30 Agriculture and Its Needs 



in the country as in the city, it apparently 

 has about the same relation to real agri- 

 culture that sloyd has to laying out an elec- 

 tric plant for a city, or laying down the 

 keel for a battle-ship. In other words, it 

 is a good thing a good thing everywhere, 

 because it helps mould the character of boys 

 and girls and keeps the way open for what 

 may come after, but calling it agricultural 

 instruction will not increase its importance 

 so much as it will confuse some minds and 

 subject us to the criticism that we are not 

 doing what we proclaim. 



We are asked to encourage the teaching 

 of agriculture in the elementary schools. 

 I am for doing it so far as is practically 

 possible. I admit, however, that I am 

 at a loss to know what are the phases 

 of real agriculture which are adaptable 

 to the primary schools, or how to in- 

 stall them in ways that will dispose children 



