414 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



boys, who are to be the leaders, must be educated in their calling, not above 

 and away from it. They must see that it requires more thought to manage a 

 farm profitably than to win a game of checkers; they must be taught to esti- 

 mate at its real value, the farmer's calling, and see the vast field it presents 

 for thought, culture, mental activity, and enjoyment; its demand above all 

 other professions for varied and extended knowledge. There is no reason why 

 men of the very highest education should not go to the farm for a living, if 

 they have common sense to begin with. The editor of the Christian Union 

 would have the farmer a perfect man, combining all the knowledge, culture, 

 and brain force of a dozen professional men or artisans. "The educated 

 farmer must be able to keep pace with the advance of modern science, and to 

 discern wherein its development may be brought to his aid. He should be a 

 better chemist than his doctor or his druggist, a better botanist than either, 

 and should be acquainted with geology, mineralogy, entomology, and some- 

 what with meteorology. He should be as good a business man as his grocer or 

 his banker; especially, he must know how to buy and to sell. He must 

 understand the physical powers, know the value and strength of materials, 

 and be a pretty good mechanic, if not an engineer. He should be able to 

 do plain surveying and leveling, and to manage a microscope. The useful- 

 ness of Latin, elementary at least, as an aid to the study of natural history, is 

 well appreciated ; and America is still so slow in scientific matters that the 

 ability to read French and German add much to one's capacity in this line of 

 study. A farmer needs as accurate knowledge of anatomy and physiology as a 

 physician, though it be in a diCerent and wider field ; he needs to be some- 

 thing of a lawyer to know what trees he may cut, and when he may shoot a 

 woodchuck or take a trout on his own farm ; and he needs a fair share of his 

 minister's theology and faith, fully to appreciate the mysteries and beauties of 

 creation, the grandeur of nature and natural laws, and truly to love and honor 

 the vocation which, above all others, brings man into close communion with 

 God. In short, it is safe to assert that no human occupation requires so long 

 a course and wide a range of study, to comprehensively fit a person for its 

 intelligent and profitable pursuit, as agriculture." 



Boys will not willingly enter on a life requiring no thought, or having the 

 reputation of requiring none. How many farmers talk over with their boys 

 such topics as drainage, history of breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine, 

 and their adaptation to certain purposes; farm economy, stock breeding, 

 rotation of crops, manures; care of farm premises, implements, accounts, 

 marketing, agricultural law, and literature? If boys were shown clearly that 

 perception, reason, judgment, memory, and even imagination were given to 

 man because he needs them in tilling the earth ; in selecting and enriching his 

 soils, adapting his crops to the condition and needs of his land, choosing seeds, 

 and selecting markets; in breeding and feeding healthy, thrifty animals, 

 thoughtfully preparing for a market months or years before hand, keeping 

 such account of his operations that his annual balance tells him what crop or 

 stock pays him best; in improving the construction and arrangement of 

 buildings, they would be inspired with tastes and desires which increase their 

 respect for farming, awaken a real love for the farm, and secure their con- 

 tentment and usefulness. If, in addition to setting the boys' wits at work, 

 you give them some personal share in che profits of field, garden, animals; 

 something to be their own, so that their interest is identified with yours, you 

 will have strengthened the tie that binds them to husbandry. 



If we would have the boys stay on the farm, something must be done for 



