Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-10-08
nat a Young Farmer should
study.

Prot. Fernald, Of the Maine Acricul.
tural College, delivered an address in
winch he presented the following
views as to the proper course of study
for young man who expects to be
farmer:
| would suggest, in the first place,
that the young man who proposes to
become farmer should have a thor
ough acquaintance with mathematics.
1t is essential that he should be able,
not only to reckon quickly and accu.
rately, but when he has purchased
lot of land for his farm, he should
be able to establish its boundary
lines; he should be able to divide
that farm into such plots as he may
wish. 1t is true, lie might call in
the aid of surveyor, but how much
more gratifying it must be for him to
be able entirely to control this matter
himself. And in addition to that, as
We find our farmers have to attend
very largely to the matter of road,
making and bridge building, the prin-
cip!es of mechanics might very
probably be studied, and perhaps
something of civil engineering.
There is one field Of study that will
be Of vast Importance to him, and
that is what is embraced in the natur-
al sciences. Take the science Of bota-
ny. The young man who enters upon
agricultural pursuits is to be constant
" associated with the plants Of his
glrden, with the trees of his orchard
and with the shade trees, and he is
10 be constantly associated with the
vegetable products of the earth Is it
not reasonable that he should learn
III the first place, all that 1t is possible
10 learn Of them? That he should
study their nature, learn their charac-
teristics, learn how to manage them,
aud then put his knowledge into pra i
tcc? 1t would certainly be advisable
that the young man should acquire
at any rate, thorough knowledge OF
botany, as the basis for his future az
ricultural operations.
In connection with this, l would
.uggest the science Of chemistry,
which the young farmer can turn to
great practical account. That is, he
should be able to analyze and determ-
inc the constituents of the soil upon
which he works be able to determine
what are the fertilizers he will need
to bring that soil into the condition
of greatest fertility DO able to de-
termine what are the constituents OF
the different plants he wishes to cul-
,ivatc, and then he will be able to de-
tcrmine precisely what fertilizers he
needs in order to obtain the largest
amount of whatever crop is desired.
think here is field of study which
will reward him abundantly for the
time which he devetes to it.
would add to botany and chem
istry, mincro!ogy and geology. A
few days ego, l was told by young
man who was something of geologist
that he had purchased hundred
acres of land at the foot of noun
lain in Frankfort, OH the Penobscot
river. The character of the land was
such that many of the farmers in that
locality would not take it as gift.
1t is at the foot fcldspathic noun
tain, and that rock has been disinteg-
rating for ages and accumulating on
The soil. 1t is close to the river, and
AS the tides have come in, they have
swept over the land, and as they have
reccded, large masses OF fish have
been left there, and the consequence
Is, that that soil is perfectly pcrmeat-
ed with fish oil. He has thrown o
dixie around the land to keep out
the tide, and in tweuty-eight days
this summer, the grass was five feet !
high. That soil possesses tertilizing
clements that will last century. A |
little knowledge of the science OF
geology in general, especially applied |
to the local geology of that region,
determined him in regard to the pur-
chase, and every one in a few years
will see that he made a very wise one.
| would say that the young man
should certainly study drainage, the
veterinary art, zoology, and the stock |
breeding, and indeed, very large
number Of studies, but do not wish !
TO take up your time to particularize |
in regard TO these.
would suggest further, that if he |
have the time for it, the young man |
would be repaid by taking up some |
Of the modern languages. l would
mention French aud German, because
some of our very best scientific and |
agricultural works are published in
those languages, and it would GER
tainly be desirable for the young man
to read those books in the language
which they are written.
And certainly if it be worth while |
that he should acquire knowledge of |
French and German, it is worth while !
that he have good knowledge Of
his own mother tongue. My idea is,
that he should have a knowledge OF
it SO that he can sit down and write
out his thoughts rapidly and clearly
and that he shall be able to rise IN
any assembly and express his
thoughts clearly and distinctly upon
any subject.
Let us SO one step further. We
should remember that the farmer is
ut the same time citizen. He should /
know something not only of the histo-
ry OF his own country, but the history
Of other countries. that he may be
able to appreciate the advantages of
the country he lives in. He should
know something not only of the gov
eminent of his own country but of
the government of other countries,
ard then he will know the blessings
Of the government under which he
lives. Thus, III course of study
designed for young man who is to
be farmer, | would incorporate a
thorough course Of general history.
and n course that should make him
acquainted. with the Constitution of
'ne United States, with the different
forms OF government, and fit him to
be at tie same time worthy farmer
and an Intelligent citizen.
1t should be suggested, also, that
the young man cannot afford to neg