Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-05-31
g. EBo:uesgic.

EDUCATING FARM LABOR -llabits-we re-
fer to objectionable ones-and preiudices are
great foes to progress, either in agriculture
or in other departments Of the worlds busi-
ness, and most difficult to overcome. 1t has
been so long the custom to single out the
smart boy of the family for the profession,
/. C. the law, medicine or ministry, and to
put him forward, as SO much in advance Of
the rest Of tie family, that it is difficult to
comprehend that those Others who stay be-
hind and develop the resources necessary to
support the favored ones pretensions are not
to be considered as inferior beings. John
must 20 to college James, William and
George must be content to stay at home and
work. Three months schooling each winter,
to post them in the " rudiments, - is c0nsid-
cred ample to fit them for their business.
They are to be farmers, John is to study
law. lie must have finer clothes; more
spending money books in quantity; high
priced teachers and special advantages gen
orally, and all this at TIE expense Of the
other boys. No books them, 10 amusc-
ment or instruction ha' Y newspaper no
intercourse with cultured society nothing TO
raise them above the drudgery Of daily labor.
Is it strange that they should " sour ON
farming? Is it strange that they should
seek TO break the bonds which are So ink
some, at the first opportunity? Is there any
thing TO encourage them to continue in the
ru:s now worn SO deep and so miry? is il
natural that they should love the work which
they have performed under compulsion?
No. The first opportunity TO engage in
other employment, it matters bat httlc
what, is eagerly embraced. They will drive
a dray or groom horse, or carry the bed
anything to get of the farm. And yet farm
life is culogizcd and Landed as the most HON
orable, the most enjoyable occupation known
to man and even so 1t may be-. To the cul-
tured mind, what can afford more pleasure
than to watch the Development of the plant
ed seed, lying dormant perchaucc Tor years,
waiting tic iuihlment OF certain nultI1us
necessary to its growth ; yet, when those are
supplied, bursting its protecting case and
starting it's tiny roJtlots down into the earth
and the blade or stem up into the abr, gather
ing the elements Of growth imrerceptibly,
but not less surely, until in due season it has
reproduced It's kind, periec, in Development.
TIE endless variety Of Natures predictions,
Of vegetable. animal and insect life, afford
studies ample for the Longest life time, and
comprehensive enough to employ the strong
est mind.
NJ problem IN science, uo intr.cac7 10 the
law, nothing in theology is moro difficult OF
comprehension. mora worthy OF thought,
than are the causes producing the ELECTS cyr-
s,antly presented 70 the tiller Of ,le soil.
True, there is muscular labor connected
with the mental, and some of it quite lah5ri-
Gus. But are not our muscles furnished fir
use as well as our brains, and are not both
improved by exercise? May they not w.rS
harm0ni0us.y and q mutual advantage We
answer. most assurelly they may.
Instead then, of spending all oar substance
upon tie one member of the family give all
an equal chance. Let the boy who chooses
to De a farmer comprehend that tae calling
is one Of as high honor as is the aless.anal
or mercantile lite and furnish hin The means
to improve and cultivate his miai as v,l 4s
BE cultyatcs bis land. When the
idea becomes thoroughly ins.i-ei among
our farmers that tLcir occupation is a- aon-
cratle a. any thata boy can be trained to,
when they see the necessity and act t. lt. oi
educating the farmer as well as the physician,
then will agriculture advance iu Proportion
% other industries, wLiclIt now can scarcely
be claimed to DO.
Our iarm labor must be better cIleLtcL
The hand that holds the plough, tlaI sratt,r-
the seed. must De directed hy IE-cll-eu,
thought. An ignorant man may Olga living
out OF the ground aut In doing SD, unless hy
accident, he r1bs the soil Of fertility which q
more intelligent course would c0mp p1usl-e. .-
American f7rW.r'S inr1rr...