64 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Feb. 
How to Raise Farmers. 
How frequently do we hear those who have 
passed their lives upon farms, until they are ap¬ 
proaching old age, regretting that none of their 
sons are willing to adopt their father’s calling for a 
profession. And how often is it that of several 
sons who have been born and reared upon a farm, 
not one even, will remain contented upon the old 
homestead, to cheer, solace and comfort his parents 
in their old age, and to perfect the improvements 
they have commenced. 
There must be some potent and general causes 
for this, or the most healthful, independent, and 
certainly remunerative calling, would not be so 
generally deserted by those who are bred to it, 
for those more harrassing, uncertain, and far less 
independent ■ and it may not be unprofitable to 
consider a few of these causes, and see if, with 
all the skill and judgment that has been displayed 
in improving and perfecting the products of the 
farm, there may not have been errors committed 
in regard to the farmer’s sons; which errors, and 
not any inherent repulsive ness of the calling, or 
any inherent perverseness among the sons of our 
rural population, have led to these results. 
All young persons naturally possess some degree 
of pride of person, and a desire to improve their 
condition in life. Love of approbation seems the 
natural birthright of all, and whatever maybe the 
calling or social position young people are placed 
in, there are but very few of this class who do 
not feel a desire to attain a still higher position, 
and to feel that he has achieved for himself a name 
and position that will command the admiration of 
his associates and friends. This feeling is mani¬ 
fested in a vast variety of ways, and in Accordance 
with the amount of natural intellect the person 
has been blessed with, and the kind of education 
the person has received. Among certain classes, 
it finds voice in the strife to excel in feats of strength 
and agility, or in the capacity for physical endu¬ 
rance, in the performance of wonderful day’s- 
Avorks, among farmers, or even in showing a capa¬ 
bility to resist the effects of great errors in e&ting 
and drinking. Another class, whose brains are 
less developed, even than those previously men¬ 
tioned, and whose muscles have not been strength¬ 
ened by physical labor, manifest the same feel¬ 
ing by the care with which they cultivate the 
growth of hair upon their heads and faces, and the 
attention they pay to dress, and the conventional 
follies of 'polite society. As they h&ve nothing 
within themselves, worthy of note,they endeavor to 
gratify this love of approbation and distinction by 
attention to their externals. 
Others seem to care little for their own persons, 
but wish to become notorious from the beauty of 
their equipage, and their homes, and the speed 
of the team which draws them about. Ag&in, 
there are those who wish to rise to political pre¬ 
ferment, to have their influence felt by govern¬ 
ment, and as far as in them lies, to sway the des¬ 
tinies of the people and nations. 
Above all these, are those who wish to gain 
fame from having advanced the arts and sciences, 
or to achieve a name in the literary world, or to 
have their praises sounded as public benefactors, 
for the improvements they have made in the con¬ 
dition of humanity in the present or future. The 
true man will not be governed by purely selfish 
motives alone, but while he strives to advance his 
own interests, and secure personal advancement, 
he will also exert himself for the good of those 
around him. There are but few who are natural¬ 
ly wholly selfish, even among the extremes of hu¬ 
manity. The extreme poor have no time or means 
to devote to the welfare of others, and the ex¬ 
tremely wealthy have acquired , not inherited, their 
disregard for all but themselves or their families. 
It is natural for even the confirmed mammon- 
worshiper to feel sympathy for their fellows, and 
to delight in social pleasures. 
Let us see in what regard the sons of farmers, 
as a class, enjoy opportunities for the indulgence 
of these natural desires. Infants and children are 
fond of notice and of sympathy ■ but many farm¬ 
ers, even those who have wealth at command, 
have so many other things to care for,—so much 
stock and so many fields to look to, and their pro¬ 
perty cares consume so much of their time, that 
they seldom notice their children, except to rep¬ 
rimand them for indulging their natural love for 
childish sports; and the wife and mother has so 
many household cares, that she is obliged to stifle 
the yearnings of a mother’s heart, and leave her 
tender offspring to the attentions of a hireling, or 
an older child. Thus, even in early childhood, 
can be observed a striking contrast between the 
condition of these children, and those of a different 
calling. 
Mechanics, traders, and professional men, con¬ 
gregate in villages and cities, so that the son or 
daughter of either is not obliged to pass months 
without the society of those of their own age, and 
seeing none but members of the family, or some 
adults whom business leads to visit the farm. 
With this loneliness and ennui heavy upon them, 
can it be a matter of wonder that these lads should 
loathe the calling which they consider as the ori¬ 
gin of their sufferings ? As soon as the boy is able 
to work in the field, he is frequently armed with 
a worn-out and heavy implement, and placed be¬ 
side experienced and strong laborers, when, in¬ 
stead of being taught the easiest method of per¬ 
forming his labor, he is laughed at for his awk¬ 
wardness, and taunted with his inefficiency. In 
too many instances he is kept at work upon the 
farm for long months, and from early dawn until 
late at night, without recreation or rest, except to 
attend church, where the children of other occu¬ 
pations are better dressed and wear a happier and 
more intelligent look than himself ; and if he has 
any aspirations for a higher mode of existence than 
that of a mere laborer, he must again and again 
resolve to adopt some other calling for himself and 
his boys, as the only method to attain his desires. 
As he advances in years, he is still kept upon 
the farm during nine months in the year, while 
boys, whose parents possess no more wealth than 
his, are sent to a school where their minds and 
their manners are improved; and where he is con¬ 
sidered but a mere drudge of a farmer’s boy, they 
are looked upon as young and promising jnen, who 
will make their mark in the world. 
During the winter he has the cattle to look af¬ 
ter, and a thousand chores to do, so that if be at¬ 
tends the district school he is frequently belated, 
and receives a chiding from the teacher for his 
involuntary tardiness; and during school hou s, 
his mind is so much occupied by his home duties, 
that he can make but little progress in his studies, 
and he soon begins to think he is a dunce , as he is 
called by his mates. 
Ashe advances toward manhood, his labor is 
too valuable to be dispensed with, and he is still 
