280 THE LURE OF THE LAND 



Such science as this has no relation whatever to any 

 art or any industry. Even agriculture has not been 

 free from these pretenders and their nostrums, and it 

 has been pelted and pestered in the name of science with 

 so much that is irrelevant and nonsensical that no won- 

 der is to be expressed at the hearty disgust which it has 

 so often manifested. But happily, these doleful days 

 are passing away and the dawn of the era of true tech- 

 nical training is dispelling the darkness which has kept 

 scientific claims from appearing in their true light. 



TECHNICAL, TRAINING FUNDAMENTAL. 



There is no art or industry which is not vitally in- 

 terested in this technical training. In this training, I 

 am sorry to say, we are far behind Europe. If we go 

 into any of our factories where work of skill is required 

 it is surprising to find how large a percentage of the 

 workmen are of foreign birth. 



Every true friend, therefore, of the industries and 

 arts of our country must look with especial favor on 

 the efforts that have been making during the past few 

 years to build up in our country a vast and thorough 

 system of technical training. Some may be disposed 

 to complain because this system has so far yielded no 

 striking results. But this is not just. The most val- 

 uable products are not taken from things immature. 

 Time must be given for growth before demands are 

 made for production. 



In agriculture, the great and overshadowing industry 

 of this land, how few are taking advantage of the sci- 

 entific education which nearly every State offers her 

 citizens! In one great State of two million inhab- 

 itants, a State with fertile soil and a favoring climate, 

 not fifty young men are pursuing the thorough course 



