No. 4.] EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY. 101 



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We may here examine a little more closely the educa- 

 tional needs of the agricultural industry. In no other is 

 there so great opportunity for the applications of science, 

 since the whole industry, still in a comparatively crude state 

 of development, consists in utilizing well-known natural 

 laws and forces. In no other industry are there so great 

 possibilities for improvement in methods and practice. It 

 is estimated that the present agricultural production of this 

 country is capable of ten-fold increase under rational man- 

 asrement and the maximum utilization of all resources. But 

 it is absm-d to expect these results except as the outcome of 

 study and training in one or another w^ay, and most em- 

 phatically by a kind of education which shall work to leaven 

 the whole mass. 



Another important condition at present is with relation to 

 the general public attitude toward farming, already referred 

 to in a general way. It is unfortunately true that a large 

 class of people look upon farming as an occupation of in- 

 ferior rank. If we had the caste system, undoubtedly farm- 

 ers would be consigned to the lowest caste. The people 

 who hold these views are not of such intelligence that their 

 opinions should have large weight ; nevertheless, their judg- 

 ment has influence with the young people, whose loyalty to 

 the industry is aft'ected thereby. I have observed with in- 

 terest that the most intelligent, successful and progressive 

 professional men put a high estimate upon farming as a 

 business, and upon the necessity for the training of those 

 who engage in it. On the other hand, those most likely to 

 depreciate the industry and all eflbrts to improve it are the 

 farmers themselves. It is W'Cll knoAvn that the constant 

 drift of young people is away from the farm, evidently be- 

 cause other occupations are more attractive to them, and 

 this is undoubtedly due to the unfortunate popular notions 

 about farming, based upon ignorance of its possibilities, and 

 upon absolutely false ideas of what really constitute desir- 

 able things in life. This situation, so fundamental to the 

 progress of the industry, is amenable only to education. 



The education which is just now most needed for the 

 farming industry is that which will touch the life and in- 

 terest of the boys and girls, and will develop in them new 



