HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN. IGl 



thousand to try to realize those felicities. So it is with the study 

 of modern languages, mathematics, music, psychology, and 

 literary work generally. They have no natural connection with 

 the cultivation of the soil ; they do not suggest it, and they too 

 often preoccupy the mind to the complete exclusion of nature- 

 studies. 



The farther the}' are pursued, unless balanced by studies of a 

 different character, the worse it is for the best interests of educa- 

 tion, — the worse it is for our agricultural interests. If children 

 pore over books ail through the most impressionable years of their 

 lives, even into the twenties, when students graduate from college, 

 their faculties of observation and skilful manipulation become 

 well-nigh atrophied, and the time when Nature can interest them 

 has passed b}^ 



That any of the graduates of our schools and colleges cultivate 

 the soil, either for pleasure or profit, may be considered a piece of 

 good luck, rather than the result of proper education. If even a 

 living chance, or an open field, were given in ©ur schools, for 

 the consideration of topics which pertain to agriculture, such as 

 plant life, insect life, rocks, and soils, there would be less injus- 

 tice done to our great agricultural interests, and less injustice 

 done to the rising generation of children throughout the land. 



For years past we have been reaping the natural results of a 

 system of education that, intentionally or unintentionally, turns 

 all our young people for a livelihood toward the occupations of 

 teachers, college professors, lawyers, physicians, clergymen, book- 

 keepers, salesmen, musicians, artists, agents, and business men, 

 under which head multifarious and heterogeneous legions of mid- 

 dlemen are pleased to class themselves. These men have had the 

 control of educational affairs, and they have kept the schools turning 

 out their kind so long that there is unquestionabl}' in this country 

 an overwhelming surplus of middlemen, non-producers, and men 

 living by their wits. Such a surplus is certain to make trouble. 

 All are determined to live in affluence if possible, — genteelly at 

 all events. 



Cities are crowded with middlemen. Thousands of men and 

 women are constantly crowding into the cities only to get starva- 

 tion wages, if they get any, and many spend all their hard-earned 

 money seeking employment, and fail at last. Hoist a safe to an 

 upper window and a hundred idlers will gather immediately. A 

 11 



