188 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTUKE. 



farm the more numerous would be the departments, and hence the fewer kinds 

 of hibor in each. 



By adopting this or some similar plan, one laborer could confine his attention 

 to one thing ; skill would be developed, and wages proportionally advanced ; we 

 would have skilled plowmen, skilled mowers, and men skilled in every branch of 

 agriculture. An incentive for acquiring more skill would be furnished, by 

 regulating the wages according to the degree of skill acquired. Knowledge of 

 agriculture Avould be increased. Each suiierintendent could conquer the small 

 portion under his control, and discovered facts would be preserved. The incen- 

 tive to acquire knowledge, by making advancement to liigh positions dependent 

 on that, would keep men active in bringing out new truths, and in improving 

 themselves. Farming would thus become a business, and our farmer a business 

 man, a man of culture, and a man of knowledge. 



Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to the advancement of farming is the 

 tendency of young men to leave the farm and go to the city, there to engage in 

 some other business. AYhile the lawyer and merchant leave their business in 

 the hands of their smartest child, the farmer i? often forced to allow his dullest 

 son to carry on the farm. In this way farming has lost what would have been 

 its best followers, and its progress has been much retarded. 



The reason is, I think, obvious, and has been already suggested. They want 

 more of a chance for advancement. They want to reach positions of promi- 

 nence, where there are men under them. They want to be boss, — and more of 

 a boss tlian a farmer can be. They want the power of giving patronage. At 

 farm labor they can at best become only farmers, and under our present system 

 this is not the position of prominence which they seek. They secure positions 

 on the railroad, where, by diligent labor, they hope to some time fill the position 

 of the proud superintendent, or that of the good-natured conductor. 



By the adoption of the system suggested, all these incentives would operate 

 to keep them at farming. Diligent labor, and that alone, would increase their 

 wages. Farm manager and department superintendent would be positions 

 which they would proudly fill, for which they would gladly labor, and which 

 they could secure only by labor. The adoption of this system would give us, 

 then, as an accompanying advantage to division of labor, freedom from this, 

 the greatest of all obstacles to agricultural advancement. 



An essay was read by Mrs. Barwise in which she urged the necessity of women 

 being competent to transact business. Admitting the importance of home 

 duties and aware of the large proportion of their time which most women 

 must devote to them she would not allow them to exclude the possibility of 

 mental culture. She claimed that sad results frequently followed from women 

 being incompetent to traiisact ordinary business. Every woman should be 

 able to draw a note, Arrite a contract, etc., in proper form. She should be com- 

 petent to preside at a meeting or make a record of its proceedings, and the 

 ability to do such things would make her a more efficient wife and mother. 

 She spoke of the grange movement as recognizing the true position of woman, 

 and considered it entitled to the support of all farmers and their wives. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The closing session of this Institute was occupied by Secretary R. G. Baird, 

 who spoke on the Centennial Exhibition ; by Mr. Lawson, of Utica, on the 

 Application of Science to Farming ; and Hon. J. Webster Cliilds on the Apple 



