THE CANADIAN H0ETICULTURI8T. 



213 



tip-rooting sorts, the latter quality pre- 

 dominating. 



There are some other cap varieties 

 requiring further testing, such as the 

 Surprise and Elsie, which are large 

 and of bright color, Duncan's Black- 

 cap, reputed quite large, and Hamilton 

 Blackcap, also said to be very large 

 and tine. 



The Ontario, which originated many 

 years ago at Fair})ort, N. Y., and which 

 is a good and productive variety, failed 

 to become popular on account of its 

 dull color, and is now little cultivated. 

 Nearly the same remark will apply to 

 the Ganargua. — Country Gentleman. 



SOME NOTES OX A FARMER'S 

 EDUCATION. 



At the Farmers' State Convention, 

 held at New Britain, Conn,, the leading 

 topic was : " What the Farmer Ought 

 to Know, and How he may Learn It." 

 The following remarks are extracts from 

 our notes taken upon the lectures and 

 discussions : 



The old view that anybody could be 

 a farmer is passing away. Farmers are 

 " looking over the fence " more than 

 ever before ; they observe, and imitate 

 when it seems desirable. This awaken- 

 ing of thought has developed into the 

 establishment of various agricultural 

 schools, many of which have been un- 

 successful, and for various reasons. 

 Too much was expected of them ; the 

 teachers were not trained to their work, 

 and the pupils, in many cases, have 

 been educated away from the farm. 

 The love for farming and farm life 

 must be developed in the child. The 

 home teachings mainly shape the farmer 

 boy's future. Object lessons, instead 

 of book lessons, most interest and in- 

 struct the young — and the farm with 

 all its plants and animals oflfei-s the 

 very best opportunities for this training 

 of the powers of observation. Study 



nature and refer to books, and not 

 study books and afterwards refer to 

 nature. 



The great lack in the farmer's educa- 

 tion is system and balance. In no 

 occupation is there greater demand for 

 independent thought and accurate judg- 

 ment. To obtain these he must read 

 the best agricultural papers, establish 

 and attend farmers' clubs, take part in 

 the annual exhibitions, and in every 

 way possible meet his fellow farmers, 

 that by so doing he may increase his 

 knowledge. 



There is much work for agriculture 

 to be done in the common school. The 

 apparatus required is simple and cheap, 

 and plants, etc., are always at hand. 

 A text-book of the rudiments of farm- 

 ing could be put into every common 

 school with great advantage to every 

 child, and as Professor Johnson re- 

 marked, we should then have " more 

 broth and less dish-water in our schools." 

 Scientitic methods should be cultivated 

 in youth ; the method is as valuable as 

 the facts. The only reason for this 

 lack of agricultural instruction is the 

 indifference of the people. Boards of 

 Education and Boards of Agriculture 

 should put their heads together and 

 help to bring in this new dispensation. 

 The village and city school should share 

 in this work ; the whole system leading 

 up to the Agricultural College, where 

 the highest and most thorough educa- 

 tion can be obtained. As a stimulus 

 and an aid in bringing about this system 

 in agricultural education, schools of a 

 few months' duration, in the winter 

 season it may be, might be held at 

 various points. The nation is safest 

 only when the youth are educated 

 thoroughly — and agriculture is on a 

 sound and permanent basis only when 

 the boys, and girls too, are instructed 

 in the elements of farming. — Amerkan 

 AgricidturUL 



