Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-09-23

rHH FWT-NeUDeTnh, lhnrs0dy, ,OeLl3, -, ID
Prejudices of Farmers.
Extracts from an address delivered be-
fore the New Hampshire Agricultural So
ciety, by WILLIAM S. KING, Esq.]
But, to come to the second prejudice of
farmers. As a class, they say that especial
education is not necessary for them-an
education, adapted to their occupation as
farmers, to teach them more than they
know Of their own business, thereby en-
abling them to improve upon the doings
Of their predecessors, as other classes Of
men have done-an Agricultural Educa-
tion, looking directly at their intended
business for life.
Ali professions, all trades, all other oc-
cnpations Of men, testify to the advantages
of especial education; but the farmer is
yet unconvinced. Men are not born with
a natural knowledge Of law, or of mechan-
les, so that after little observation of the
practice, they can take high rank in their
respective occupations; but the farmer
claims that he has, from youth, all the
knowledge of his business that is neces-
sary; and few years Of practice completes
the education! five allow that We merely
desire to equal those who have preceded
us, i. may be that we can keep close to
them, ny ".iL;-e n .heir fnn.stens but
the tendency Of the age is to improvement
tho design Of our Maker appears to be,
that each generation of man should excel,
in knowledge, its predecessor; but it is
idle to expect improvement, where all are
content to be imitators.
The objec. of an agricultural education
is, undoubtedly, to make practical farmers !;
and here, at the outset, we stumble over a
prejudice, as to what constitutes practical
farmer.
To decide whether stranger, who calls
himself farmer, has right to the title,
is not your first glance cast upon his clothes,
to see if they be farmcr-likc, and your
next on his hands, to find if they are har
dcned by manual labor? If man, in a
black broad-cloth dress coat, having hands
air to look upon, and uncalioused by con-
act with the plow handle, presents him.
self to your notice, as practical farmer,
your politenesss may or may not prevent
you from laughing in his face, at the OBJ
vious absurdity of the claim; but you
laugh none the less, in your sleeve, as you
set him down for fancy farmer.
Now, sirs, what right have you to deride
this mans pretensions, and, off-Eand, to
pronounce that he is not farmer, as ac
complishcd as yourself, or even able to
teach you what you have not yet learned,
in your own occupation? 1t is because
you consider that practical farmer is he,
and he only, who labors with his hands !;
this would make them tough; and the ne
cessities of his occupation would compel
him to wear more homcly apparel. Is it
true, that this it is, and this alone-labor
with the hands-HARD wORK-that makes
the practical man7 Then is your hired
help, who follows the plow day in and day
out, who shivers in the wintry stable and
sweats at the harvest, many an hour when
you are occupied about other affairs, bet
ter practical farmer than you, for he often
works more. Then is the OK that he
drives the most practical, for he wears
rougher and tougher garments, has harder
hands, and does more hard work than
either of you.
Farmers! you greatly mistake the mean
ing of the word practical Stand with mt
upon the quarter deck Of a ship, as sh'
strips for battle with the storm. Th'
bullying winds roar-the threatening SIX!
descends and contracts-the angry wave
lift up their heads-the tempest-tost bark
now piercing the sky with her trembling
masts, now driving head-long into tn
yawning trough Of the sea, is fraighte'
with human souls. Do they not now,
ever, need the services Of practical sal
or to conduct them safely through tue CT
yironing rcrils' Who then is he, I