The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-04-12
Make Farming attrac-
tive TO the YOaHag.

| NV ~ W anAC III ONhaAs
in no point do farmers fail more in
the education of their sons and daugh-
ters, than in nc4lcctng to make their
rural homes attractive. With little
beauty III or around their dwellings,
with few objects upon tho farm in
which they have direct personal inter.
est, and taught by the conduct and
language Of those around them, that
there are higher end easier paths to
wealth and distinction, it is little to be
wondered thatso many farmers sons
long to escape from their laborious oc-
cuPfh"us and engage in commercial
pursuits. Mr.. G. l.. Flint, SEQ Mass.
Board of Agriculture, alluded to this
subject very happily in dinner spcccI,
at the September meeting of the Nor
folk County Agricultural Society,"
The following is an cxtraos::
1t has always seemed to me sir, that
the great want Of New England was
to make farming attractive. And here
! can only echo the beautiful words of
your orator today. If we would have
our children. following :nrming as q
persuit, we must interest them in it,
AMI mt them to pursue it intcIIigcntly.
II the mind l. not engaged, the tolls
of the hand arc irksome and ,astclcss.
If the mind is interested, if every
thought, every passion is aroused TO
lmpreTc and excel, no labor is wcari
some, no eXcrtion too severe. To
make farming attractive TO the young,
they should DO educated for it. Aud
since life is short and knowledno inlin.
itc, they need not, perhaps, spend
years OF the best part Of their lives in
such studies us arc necessary only to
success in the law or divinity. The
time will come, when the farmer will
haze more ample Eaoililics for cduca-
ting himself and his children. In the
meantime a thousand objects, ifprop-
erly observed and brought to. notice,
will begin the work, and that in the
very point OF greatest practical impor-
tanoe:
Suppose the young arc tnught to
observe the character OF soils and their
adapt'on to different crops, the struc.
ture and nature of plants, tbs habits
ct insects injurious to vegetation, the
habits Of the beautiful birds, so ofien
accused oftheft, the striking peculiari.
ties in the different breeds. Of animals,
and the means Of improving them
will they not have subjects enough. to
interest tl'em'in farming? They will
find means of oultiynting: the finest
fruits and ornamental trees, to beauti-
fy the house, and give it an air otneat-
ness and comfort. A little tasto in
arIangementio trees and plants, added
to cultivated mind. soon finds within
itself untold resources cf living we'll
and happily.
But the young it is said arc ambi-
tious, and cannot be satisfied with the
reputation Of good and successful far
mcrs. They must go into the coun-
ting-room to make money, and be
known rs men Of wealth, or they must
embark in the intricate studies of the
law, and through that upon the greater
uncertainties of politics, and achieve
distinction, and, us they t ink, honor,
(they don't always go together, in the
eyes of the world. They forget the
brighter and purer reputation of con
ferring some permanent benefit on
their country in. the improvement Of
its Agriculture. They forget that the
very men wh, fill at farming are men
who would fail at any thing else, and
that their chances Of success are oopal
i'll farming to whnt they would be in
other pursuits, perhaps even greater,
since the field is wider and nober.
would rather have the reputation Of
doing something to improve the agri-
culture of my country, than to have
the reputation of Napoleon.
Amerienn -1griculturist