No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 395 



the neglected fields are left to the birds, the bees and the briars. 

 Where are the children of these homes? Cone to the city. The 

 fathers and mothers have either gone to the city of the dead or lost 

 heart and left the home that could only tell of past joys and gave 

 no promise for the future. The thought I wish to call attention to 

 is — Shall we leave the farm? Shall we train and educate our chil- 

 dren for the farm or tit them for other walks in life? If we wish 

 to make them dissatisfied with farming as an occupation I know of 

 no better way than to inculcate in their minds the idea that of all 

 men on earth the farmer is the most oppressed. 



I believe two erroneous ideas of the farmer is prevalent. One is 

 that tbe farmer is a little inferior to every other rank in life. The 

 other is equally untrue and fully as dangerous to our boys and girls. 

 It is the idea set forth from the picnic platform, etc., namely: That 

 the farmer is the noblest woik of Gou; only till the soil and you 

 will in some way become imbued with every virtue known to man- 

 kind. They throw a halo around his rougb garb and uncouth man- 

 ners. Now I believe we must teach our children that a man is a 

 man, be he farmer, lawyer, merchant or priest. That a man is no 

 worse for being a lawyer nor no better for being a farmer, no worse 

 for being a poor man nor better for being a rich man. How better 

 can I illustrate this than by quoting Bobbie Burns: 



'What tho 'on hamely fare we dine, 

 Wear hodden-gray, and a' that; 

 Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine 

 A man's a man, for a' that! 

 For a' that, and a' that, 

 Their tinsel show, and a' that; 

 The honest man,' though e'er sae poor, 

 Is king o' men for a' that! 



"Is there, for honest poverty, 



That hangs his head, and a' that? 



The coward-slave, we pass him by, 



We dare be poor for a' that! 



For a' that, and a' that, 



c>ur toils obscure, and a' that: 



The rank is but the guinea's stamp. 



The man's the gowd for a' that!" 



When we have taught them these things we have instilled into 

 their minds some of the fundamental truths underlying a useful life. 



I see no reason why a farmer should not look as well as other 

 men. His work should give him a fine physique. Overalls and heavy 

 boots are well adapted for the plough field and barnyard, but while 

 I have often perceived a strong odor. I have never discovered a halo 

 about them. Some farmers seem to have such an exalted sense of 

 the greatness of their calling that they deem it unnecessary to pay 

 the slightest regard to their personal appearance and then feel in- 

 jured that others could not see through the two weeks beard, 

 uncut hair and every day clothes and recognize their great worth 

 of character, but preferred another simply because he had "more 

 style." The boy of to-day to make a success on the farm needs all 

 that the successful merchant needs. Give it 1o him and what can 

 the town offer bet ter than the farm. The clerk must work long hours 

 in the store. lie can work just as long as ho wishes on the farm. 



The clerk may have a greater money income, but his expenses 

 keep apace, he must be subject to the will of other men but the in- 



