THE GENESEE FARRIER. 



8U 



miKst bej< j)anloii for metitioniiig one more reason, 

 whioh must have a good deiil of weight with those 

 dispofieii to regard the farmer's busiiiess as degrading. 

 It in the maHLer in which fanning is coti(hi<;ted by 

 fn;iiiy who are eiigag;ed in it Slovenliness seems to 

 be the order of the day. We tind fences old and 

 broken down, and patched only with the natural 

 growth of bushes and briars. We find fields grow- 

 ing poorer with every crop, until the owner can 

 8c;irctly raise enough of grain frotn them to remune- 

 rate his toil. This is rather hard on the constitu- 

 tion, and often induces a disease called the " West 

 fever.'' We see the few farm buildings small, badly 

 arranged, and in a very indifferent state of repair. 

 When we come to examine the stock, we shall prob- 

 ably find some of the breed that is used for making 

 baits for the crows and leather for the shoemakers. 

 Fruit culture, too, is much neglected by farmers. 

 We often see, instead of a beautiful, thrifty orchard, 

 loaded with delicious and carefully selected fruit, a 

 few trees, rapidly decaying for want of timely care. 

 The farmer's garden, too, is generally much neglected. 

 That spot of ground, which should receive such 

 particular attention, is often suffered to be sadly 

 defaced by weeds, instead of being decorated with 

 flowers. All these things combined, cannot fail to 

 leave an unfavorable impression upon the mind of 

 one unacquainted with farm life. Let farmers carry 

 on their business with system, neatness and order, 

 and the number who consider their vocation a de- 

 grading one will be greatly diminished. 



Mahoning, Penn. W. 11. M'Creery. 



HOW MUCH EDUCATION, AND WHAT KIND, DO 

 FAEMERS KEEDI 



TnK answer to the first part of this question need 

 be but short. All they can get; but the pertinency 

 of this response may perhaps be made more appa- 

 rent by a proper answer to the last part of the ques- 

 tion — " what kind ?" — which cannot be so readily 

 told ; but, by your leave, I will attempt a concise 

 flescription of what, to me, seems necessary for the 

 complete farmer to understand. First, the common 

 branches, reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic, 

 with perhaps geography and graminar as an adden- 

 da, depending somewhat upon circumstances. Next 

 in importance, if he is an American, is a full and 

 thorough knowledge of the English language, as this 

 opens at once the doors to all the arts and sciences. 

 and without which these portals remain in a manner 

 closed. 



In connection with the foregoing and following, 

 should be pursued and never neglected, a physical 

 education; for the farmer, whether he is to labor 

 with the axe and scythe, or superintend the labor of 

 others, needs the full development of every nerve, 

 bone and muscle, with a full knowledge of the most 

 economical manner of applying their forces in him- 

 self, his laborers, and beasts ol burden. This physi- 

 cal develoyment, education, and training, need not 

 interfere with any other occupation, for the mind 

 cannot always labor, nor can it ever labor to advan 

 tage while the body lacks energy and force. It is 

 this physical development which gives to the sons of 

 farmers their superiority in every station of life. It 

 18 a true saying that " you can make anything of a 

 farmer's son, but you can make a farmer of nothint; 

 fiae." Since the decline of the Roman empire the 



value of muscular strength and agility has been un- 

 appreciated, but the next generation must and will 

 restore its popularity. 



With these foundatione to rest upon, he is pre- 

 pared, if he be able to purchase or borrow book.^ 

 even independent of teachers, to enter upon the 

 studies of the more abstruse sciences, not e-sential, 

 it is true, to a laborer, but deeply essential to a di- 

 rector of his own power and that of others, to the 

 economical employnirnt of time, strength, and moiiey. 

 Me should study Botany, for a great share of his 

 business is the rearing of shrubs and plants, the na- 

 ture, habits, classes, and descriptions of which are 

 essential, lie should study Zoology, for another 

 part of his business is the rearing or employment of 

 animala the natures, habits ond peculiarities of which 

 he should understand. He should study Entomolo- 

 gy, for he will have myriads of insects to contend 

 with, and unless he combats them with that skill and 

 discretion which a knowledge of their habits alone 

 can give, his victory over ihem is at least doubtful. 

 He should study Geology. It gives him a knowl- 

 edge of the raw material, upon which be must work 

 diligently and understandingly would he win success. 

 He should study Meteorology and Climatology, for 

 there are adverse as well as genial winds, rains, 

 snows, hails and frosts for him to counteract, or ap- 

 ply to his aid. He should study Chemistry, animal, 

 vegetable, and mineral, for there are constant chang- 

 es around him, in every kingdom of nature, for him 

 to seize upon for his benefit, or turn to his advan- 

 tage. Physiology, both animal and vegetable, is im- 

 portant as a study for him, for he must have a care 

 for the health and prosperity of his beasts and 

 plants, and a knowledge of their structures, and the 

 the functions of their piwts is indi-pensable. Phi- 

 lof^oph}', as apidied to his implements, carriages and 

 machinery, comes also advai tageously into use. 

 Does any one say that my standard is too high, that 

 it is unattainable by any one who labors on a farm, 

 and earns his bread? I reply that there is no insti- 

 tution so well adapted to the study of the higher 

 branches as home; no teacher so faithful, impartial, 

 thorough, and successful as ones self; no halls so 

 well adapted to study in as the broad vault of Hea- 

 ven, and the chimney corner; and no place where 

 the education of the body and mind can be so con- 

 veniently and profitably alternated as on the farm. 

 Do you wi?h to study Botany, here are the plants in 

 bloom in your very path. Do you wish to study 

 Zoology, here are the animals, your daily compan- 

 ions. If you would study Entomology, the insects 

 swarm around you, and their habits cannot be a 

 matter of indifference. Does Geology entice you, 

 here is mother earth at your feet, inviting you to an 

 acquaintance. Would you study Meteorology and 

 Climatology, your farm has its obs' rvatories; what 

 better place would you have? If Physiology inter- 

 ests you, every animal you slay for domestic use or 

 for the market, is a subject for dissection. Would 

 you study Philosophy, remember that Newton's first 

 lessons were taken in a solitary siesta under an ap- 

 ple tree. Would yon hold communion with your 

 own thoughts; would you reflect upon and digest 

 what you have read, take hold of the plow, the hoe, 

 or the scythe, and your mind will be the more clear 

 for your bodily exercise. It h not necessary to 

 study, that the hook should be always in hand; the 

 broad book of Nature is always open before you, 



