advancement. 

 Let them be taught that whatever their lot, they can never find a 

 more honorable, healthful, or healthfully profitable employment, 

 nor a more useful sphere than that of their fathers and mothers, 

 and especially that there is no other calling in which mortals can 

 live so near to the God of all life. 



Young men especially should be encouraged and assisted to 

 inform themselves as to the affairs of business in the world at 

 large, and to acquaint themselves with those matters of public 

 morality and general policy upon which depend the happiness and 

 welfare of the whole people. 



Thus will all who are reared upon the farm, those who remain 

 and also those who go to fill positions of usefulness and responsi- 

 bility in every sphere of life, be fitted to perform the duties of 

 citizenship and to act with wisdom in regard to public affairs. 



Those who continue in agriculture will be thus, in turn, prepared 

 to rear another generation in the same wise course, and themselves 

 be influential in winning to the farming interests friendship and 

 support everywhere. 



This alone is necessary to place foremost in their relations to 

 business, foremost as a power in the affairs of State, and foremost 

 in society. The Farmer and his Family, who have in their keeping 

 the mainspring of our country's prosperity — the Agriculture of 

 America* 



The President. Among the many good things vvhicli Maj. 

 Alvord has told us this evening, he spoke of the influence 

 that the farmer had, and it called to my mind a little experi- 

 ence that I have had within the last few years. Being called 



