510 ii/'«, Privileges and Prejudices of the Farmer. 
provements, and scientific advancements elevate the man, there 
can be no doubt. Whilst an illiterate man may be an upright, 
honest and honorable man, he is far from occupying that high 
station which intellectual improvements would qualify him for. 
Many farmers are obstinately opposed to educating their children 
which they intend to bring up as farmers. They seem to think 
it prejudicial; that if they educate their sons, they apprehend they 
will feel " above their business." 
One thing is certain, if all farmers were educated, then their 
sons would not feel such a vain pride; for they would see those 
with whom they were to live and associate, were an educated and 
enlightened class of people. The cause of popular education in 
our great state is rapidly enlivening the " whole lump," and the 
rising generation is growing up in intelligence, and will discard 
a thousand prejudices which have sat like an incubus upon the 
calling of the farmer. 
Not many years ago, the prejudice of the farmer against im- 
provement and change was so great, that it was all but impossi- 
ble to get implements of new or improved forms and kinds into 
their hands. I can remember when the bull-plow was the 'only 
one in use, and the patent plow was condemned without trial, 
as good for nothing, and as an expensive thing, got up for mere 
speculation by some one who knew nothing about farming. They 
desired not to depart from the ways and implements of their 
fathers, and would lay it down as truth which need not be con- 
troverted, that their experience was better than all the study, the- 
ory, and mechanics in the world. But this stubborn prejudice 
has given away, and the beloved old bull-plow is among the 
things thrown aside forever. " Paper farming " has been de- 
nounced by an universal voice; that is, agricultural instructions 
through the press in books and periodicals. 
Farmers have been so opposed to agricultural papers, that they 
have scarcely been willing to look at one. "Away with your 
book farming," said they, " I would rather hear what my neighbor 
Dunham said about fixing his field for corn one minute, than read 
your papers a week." 
They were willing to hear neighbor Dunham talk, and would 
confess they were usefully instructed, but did not see that their 
neighbor might write out his information, and that it would be 
equally true and instructive on paper. Prejudice blinded them. 
But we now see these scales falling off, and the farmers are learn- 
ing many things from periodicals and books, which lessen their 
toil, improve and restore their lands, and cultivate their taste and 
minds. 
There is scarcely a branch of education that would not be use- 
ful to the farmer, either as a source of pleasure or profit. A 
