4 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



firmed by the subsequent history of the human race. There is no employment that brings 

 man into such close communion with nature a communion so intimate that it must 

 almost of necessity reach to nature s God ; hence, we find, as a general rule, that there are 

 fewer skeptics among farmers, in proportion to the number engaged in the occupation, than 

 among other branches of industry. Farmers, as a class, are moral and law-abiding citizens, 

 and the embodiment of those principles that constitute the very foundation and framework 

 of good society. In making this assertion, we would not wish to extol the avocation of the 

 farmer beyond its real importance, or place other industries beneath their proper standard ; 

 there are exceptions to all rules ; honor and worth, as well as the lack of these essentials 

 of true character, are to be found in all occupations under the sun ; but we believe the 

 verdict of the public generally would concur in the opinion previously expressed, viz. : that 

 the avocation of the farmer has a tendency towards inculcating a reverence for the Deity, 

 with its attendant ennobling influences. 



It is true that character makes the man, and not his occupation or surroundings, and that 

 a truly honest man will prove himself such in whatever capacity he may be placed : also, that 

 a man lacking these qualities will not be changed by merely engaging in the most honorable 

 and ennobling occupations ; still it cannot be denied, tnat the associations and influences con- 

 nected with the employment of the hands and brain, do have a powerful influence in forming 

 the character of an individual. Farming, as an avocation, presents one of the most exten 

 sive fields of varied research and close investigation of any of the various professions and 

 trades represented in the world, and yet how few comparatively that are engaged in it, who 

 realize the opportunity for mental, as well as physical development, their employment affords. 

 As a class, however, farmers are becoming better educated, and thus better fitted for suc 

 cessful achievement in their business than formerly, while the Agricultural Colleges, Associa 

 tions, and journals of the present time are rapidly increasing these facilities. There is no 

 good reason why the farmer should not be specially educated to his business, and farming 

 rank among the learned professions of the day. It seems to us that scientific farming 

 requires a knowledge of a greater variety of things than almost any other kind of business. 

 As far as the nature and treatment of soils is concerned, some knowledge of mineralogy is 

 very essential ; a knowledge of chemistry, botany, and entomology are all, to a certain 

 extent, equally valuable as far as they apply to the successful growing of crops and their 

 preservation from the ravages of insects. The farmer must also be a manufacturer as far 

 as the making of butter, cheese, cinder, curing of hay or preserving of ensilage and crops 

 generally are concerned, while a thorough understanding of the habits, necessities, diseases, 

 etc., of domestic animals is indispensable to success in the work. Surely the farmer, in order 

 to be well fitted for every department of his avocation, must not only possess a natural taste 

 and aptitude for his respective calling, but should receive special instructions in these several 

 departments : in other words, he should be educated for his business, thereby increasing his 

 usefulness and success in life. 



One of the wants of the agricultural interests of the country is a greater facility for the 

 education which is especially directed to the practical business of farming. Our agricultural 

 colleges are supplying this need to a certain extent, but we should have more of them ; 

 besides, our public schools practically ignore in their system of instruction everything 

 pertaining to this important branch of national industry. A great improvement upon the 

 present system would be instituted by inculcating a more general knowledge of those sciences 

 which are more intimately connected with it, such as chemistry, mineralogy, geology, botany, 

 and their relations to agriculture, the laws that modify and regulate the conditions of the 

 great mysteries of plant-life and plant growth, together with the best methods of fertilizing, 

 grafting, budding, and the history and practice of everything connected with this pursuit, 

 which affords employment to so large a proportion of our population, and which forms the 

 basis of our national subsistence, wealth, and power. The large number of schools in various 

 portions of Europe, in which practical instruction is given in farming in all its various 

 branches and departments, have obviously done much in bringing the agriculture of those 



