Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-03-04
agricultural
The Need OF Higher Mental Cut
faFe for Farmers.

At the Franklin Co. Farmers Associal'
ton At East Wilton, recently, d. ii.
Reynolds of that place. read paper on
the above subject. an abstract OF which
we take from the Name Farmer:
Agriculture is 4 science as well AS an
art. The science of agriculture may be
defined rs the principles upon which the
practice OF agriculture is founded. That
the practice of agriculture may be the
most successfully carried On, the prinei-
pies upon which il is founded must be
clearly understood. II is the case with
most of our farmers, that they have
learned the art of agriculture from IAen,
who were equally or more ignor'
ant 81 the science OF agriculture
than themselves. Thus it happens
that wrong and erroneous system
OF farm ractice has descended from
father to son. generation after genera
ton. This old system OF farm manage
meut. will do very well for new coun'
try, with rich. virgin soil, but AFTER
long practice it fails. And why' Be-
cause it is at variance with the laws Of
uatme. That farmers may reform their
system OF agriculture, there Is need OF
higher mental culture among them,
The farmer is something more
than mere ti,ler OF the soil. and Sus-
-,.,ins many other relations besides this to
the world and society. lie cannot pos
svss too much general information. but
ct that pursuit which be follow. as a
means OF gaining his livelihood, he
should possess a very intimate, thorough
knowledge. 1t is Just here that the ma
iority Of farmers are deficient They
have not thorough scientific knowledge
OF agriculture. Few OF the farms Of
this Stale pay quarter part as much
prof, as they ought. Not one farmer in
fifty. from the proceeds OF the farm can
pay six per cent. on The money invested,
together with the other expenses aud
have enough left to give him fair day
wages. What reason is there tor this
We believe il i tic faulty manner in
which it is practicsd. There are isolated
Instances where farming is made 10 pay
a, well rs could be wished. \ farm of
twenty SIX acres ne0r Newport, X. l.,
IN 1870. kept twenty. live COWS. and the
dairy products OF which amounted 10
81 So. or nearly SO per COY. The
whole amount OF products sold from this
iar:n was S3,75S which would average
STA per acre. This was accomplished
oy system OF good farm management.
Higher mental culture would enable
the farmers Of Maine. TO approximate
nearer to these figures, than they are now
able TO do. Bone and muscle have been
thought the ali Important qualifications
Tor the farmer. Brain aud mind have
not been thought 50 essential 10 his sue
cess. rs TO that OF the merchant. mechan-
ic or teacher. This same idea prevails in
the minds OF boys and sIr.S at school.
The BOY idiing away the golden Oppor-
,unity for study, solaceS his mind with
the thought that he is 10 be farmer, and
will not need large stock oil learning.
The school girl excuses CT inaitentiouh
TO her studies, with the reflection that
mos. likely she will be the wife OF some
young farmer, and have no use for her
education. Thi, idea is entirely wrong.
The farmers Of to-day need to UNDER
stand both the theory aud practice OF az
ricuhlrc. lie cannot know too much
abou, Ibis, his chosen pursuit. Book cd-
seaton is necessary, but that which an
intelli-eD, man learns by observation
and experience Is equally important.
Text looks upon agriculture should Jo
used in our common schools. Il Is here
the future farmers are educated. BOYS
should be induced to attend the Agricul-
tural College al Orono. There they
would receive theoretical aud practical
agricultural education. Returning TO
their homes. they would teach their
neighbors. by their example, and improve
ed system OF farm management Winter
evenings and stormy days afford the
farmer much time for study. The care
lul perusal of practical agricultural
books, will suggest new thoughts and
ideas, and enable the enterprising farm
or to take new departure in .arm oper-
atoms. Farmers Clubs are not accom-
plishing what was expected of them.
THE speaker here gave the reasons why
they are not. all OF which were directly
traced 10 want Of enterprise and
knowledge, and he believed these difficult.
ties would be remedied. as last rs these
qualities are cultivated. u REP. The
first source OF improvement. is from ob-
SeryatiOn, but the Book OF Nature j. dill.
cult to read, aud but lew will make the
close application necessary TO obtain val
liable results. The second source OF i'm.
provement, is from the knowledge I'M
parted By those who understand the SEE
ence OF agriculture, and apply it with
practical and profitable results Bat
these teachers are too lew TO do the work,
and therefore we must look 10 The third
means Of improvement-Sno wledge ob-
tanned from books Obtain books written
BY practical farmers. who have tested
their knowledge and theories by practi-
cal farm application. What we need to