280 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



life. How seldom it is that a youtli on the farm is taught just how work 

 ought to be done, and then made to do it right. This is not the case with 

 other business pursuits. With manufacturers, with merchants, with bankers, 

 order and system are the rule, and not the exception. Hence, we see that 

 many of these men upon becoming farmers have better arranged farms and 

 are better farmers, in reality, than many who have tilled the soil for a life time. 

 Order in the management of their work has become natural to them. They 

 have been trained in early life in the way they should go, and they do not 

 depart from it when they are old. I consider this matter of education of the 

 first importance. If in our first lessons we are taught the use and care of tools, 

 their relation to weeds, and their relation to useful plants, those lessons will 

 be remembered as long as life lasts. But these lessons cannot be taught by 

 precept alone ; they must be taught by example, as well. And so many are 

 lacking in the knowledge that will enable them to set a right example. Our 

 agricultural and horticultural journals are doing a good work so far as precept 

 goes; and our Pomological Society is doing a good work in the right direction 

 by enabling us to get acquainted with each other's systems and modes of doing 

 work. Besides these, we need some plan whereby our youth may obtain 

 instruction of a practical kind ; instruction that will enable them to project 

 and execute work with neatness and dispatch, and without any mistakes. 



OUR AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



supplies this plan. We would that its efforts were better appreciated by the 

 agriculturists and horticulturists of our State. Its halls ought to be filled to 

 overflowing every year with young men eager and anxious to learn the best and 

 most approved plans for doing all kinds of farm and garden work — not only 

 ibis, but the care and use of tools, the laying out of grounds, the care of lawns, 

 with their walks and drives, and everything, in fact, that pertains to the taste- 

 ful and successful management of a complete agrieultural or horticultural es- 

 tablishment. A knowledge of this kind, together with an acquaintance with 

 the sciences most intimately connected with agricultural and horticultural pur- 

 suits, cannot fiiil to make intelligent, useful, and successful tillers of the soil. 

 The influence of the College is extending, not as fast as it ought, certainly, but 

 it is surely extending, and in the right direction. It is well for us to encourage 

 it, support it, and lend it our aid in every way consistent with truth and right- 

 It is doing a work for us that no other Institution of learning can do, and its 

 halls deserve to be filled with the best youth of our State. But there are many, 

 of course, who can not avail themselves of its advantages, and many others who 

 would not if they could. It remains for those who do enjoy these advantages 

 to adhere to and carry out the instruction received there. Although we may 

 labor at a disadvantage with ignorant help, prejudiced neighbors, and many 

 other untoward circumstances, there are no obstacles that can not be overcome 

 if our practice is founded on true principles, — principles we have seen adopted 

 and carried to a successful issue. 



We learn that it is always best to form our plans beforehand, and then ad- 

 here to them just as far as possible. In this way we save time and avoid many 

 mistakes. It is easier to get our help to carry out the plans we have made if 

 we have something definite, something they can understand and see the benefit 

 of. Do not be afraid to tell them what you intend to accomplish, and, in order 

 to do this, it is necessary to employ intelligent and willing help. It is better 

 to pay for intelligence than muscle when we hire, unless it is for digging 



