496 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



iutions. Upon the conservative, level-headed, intelligent farmers of this 

 land rests the settlement of these important questions. 



Whatever the amount of knowledge or the degree of culture there is room 

 for its fullest exercise. 



Let him, then,who would reap the best possible results from his toil,who would 

 elevate his calling in the eyes of the world, who would have his influence felt 

 in behalf of truth and right, give every leisure moment to self-improvement, 

 remembering that the most profitable work ever done upon the farm is culti- 

 vating brains. 



DISCUSSION. 



Prof. Lewis McLouth : There is no such thing as standing still mentally, 

 ■one advances or recedes. Instead of taking up the advocacy of specific agri- 

 cultural training only for the farmer, I am glad that Mr. Hutchins recom- 

 mends more general culture — that he actually advises the farmer to study 

 history ! This is wisely advised, as for mental health we need a variety of 

 mental occupation. We need something aside from the main work of our 

 life, something as a rest and recreation for our minds, and this conduces to 

 our mind's strength and balance. There are other studies that, while serving 

 also as a recreation to the mind, have a special bearing upon and a practical 

 application to the business of farming. 



Nothing can be more interesting than the study of scientific botany. The 

 adaptability of plants to climate and to soil and questions of this kind are 

 most interesting and will give mental rest and refreshment, and at the same 

 time are at the foundation of scientific agriculture. So zoology, physiology, 

 and chemistry are studies that have extremest interest and yet directly underlie 

 scientific agriculture. 



Now I shall take but a moment, but I could but ask one question. 



Why do we hear the term "Learned professions," theology, medicine and 

 law? Why need the Jaw be more a learned profession than agriculture? 



Is brain more needful in the trial of a $2.50 suit than in solving the prob- 

 lems that confront the farmer? 



Agriculture opens up all the great problems of nature in which we may 

 discern the very workings of the Almighty mind, and I verily believe that 

 the time will come when agriculture will be considered one of the "Learned 

 professions." 



We hear of a great variety of fertilizers for the farm. The most needful 

 one of these is that form of phosphate constituting the gray substance of the 

 brain. 



Mr. Wetmore : It requires a broader man for a successful farmer than for 

 anything else. He must be a mechanic of great versatility, a builder; in 

 fact a Jack of all trades and master of each. 



He can find however, a money profit in devoting a good deal of his leisure 

 time to study. Suppose for example he reads the Scientific American 

 regularly. He will gradually grow by many a bit here and there. If he 

 always has a book to take up at odd moments — say like Wiuchell's Vestiges 

 of Creation or Dana's Geology, he will in course of a few years find himself 

 becoming well posted. 



Mr. Geo. Willis, of Moscow: It is all very well to get an education, but 

 an old pioneer will shake his head when you talk of all this leisure. When 

 we have done twelve to fourteen hours labor, we have little energy to grasp 



