Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-07
IMPORTANCE OF FARMERS EDU-
eating THEIR CHILDREN.

Though every farmer should look first to
the general fertility of his farm, as the
foundation upon which all foundations are
10 be laid, he would be utterly wanting in
the true spirit Of his profession il he did not
design, in due time, TO crown his whole work
by every domestic comfort and appropriate
rural ornament. The business of agriculture
is not one of merely practical utility. The
farmer is not necessarily a dull swain. His
pursuits are consistent with the keenest adj
miration of the beautiful in nature and art
with the most refined taste, and with all the
graces Of civilized life. He owes to him
self as rational being, gifted with all the
capabilities of his race, to the obligations of
domestic Duty and above all, to the devo-
ton which we all acknowledge, TO that gen.
tie sex whose smiles are the browning bliss
of life, 10 provide for his own and isfamily's
enjoyment all the comforts and embellsh-
ments which belong 10 a mature civilization.
Among other high duties is that Of properly
educating his children. And to such of
them as are destined to pursue his own pro-
fession, he should give much more than that
teaching which stops at the knowledge of
the mere routine of far n practice.
A good agricultural education is both sci
entiic and practical. The knowledge which
is necessary 10 make a thoroughly intelli-
gent farmer is to be drawn from great va
riety of sources. Geology and mineralogy
must instruct him as 20 the formation of the
crust of the earth, the qualities and elements
of the substances which compose it, and the
| character, nature and properties of all the
minerals imbedded in it, Chemistry will
learn him TO analyze the soil, to trace out
every element of its fertility and its Just pro-
portion-will develop to him the principles
| of its exhaustion and replenishment, and
guide him in every effort to improve and
ameliorate. Indeed, without analytic chem
| istry he can never know the money value of
| the different kinds of food for stock-what
| kind supplies the bone, what the muscle, and
what lays on the fat. Botany will inform
him of the nature and structure of plants,
from the forest tree TO the herb; of their uses,
value, medical properties, and adaptation TO.
the climate and soil of its residence. Ento-
molgy will teach him the habits of insects
injurious TO vegetation, and now to prevent
or remedy as far as possible their attacks.
Natural philosophy will explain to him the
principles of mechanics, and from these he
will be able 10 estimate the value of every
mechanical continuance employed or propos-
ed in rural art.
Muchimportant knowledge may be gather
ed from this source. These principles, for
exanple, regulate the construction of wheat
threshers and horse powers, the forms of
good plows and their use, making them easy
of draught and efficient in turning over the
tough sward or crumbling the broken fallow.
Even in the digging of drain, the construc-
ton of a good axle tree, or the proper har-
Messing a horse, the principles of natural
philosophy are involved. In all these
branches Of science, the highest genius and
the most persevering research have long
been devoted TO the ascertainment of truth,
| simple only when demonstrated, and of the
greatest practical value to those who dream
not Of the learning and toll necessary for
their discovery and all these should be
taught the agricultural pupil. Ii is crafty
ing to see the attention beginning to be paid
to this kind of education in our country
10 know that agricultural chemistry is be-
coming one Of the branches of collegiate in
struction, and that institutions are projected,
and, indeed, in existence among us, where
the best methods Of rural art and every
branch Of framing work will be taught ex-
perimentally, practically and scientifically.
In such institutions the labors of the field,
the barn and the work shop will be followed
by the lessons of the school room. Thus
practice and science will be combined, and
the agricultural pupil will become the fin
ished farmer.