Convention— Wiiat i Would Like to do. 161 
Now, I would like to gather these scattered suggestions, and 
concentrate them upon every farmer’s home, for here is room and 
scope for them all. I would do more. I would bring each agricul¬ 
tural interest up to an equal degree of progress. With such de¬ 
velopment and such surroundings, there is work, thought and im¬ 
provement for every one. 
Some parts of the care and culture of flowers, vegetable and 
small fruits, are adapted to very young hands, and very young 
minds will comprehend and take an interest in their production 
and use. With a little encouragement, the young people would 
become excellent judges of high class poultry and pet stock, and 
expert in their management. The keen observation and judgment 
thus developed would at a later period serve them well when ap¬ 
plied to the larger animals. The breeding and management of fine 
stock, preparation and improvement of soils, suitable rotation of 
crops, best manner of securing and using crops when grown, whe.n 
and where to purchase needed supplies, or sell surplus products — 
these are but advanced steps in the course already begun which 
will call into play all the faculties of the most active mind. 
Young people thus brought step by step from childhood t© ma¬ 
turity, through pleasant paths which have not only called for earn¬ 
est work, but have crowned their efforts with success; and where 
also they have enjoyed social frolic, recreation and improvement, 
possibly may find it hard to leave these scenes, and thus be kept 
from the wanderings to other employments and other modes of life 
which we so much deplore. Who shall estimate or limit the possi¬ 
ble attainments of this progressive course? And what other occu¬ 
pation shall give more of pleasant self-reliance and contentment? 
These things, in greater or less degree, are possible to us all. 
One great element of success is concentrated effort. Exert your 
whole strength of mind and body to do well the things nearest at 
hand, and the doing will be but a stepping stone to something 
larger and better bevond. 
O fc 
Agriculture will be our substantial prose. Horticulture our 
poetry. While securing the substantial, let us not forget the orna¬ 
mental, for these beautiful surroundings, planned by our own minds 
and wrought out by our own hands, bring to us enjoyment hardly 
attainable by other means. 
11 —A 
