410 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



to that industry. By a wise and lilieral encouragement of 

 this hitter-day intellectual reformation, the temples of learn- 

 ing may lie practically thrown ojien to tillers of the soil, and 

 agriculture, quickened l)y the mipulse of a new life, made to 

 respond to the magic touch of more intelligent lal)or. 



An old Roman apologue runs as follows: "A vine- 

 dresser had two daughters and a vineyard ; when his older 

 daughter was married he gave her a third of his vineyard 

 for a portion, notwithstanding which he had the same quan- 

 tity of fruit as formerly. When his younger daughter was 

 married he gave her half of what remained ; still the prod- 

 uce of his vineyard Mas undiminished, — the result of a 

 threefold concentration of his hi1)or." 



Success in farming is not so nuich a question of hours, 

 muscle and acres, as of power concentrated hy intelligence. 

 Brains are the best fertilizer. 



From the foregoing we may safely assume that there is a 

 relation between popular e<lucati()n and agriculture, and 

 perhaps form some idea of the character of that relation. 



What bearino- has it ui)on the functions of this Board? 



It may not be possible, and, if possible, might not be 

 desirable, for the department of agriculture to invade tlie 

 province of education ; but there may proceed from it an 

 influence calculated to enlist the interest of those for whom 

 such education is provided, and by whose wants its appli- 

 ances are determined. 



The tendency of new ideas in education is to work down- 

 ward rather than upward, and State departments are in a 

 condition to influence institutions over which they exercise 

 supervisory control. If experiment stations, agricultural, 

 technical and industrial schools, create a demand for specific 

 qualifications, elementary de})artments will quickly recognize 

 that demand, and yield a ready response. 



Again, the State Board of Agriculture may, as it has 

 done, reconnnend and eventually prescribe, to a limited ex- 

 tent, the disposition of State bounty, and so encourage those 

 features which make for prosperity and repress such as are 

 indifferent or prejudicial. 



Finally, this Board may largely determine the character 

 of the airricultural fair. The ])ublic school in the rural 



