56 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



become interested, first in the work in question, then in the kind- 

 hearted minister, and finally in the church itself. In this way many 

 people are reached by the church in a spiritual way who would 

 otherwise not be accounted for. Another example of this class of 

 work exists at Ludlow, and another at Middleboro. These are 

 ones with which I have happened to come in personal contact and 

 there are dozens of others. The point I emphasize is that the 

 church, heretofore supposed to have had only the spiritual welfare 

 of the world at heart, is now recognizing that through a redirected 

 education it benefits not only itself but rural life as well. Many 

 of these church pastors are entering into the daily life of members, 

 becoming interested in things in which the members are interested, 

 and thus being able to appeal to the human side of their lives. Do 

 you note the close relation of this very movement to a redirected 

 education in our schools which aims to first understand the child and 

 make available his human characteristics rather than lay down 

 Puritanic rules and regulations which the nature of a child has no 

 appreciation of or sympathy with. 



Finally, there is the press working in sympathy with this redi- 

 rected education. It includes not only the agricultural press but 

 the reputable Metropolitan press as well. Editors and publishers 

 are very quick to sense the public pulse and as a rule are men of 

 high character, ambition, and resourcefulness. By a word here 

 and there, and editorials carefully directed, they are able to lead 

 their readers along the paths of high ideals. We all remember 

 when the farmer was freely caricatured as a hayseed and rural life 

 likened to darkest Africa. Yet within a half-dozen years there 

 has been a remarkable change of heart in this respect and with few 

 exceptions you will find the press recognizing agriculture as an 

 art and a dignified calling. The agricultural press would naturally 

 be expected to foster high ideals of rural life and it is fortunate the 

 Metropolitan press is giving such loyal support. 



Therefore, we have all these agencies, not to mention others, 

 contributing toward a redirected education, which among other 

 things is teaching the dignity of labor and of agriculture. In the 

 past children were taught that farming was about the lowest occu- 

 pation on earth. The rural schools and even the fathers and 

 mothers themselves perpetuated that idea. The brightest children 



