762 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



young men might be safely left to themselves to make more 

 critical observations, and to engage in the experimental re- 

 search into the comparative value of crops, and the best 

 methods of producing them ; into the modification of soils, by 

 mixing, manuring, and draining them ; into the rotation of 

 crops, and the best means of preserving them, and of extract- 

 ing from them their nutriment; into the selection of animals^ 

 and the best modes of preserving their health, and increasing 

 their growth and productiveness, and the various kindred sub- 

 jects, and in regard to which we need definite and accurate in- 

 formation. 



The enterprise of our young men only needs to be enlight- 

 ened by sound elementary knowledge, and guided by laws of 

 science, and it wovild work out those results which the best in- 

 terest of our country demands. Give to a young man a good 

 knowledge of his own business, and a taste for reading, and in 

 these days, when the world is flooded with books and news- 

 papers, he will gather from reading, from observation, and from 

 intercourse with men, all the knowledge that he needs of po- 

 litics, of history, and of the avocations of other men. 



There exists a great error in our whole system of education, 

 necessarily incident to the condition of a new country, and 

 which time and circumstances will correct. By the theory of 

 our government, every man may aspire to every office. In 

 former days, many individuals were called to fill a variety of 

 places. The same man often acted as a farmer, a mechanic, 

 a judge, and a military officer. He made shoes and made 

 laws ; raised corn and fought the enemies of his country. 

 The young were so educated that they might be fitted to act 

 as circumstances should demand. But the times have changed, 

 and we must change with them, or find ourselves behind the 

 times. The divisions of labor have become fixed. Such is 

 the keenness of competition, that success can only be hoped 

 for, by the devotion of one's whole energy to his special pur- 

 suit. There can be no doubt that perfection in the several 

 sciences and arts, can only be attained by division and subdi- 

 vision of labor, and reference should be had to this fact, in 

 arranging the education which the young are to receive ; oth- 

 erwise, time that might be profitably employed in acquiring 

 knowledge essential to success in business, might be wasted. 



