state Convention—farmers' sons' education. 27 ? 
Mr. Eaton said that two desires were called up by the Profess¬ 
or’s paper. 1st. That the entire agricultural community might 
be able to appreciate and realize the beauties of the ideas and 
suggestions which the Professor had so clearly advanced. 2d, 
That the Professor could fully comprehend and understand the 
condition of the practical farmers of the state. The results were 
not perhaps fully attainable, but he believed each would better 
comprehend the others position by the discussion of this valua¬ 
ble paper, and the educational and practical men present would 5 
be alike benefited. 
Mr. Eox was glad to learn that the writer of this excellent' 
paper was connected with the University of Wisconsin, and that 
he took a lively interest in the education of the industrial classes. 
He believed that this institution should be so conducted as to- 
give its students an education in those branches which should be 
of practical use in the varied industries of the world. Said that- 
he thought the schoolroom was the place to lay the foundation 
upon which to build all professions and avocations, but that the 
practical farm work or other industrial labor was the only proper' 
place for training muscle. 
EDUCATION OF FARMERS’ SONS. 
BY HON. LEVI ALDEN, MADISON. 
My subject is to be,—The Education of Farmers’ Sons—a field,- 
you will say, that has been too well considered by abler minds to 
allow my unskilled and unpracticed hand to bring out any pro¬ 
duct ; but if, with my blunt plowshare, I can stir up the inert and 
well-worn soil, and may be, add some stimulant to quicken it into 
a new life-—to direct for a moment the public attention to a sub¬ 
ject, hackneyed though it be, which must be the very starting point 
and foundation to all future assured success, your time and my 
effort will not be entirely lost. It must be admitted, that common¬ 
place as it may be, there is still so much ignorance and diversity 
of opinion upon the subject, vital and all important in every step 
of the farmers’ progress in his calling, there is ample excuse for 
repetition and reiteration—line upon line and precept upon pre- 
