SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 831 



TOO MUCH SCHOOLING? HARDLY. 



What kind, and how much, school education can the farmer use to 

 advantage? To specify is well nigh impossible. Upon general principles, 

 however, it may Ire said that there is little likelihood of the farmer, or 

 the would-be farmer, acquiring too much book knowledge. Practically 

 every one is exempt from this danger. In this country there are many 

 successful farmers who are graduates of classical colleges, and this broad 

 education has not injured them, although it may not be have been in 

 every case of financial benefits. If I were forced to answer this question 

 specifically, I would advise the boy who intends to follow agricultural to 

 obtain at least a high school education. I would not advise against a 

 classical college course, but I find it impossible to consider this higher 

 education essential. I advise most emphatically and enthusiastically the 

 boy to attend and graduate from an agricultural college. These institu- 

 tions, teaching as they do the very essentials of fundamental agriculture, 

 are increasing rapidly, and their grades is growing higher and they are 

 covering more carefully this broad occupation. 



INFORMATION EASILY OBTAINED. 



If the boy and his parents are not familiar with the location, scope, 

 and requirements of these agricultural institutions information can be 

 obtained from the editor of the local newspaper, the minister, the lawyer, 

 the doctor, or the teacher, or a letter addressed to the secretary of state 

 of any state at the state capital, would either bring full information or 

 would inform the writer where be can obtain it. 



Among the principal advantages which agriculture offers to young 

 men is complete independence. The farmer who owns his farm is, if 

 he understands his art, the most independent man on earth. He is in 

 partnership with nature, and with her assistance produces what all the 

 world must have — food. There is a never-ending demand for his pro- 

 ducts. Then his home is truely his castle, and he may, if he will, make it 

 a haven of comfort and contentment. His hand is his own, and no petty 

 boss or part chief can hald any rod over him that he need fear in the 

 least. Agriculture does not hold forth to the young man the promise of 

 great wealth, but of independence, comfort, peace, and full enjoyment of 

 life. 



PROFIT IN ATTENTION TO DETAIL. 



HENRY BRAYTON, MANCHESTER lA., BEFORE DELAWARE COUNTY FARMERS 



INSTITUTE. 



From attention to detail comes most of the profit not only on the farm 

 but from every business, everywhere. It is the multitude of little things 

 neglected that spells failure and the careful and intelligent attention to 

 detail that insures success. This includes both plan of the work and sys- 

 tem in its execution, for the occasional success of haphazard effort is 



