SECRETARY'S REPORT. 63 



would probably be regarded by the neighborhood as a failure, 

 and the expense of his education as so much money thrown 

 away. 



A part of this desire on the part of farmers to put their sons 

 in the professions, arises, undoubtedly, from that very common 

 mistake of mankind in thinking the employment of others more 

 pleasant and profitable than their own. Fortunately, the mer- 

 chant and professional man often send their sons back to the 

 farm. When the Agricultural College is established I shall be 

 surprised if we do not find among its pupils, one-half, at least, 

 who are not the sons of farmers. Thus the generations return 

 to the cultivation of the soil, and, like the fabled giant of old, 

 that gained strength every time he touched the earth, so that 

 he could only be conquered by being lifted from the ground, 

 the race gains vigor by this regular return to agricultural life. 

 Still the question comes back, why so much difference between 

 the farmer's work with us and with the ancients. The answer 

 is plain to one who knows their history. Agriculture with them 

 came nearer the learned professions than it ever has with us. 

 Virgil wrote a work on farming, that cost him seven years' 

 labor — one of the most finished productions in the world. And 

 other great men wrote on the same subject. Farming received 

 more attention than with us, the learned professions less, so that 

 agriculture ranked high as a liberal pursuit. The greatest 

 warriors, statesmen and poets, found in it the most elevating 

 and delightful employment. 



A celebrated painter was once asked what he mixed his colors 

 with to render them so perfect. His answer was, " Brains^ 

 Any pursuit will have dignity just in proportion to the brains 

 required to carry it on. This is a law which no man can 

 reverse. And in the abundance of our land and the richness of 

 our soil in the West, and our means of buying produce in the 

 East, agriculture has been too easy in this country to require 

 thought. Corn could be raised by one who never had a dozen 

 thoughts in all his life. But every day there is an increasing- 

 demand that soils shall be mixed with brains. Whenever we 

 can infuse such a love of investigation into the yoimg farmers, 

 or when necessity drives them to think as much and as deeply 

 of their farming as the doctor does of his patient, or the lawyer 

 of his case, we shall have farming ranking with those professions 



