MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 405 



which he will be a success than a drudge as a farmer or fruit-grower. 

 Parents have no right to predestine a child for any particular position 

 simply because it was the vocation of their ancestors, and possibly his 

 own. But if the boy's views are broadened by training the perceptive 

 faculties, the attraction of the farm, viewed intelligently, will keep the 

 majority of bo}'S just where they are wanted, and the few who are not 

 thus kept had better take up a new line of work than remain in life-long 

 dissatisfaction. Then it is by broadening and not by narrowing the 

 mind that the evils complained of can be remedied ; or I do not believe 

 farm work need be held up by holding boys down to educational manual 

 labor just to keep up the habit. This brings up the principle of the 

 farm schools of Europe. There are places where farming is taught 

 without any principles, but substantially rule of thumb. As if 

 this would stop the exodus of boys to the city. But farmers, as a rule, 

 do not want this kind of training for their sons, even at a risk of their 

 not becoming farmers. In different parts of the United States these 

 schools were started. The idea took like fire and as quickly died, for 

 the boy and parent alike revolted against any such machine work as the 

 agricultural college on the farm school idea. These same schools have 

 been compelled to throw out all uninstructecLlabor and to enlarge their 

 course until now the subjects taught in these colleges differ but a little 

 from those taught in the non-agricultural college. 



It is useless to say that the college farm is the great factor in mak- 

 ing practical farmers of the students. I think it is generally admitted 

 that they are not, but are intended to serve for illustration and demon- 

 stration of principles. A boy on a farm must serve an apprenticeship 

 before becomings skilled workman. But where it will take years for a 

 raw boy to adapt himself to varying conditions, months only are neces- 

 sary for one who has had a thorough course of instruction. Give a boy a 

 knowledge of the principles with which he is to work and teach him to 

 use his senses and he will care for the rest. 



