252 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.^ 



Mr. HoLDEN. I have no objection to that amendment. 



Mr. MuTCHLER. I am intensely interested in this phase of 

 the work, not so much from the standpoint of agriculture, if 

 you will allow me to make that statement ; not so much from 

 the standpoint of increasing interest in farm life in any com- 

 munity ; not so much from the standpoint of making more 

 farmers in the State, but I am interested in it intensely because 

 I believe it does everybody good, no matter where he comes 

 from or where he goes in after years. The thing that we want 

 is education in this line, ladies and gentlemen, that is the one 

 great thing. We want education in the common everyday 

 things of life. We need to put before the individual the com- 

 mon everyday things that he has to live with every day, nO' 

 matter where he is or what he does. For that reason I am 

 intensely interested in that phase of work of this kind, and for 

 that reason I would not teach technical agriculture, but the 

 common, everyday, useful facts about agriculture. No more 

 would I advocate the teaching of technical entomology, or 

 technical medicine, but I would have such a course as is reason- 

 able and sensible. I would have it limited to those things that 

 every boy and girl has got to meet with and should know about 

 in their everyday life. How to grow a plant, for instance, and 

 all those things which have been discussed here over and over 

 again. For that reason I am intensely interested in this, and 

 hope that some action will be taken tending to promote and 

 expand this movement, because I thoroughly believe it is for 

 the public benefit. It is not because Connecticut will be 

 specially benefited, but because it will tend to help uplift the 

 whole country, and because it is going to be useful and helpful 

 everywhere. If I had any urging to do I would ask you to 

 pass a resolution of this kind for the good of the public school 

 system. 



The President. You have heard the resolution and the 

 motion made and seconded. Are you ready for the question? 

 All those in.favor of passing this resolution will signify by rais- 



