134 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Thus it is that labor to the boy who is to become the future 

 farmer is irksome at the best, but in most cases it is worse than 

 this, it is deadening to the mental faculties, at the time when 

 they are most capable of being quickened and improved. 



Compare this with other pursuits, from the youth who is in- 

 tended for one of the learned professions, and whose preparation 

 continues for years after the age at which the boy is condemned 

 to the farm, to the lad who goes to the counting-room or the 

 factory, where the work is comparatively light, and where the 

 mind is amused and intellect is excited. Is it any wonder that 

 farming is unpopular under these circumstances, or is it sur- 

 prising that farmers with such an education for their pursuit, 

 should not hold their proper place in public estimation ? How 

 completely would this be changed were boys educated for this 

 pursuit, and brought up to the standard of skill and intelligence 

 that is necessary in order to enter successfully upon any other 

 industrial career? It is education which gives dignity to the 

 man, be his profession what it may ; and there is no calling in 

 Massachusetts which would rank higher than that of the farmer, 

 if those who entered upon it were sufficiently educated to make 

 it successful and* profitable. 



The committee reluctantly leave all farther general consider- 

 ation upon the importance of early and systematic agricultural 

 education. They would gladly point out the bearing which its 

 introduction would have upon the moral and social condition 

 of all classes of society through the influence and example of a 

 highly prosperous and well-educated agricultural class, — they 

 would like to show what would be the effect of greater agricul- 

 tural skill and intelligence upon our political institutions, and 

 to enlarge upon the benefits which would ensue to the State by 

 elevating the agricultural interest, and bringing it to a level 

 with the same occupation in other countries. All this, however, 

 would require more time than can well be given to the purpose. 

 They will therefore proceed at once to a consideration of the 

 plan which they propose for accomplishing this object. 



In doing so, however, they would premise by saying that what 

 they intend to recommend they do not consider as all that may 

 be or ought to be done hereafter. What they are going to pro- 

 pose is only a commencement of a system of agricultural edu- 

 cation, to be elaborated and enlarged in such manner as experi- 



