418 State Boahd of Aokiculture, &o, 



brandies which relate to their work as persons in other 

 callings. What would be thought of the physician who 

 failed to acquaint himself thoroughly with the various dis- 

 eases, their symptoms and remedies, for which he is called 

 to prescribe i What would be his success at the present day 

 if, in such an emergency, he could avail himself of only the 

 common remedies which prevail among gipsies and fortune 

 tellers or such as have been handed down by tradition ? 



Persons in all other professions are expected to obtain a 

 thorough knowledge of the branches of study which relate 

 to their work. To this end they provide books and papers, 

 constantly eni*iching their minds with the best thoughts of 

 the best minds, and availing themselves of the wisest sug- 

 gestions and methods. Equally urgent and imperious is 

 the demand that the farmer, who might have equal facili- 

 ties for the pui-pose, be well versed in the knowledge relat- 

 ing to his work, in those branches of science which relate to 

 the farm. 



He should secure agricultural papers and books, observe 

 and examine carefully the conditions, influences and facts 

 which bear upon the various operations of the farm — be 

 constantly increasing his store of knowledge and always 

 solicitous to secure the best results by the adoption of the 

 best methods. 



Who can doubt that if the time uselessly wasted in loung- 

 ing about the tavern and store, in story reading, or in other 

 ways, was employed in the manner just indicated, or the 

 money worse than wasted was turned into this channel — who 

 can doubt that farmers would be more skillful and success- 



