HOW TO MAKE FARM LIFE ATTRACTIVE. 473; 



It is true that character makes the man and not his occupation or sur- 

 roundings, aud that a traly honest man will prove himself such in whatever 

 situation he may be placed; also, that a man lacking these qualities will not 

 be changed by merely engaging in the most honorable and ennobling occupa- 

 tions. Still it cannot be denied that the associations and influences con- 

 nected with the employment of the hands and brain do have a jDowerful 

 influence in forming the character of an individual. Farming presents one 

 of the most extensive fields of varied research and close investigation of any 

 of the various occupations of men, and yet how few comparatively that are 

 engaged in it realize the opportunity for mental and physical development 

 which their employment affords? As a class, however, farmers are becoming 

 better educated, and thus better fitted for successful achievement. 



There is no reason why the farmer should not be specially educated for his 

 business, and farming rank among the learned professions. Scientific farm- 

 ing requires a knowledge of a greater variety of things than almost any other 

 kind of business. As far as the nature and treatment of soils are concerned, 

 some knowledge of mineralogy is very essential, and a knowledge of chem- 

 istry, botany, and entomology are all valuable as far as they apply to the 

 growing of crops and their preservation from the ravages of insects. 



The farmer must also be a manufacturer as far as the making of butter 

 and cheese and the curing of hay or preserving of ensilage and crops gener- 

 ally are concerned; while a thorough understanding of the habits, neces- 

 sities, diseases, etc., of domestic animals is indispensable to success in the 

 work. Surely the farmer, in order to be well fitted for his work, must not 

 only possess a natural taste and aptitude for it, but should receive special 

 instruction in these several departments. In other words, he should be edu- 

 cated for his business, thereby increasing his usefulness and making farm life 

 more attractive. 



Our agricultural colleges are supplying this need to a certain extent, but 

 we should have more of them ; and our public schools practically ignore 

 in their system of instruction everything pertaining to this important branch 

 of national industry. A great improvement upon the present system would 

 be instituted by inculcating a more general knowledge of those sciences- 

 "which are more intimately connected with it. The large number of schools 

 in various portions of Europe in which practical instruction is given in farm- 

 ing in all of its various branches have done much in bringing the agriculture 

 of those sections to the high standard it has attained. 



We believe no one would think of disputing the fact that a given area of 

 land, with similar conditions, will produce more now than twenty or fifty 

 years ago. This is due to advanced methods of farming, the use of improved 

 agricultural implements, etc., which cause the soil to produce with less 

 expense of time and labor, and hence make farming more profitable 

 now than formerly, so that the farmer of to-day need not make his 

 business the drudgery it was formerly, or, if he works as hard, he can have 

 better returns for his labor in the form of more of the necessities aud luxuries 

 of life. Consequently, farmers as a class are not compelled to practice as 

 much self-denial in order to attain success as in the olden time, and this- 

 increases the attractions of farm life. 



Now, fellow citizens, I might occupy hours pointing out to you the attrac- 

 tions that already exist in farm life, but enough has been said to show con- 

 clusively that the occupation has more charms than any other in existence. 



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