612 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of things with which he comes in contact. He is fond of argument with his 

 fellows, is fond of the excitement which controversy brings. Such a boy, 

 we may expect, would become a very good lawyer, but not an extra good 

 farmer. So, too, you will find sometimes a boy who shows a natural predi- 

 lection for the study of medicine. But once in a while you will find a boy 

 who is very fond of farm animals, who likes outdoor life and its occupations. 

 Here you have the material for a good, practical, sensible farmer. 



SENTIilENT AGAIXST FARMING AS A CALLING. 



But when you find this boy who has a natural liking for the farm, 

 and when it appears that he has decided to make farming his life occu- 

 pation; if this becomes known to the members of his family and his 

 schoolmates, you will find them doing everything in their power to turn 

 him aside from his natural inclination. Whatever may be the case in the 

 United States (and I fancy that you are pretty much the same as our- 

 selves), you will find at all events in Canada a sort of sentiment against 

 this calling. I believe we have done a great deal in the last ten years 

 in Canada to overcome this; I believe the day is fast coming when you 

 will no longer hear this opposition to the life of the farmer as an 

 occupation, but all along '%ithin recent years it has been the fact that, 

 if a boy showed any natural talent, the cry is, "Oh, anything else would 

 be better as an occupation than farming; why not fit him for a profession 

 where he may shine?" Thus, if a boy has any natural inclination for 

 becoming a farmer, you will find numbers who are ready and anxious to 

 turn him against that occupation. 



Now, across the sea in Great Britain there has not been such a 

 sentiment. I have crossed the ocean seven times, I have mingled with 

 persons from various parts of Great Britain, and I have discovered that 

 their sentiment in this regard is very different from that we have here. 

 From Queen Victoria down to her sons and grandsons, and through the 

 best classes of English society, the greatest leaders in both political 

 parties like to do honor to agriculture; they are not ashamed to be 

 classed as farmers and to be called such. On the contrary, it has seemed 

 to be an honor there to be a successful agriculturalist. Some of the best 

 men of the community take pride in their farms, and their herds, and 

 their fiocks, and take pleasure in showing them to visitors. 



But, as I have said, in this country there is this strong sentiment 

 against farming as an occupation. The home influence must be very 

 strong to settle permanently the conviction of the boy who inclines to 

 make choice of this calling. But in point of fact the farmer is often the 

 worst sinner in this respect. 



I have not any very kindly feeling toward a farmer who talks against 

 his own calling. But have you never met such? Have you never found 

 the farmer talking, not only once, but repeatedly, and in the presence of 

 his family, to this effect: "If I had my life to live over again I would 

 not be a farmer. There are so many other occupations which are so 

 much better." 



Such statements repeated over and over again work upon the boy's 

 mind, because he is at an age when he has not had experience and has 



