Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-08-19
asrunltural,
Adranidges OF A0rie~If"rGt Coli
le0eS.


Mr.. Albert PeaSe, practical farmer
OF Salem. Maine, in reply to the asscr-
ton that a common school education and
the perusal of agricultural papers. is all
the education farmers need. makes some
good points in an Article in the Name
Farmer.
In tbs first place, the farmer needs
something more than common school
education to understand the agricultural
papers and books. and 10 judge whether
the suggestions made 10y them are adapt.
ed 70 his farm and circumstances.
In the second place. farmers need more
than i common school education to lol-
low agricultural investigation into ,he
realms of science, whittier it is Tending.
Ii they may not become proficient >si.
culis;s themselves. they should be >uh-
c.cutly familiar with The terms and p,o-
cc,ses employed TO understand st least
thc results OF these Investigations.
he believes tiai agricultural COLLEGES
wall benefit Tie mass OF farmers br .bc
Influence which tac lew graduate viii
ba,e iu inducing auJ assisting others 10
educate themselves - home, and IN
creating demand tor common schools
o.. higher grade.
lie believes tnal The homc education
%. farmers is practicable To "a greater ,N
TENT than is generally supposed. and d.
.u,-o.o> Ia, ilSa by an a..uSiou 10 a.,
o0u experience, which we hope viii .n
ducc young men 20 inquire whe,be- a
b,,,e, use IF the lew opportunities .or
Improvement which they enjoy. mi-ht
DO; enable them 20 become more sue
ceSstul farmers and more influential ,.d-
zeus. Mr.. Pea>c says
/ commenced the study OF geology
alter was sixty years Old, and the re
suit Las been one thing sure.-a great
de., %. regret and not little shame
that had not studied il before. How
blind | had been al, my lie. Walking
over. AID handling things possessing
vas; auouu: OF interest and advantage.
and profoundly ignorant OF t5c fact.
would not now part with what know
ia regard to geology loI The product o, q
whole years labor.
For year or more, company or
band musicians have occupied rooms Tor
practice near our dwelling. The young
mon who compose this band ale in BUSH
ness of various kinds, and devote only
tlcir leisure time to the practice OF music
~; such has been their industry aud
perseverance, that .hey have made very
cr,ditable proficiency. They have cm-
p.oyed q teacher bu, q small par, OF the
time,-dependins mainly on mutual prac-
tee aad personal study; bur 70 this they
have devoted their evenings with q per.
si>,ance tina. has often suggested The
thought 10 our mind that a similar en-
,husi4sm in the study of science during
tie leisure hours OF the week. even by
laooring men, would result in an amount
o, knowledge that now seems to them TO
be quite uaa,iainaLc.
Mr. Pease well remarks thai II is only
education "that can give farmers that
leading, controlling position in society,
and ia the management @, affairs that
we ta.A about 50 much. and which from
his numerical superiority aud the import.
aUce OF his calling, lie is enlitiedto In.
stead OF being always ioJ, he must take
p.,i in lie leading. And lac cannot 10
this without knowledge, and a more *
tended knowledge than can be acquired
in The common schools"