The Grange advance., 1874-09-23
AGRICULTURAL.
Farmers Education.

Charles Dickens once said, in remark
ing upon the agricultural matters, that
"the part of the holding Of farmer or
landowner which pays best for cultiva-
tion is the small estate within the ring
fence Of his skull" It is undeniably
true that the cultivation Of the brain is
Of the highest consequence to the FARM
er, as with that part of his animal do.
main in bad state Of filth, his fields
must remain in fearful condition Of
impoverishment. How shall the farmer
improve his mind; how can he properly
educate himself? This is an impor-
tant question aad deserves to be an
swered. Let US first consider how he
cannot educate himself: He certainly
cannot by remaining in condition of
inaction and stupidity, n state Of de-
spondency and doubt which speedily be-
comes chronic and incurable. A con-
siderable number Of our farmers who
have reached middle life are filled so full
of gloom and doubt, that there is not
crevice in their minds open wide enough
to admit a cheerful ray Of hope. They
long ago gave up the idea of bettering
their condition by thought and study,
and abandoning effort, live very stupid
and aimless lives. They are not indus
trious or intelligent enough to prosper
in any calling, and if their vocation in
life was changed, they would still prove
decided failures. Any man who gives
way to dependency when the path of
life is dark and discouraging becomes
speedily helpless and impotent. There
is, We are free to admit, very much to
discourage farmers in their calling.
The petty annoyanccs Of the farm can.
not be winked out Of sight. Besides
small things, there is blight, and mil
dew. and drought, and wet, and winds,
and hailstorms, and bugs, and worms,
and grasshoppers, and woodchucks, and
crows, to destroy or devour the results
Of incessant toll and care The farmer,
we are willing to concede, has more
than a fair proportion Of the disappoint-
ments and annoyances of life, and as it
is the peculiar mission or office of edu-
cation to tighten and lessen these bur-
dens, so much greater is the need Of
mental culture in his case. Repining
and inaction will never render less in
tolerable a single disappointment or
hardship.
The education which the farmer
needs, and which is essential to his sue
cess and happiness, is quite within his
reach. 1t does not consist of abstract
knowled ge or metaphysical acumen, but
Of simple facts derived from reading,
observation, and reflection. All learn.
ing and culture are not derived from
books, although these are essential in
explaining and systematizing facts, and
starting a beginner on the road to
knowledge. 10 learn to think ;nde-
pendently and originally is great &C.
quisition, and when acquired it inspires
so much confidence in ones self that
radical change Of character is often eff.
fected. There are plenty of books
within the the reach Of most farmers of
even limited means, and there is plenty
of leisure to read them. 1t is not the
busiest farmers that oftenest complain
of want Of time to read, but the LATEST.
One book of standard authority on any
subject, we'll studied, is better than
dozen. Read and think; also carefully
observe and anal yze the facts Of nature.
The moral influence of reflection and
observation, when in the right direction,
is very great. The farmer has around
him the cereal plants, grasses, flowers,
rocks, soils, trees, minerals and animals.
His opportunities for observation are
very great, and there is every incentive
to gain knowledge. The cultivation of
the mind leads directly to proper and
profitable cultivation Of the soil. and
all thrifty farmers are well read and
thinking men. The standard of educa-
tion among farmers must be raised, and
it had better be accomplished by self
culture, by home reading, home think
ing, and home Observation-Disclosures
Journal Of Chemistry.