34 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



nate New England agriculture. No occupation offers such 

 pleasures as to cross the verdant fields in the morning and 

 view growing crops, meander through the pasture lands 

 and caress the noble animals that manifest intelligence and 

 gratitude, wander through the thrifty orchard and stately 

 forest, gather the birds around us and call them all by their 

 names, — this is to live in the country and love the country, 

 and make it not the home of the person only but of the soul. 

 No occupation on the face of the earth begets feelings of a 

 higher or holier nature or yields more supreme satisfaction. 

 These thoughts apply with no little force to the gentler sex. 

 The avenues of usefulness open to them are broadening 

 every year. Whatever may attract them in the line of 

 occupation, it should never be forgotten in their education 

 that the home influence of a great nation is to be in their 

 hands. The character of the home will have a greater in- 

 fluence in shaping the efforts of fathers, brothers and hus- 

 bands for the welfare of all the people of this nation than 

 some of the more radical measures suggested. Young ladies, 

 above all things, should determine to shine with queenly 

 grace in their home life, and exert an influence there that 

 will be far-reaching and honorable. 



It may be that our earnestness in advocating this prac- 

 tical education may leave an impression that we are not in 

 sympathy with what is generally termed higher education. 

 We desire to disclaim any such intention. The grand 

 mental development and culture imparted after leaving the 

 common school by a ten years' application to classical and 

 ^professional studies are recognized and appreciated, and in 

 certain cases are invaluable. The advocate of an industrial 

 education should not be accused of antagonism to the other. 

 We would have it well understood by the rising generation 

 that there can be no less honor in contributing to the indus- 

 trial prosperity of a country than in mere literary attain- 

 ments. Boards of agriculture can help the farmers by 

 advocating the advantages of this practical education and 

 earnestly supporting the institutions where it is taught. It 

 should be a prominent topic for discussion at farmers' meet- 

 ings and institutes, for, however meritorious a measure may 

 be, it requires constant agitation to secure its adoption. 



