518 State Boabij of Agkicdlture. &c. 



and a science, and the calling of tlie farmer looked upon 

 as mean and degrading — anything but pleasant and lucra- 

 tive — and far from a position where it rightfully belongs : 

 071 the right of the front ra^i^ among the occupations of 

 men. 



For every effect there must have been a cause. This is 

 as true in morals as in minerals. The cause is not always 

 so clearly seen as we might often wish, and we often 

 mistake in searching for it. Among the many that might be 

 named as contributing to the state of things we have pic- 

 tured may be noticed that to which we have hinted, viz. : 

 errors in education. 



That a stream cannot rise higher than its fountain is a 

 law of hydrostatics to which we assent. If the farmer 

 rests satisfied with present attainments in his pursuit, or, 

 what is worse, retrogrades — for he cannot stand still — he 

 must not expect his son to become enamored with a 

 calling that has not for its motto, " Excelsior P If he is 

 content with using the same old implements for farm work 

 used by his grandfather or great-grandfather, and left by 

 them m the field when the tocsin of war called them possi- 

 bly to Bennington, Lexington or Bunker Hill, instead of 

 the more modern and civilized implements of husbandry, 

 he must not be alarmed if his boy, on arriving at twenty- 

 one, and looking about him and into other pursuits, seeing 

 more attractive helps and inviting fields for the display of 

 his fancy and the flights of his genius, concludes to be up 

 with the times and adopts as his life work a more congen- 

 ial pursuit. 



If the farmer ignores the demands of the age, every- 



