1857.] Education of Farmers. 221 



alkalies ; from whieli harvests of wheat and tobacco were obtained 

 for a century from one and the same field without the aid of manure ; 

 but now whole districts are abandoned and are converted into un- 

 fruitful pasture lands, which, without manure, produce neither 

 wheat nor tobacco. This is fast becoming the condition of many of 

 our supposed inexhaustible fields. They are gradually parting with 

 those elements of fertility which have rendered them so valuable 

 and by a slow and steady atrophy are destined to the same final 

 exhaustion. 



How many important problems are here presented to the scientific 

 agriculturist, as to the best method of arresting this process of de- 

 terioration, and of maintaining and improving the condition of our 

 soils, and doing this in the most economical way. Problems, for the 

 proper solution of which, our State legislature should come to our 

 aid. 



« ^* *»» 



EDUCATION OF FARMERS. 



BY 0, A, WILLARD. 



That the farmer needs education, is not now debated by sensible 

 people. They believe it. The education best adapted to his pur- 

 suit is, however, a subject of much diff"erence of opinion, "Give 

 him a College education," says one. "Pooh?" exclaims another, 

 "we want Agricultural Schools." "Not at all," say others; and 

 among these theoretical squabbles the object is forgotten. James or 

 John is left to dig up the dirt ; the theorists wrangle, and imagine 

 they deserve well of their country. 



The fact is, there is a great deal said^ and not much done in this 

 matter, as any one will find by "heaving the log : " he will discover 

 that all the breath spent in discussing this point has not wafted us 

 a single knot toward the harbor — Education. Our farmers' sons 

 sweat in the wheat fields and toil in the meadows, but educated they 

 are not, nor are likely to be, until some new spirit seizes them. — 

 You may plant colleges, agricultural colleges if you will, in every 

 hamlet; and their vacant halls will proclaim the fact that though we 

 may esteem an education good^ we are not willing to take the meas- 

 ures to procure a good education. 



