•36 
Wiscojsrsijsr jState Aobioultural society. 
tained in the schools, and by observation and practice, ought to be 
used in advancing this leading industry. Agriculture will never 
take rank in influence and power in the state or nation, until edu¬ 
cated, energetic business men in greater numbers engage in it. 
From the school to the farm should be the rule, equally as from the 
school to other professions. I believe it is conceded that originally 
schools and colleges were not established for the education of the 
common people, those who till the soil or perform manual labor. 
Education, aristocracy and wealth was the rule in the old country, 
and not the education of the masses. One great cause of so many 
of our young men seeking trades and professions is, that this silly 
notion which has been handed down through the ages to us, and 
which obtains largely to-day is, that in agriculture they must apply 
their knowledge by practical work; by doing something; actually 
performing labor with their hands. That physical labor upon the 
farm is degrading, and belongs to what are termed the lower or un¬ 
educated classes of society. This foolish and silly idea will con¬ 
tinue to attach to the farming classes, until more of the educated 
men of our country dispel it by the elevation of the agricultural 
classes to equal influence and power with other callings, and this 
can only be done by educated men devoting their lives to agricul¬ 
ture, and not making it secondary to other branches of business. 
Lawyers and divines have been raised to the ranks of the nobility 
in Europe for great eminence in their professions; but who ever 
heard of a farmer, manufacturer or tradesman being honored by 
such distinction, notwithstanding the benefits the latter have con¬ 
ferred upon mankind may have been much greater than the former. 
Knowledge means power, power means influence, and influence 
means recognition and respect. If a monopoly of these command¬ 
ing elements is held by what are termed the professions, they will 
lead and control, while if these powers are held by the industries 
in proportion to their numbers and the benefits they confer upon 
society, then blessings, honors and benefits will result to such , 
classes. 
From the census of 1870, it appears that more than one-half of 
our population above ten years of age are engaged in the various 
