Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-13
Reported for the VERMONT FARMER.
EAST ST. JOHNsBURY FARMERS
CLUB.
Subject for Discussion What kind OF AN
Education does Farmer require ~

EHS 81. JOhNobUhI FAhmEho
CLUB.
subject for Discussion what kInd OF AN
Education does n Farmer requirer -
$. Huse: However extensive an education
n man may have, il is no detriment to him
as farmer. Education from experience
aud observation, and what We call common
sense, seems TO be the most important requi-
site, SO that men having superior talent are
better qualified without learning than others
are with II. Still these very men of natural
genius can be rs much improved by cult
waiting and training their minds as tho dull
est and weakest minded can. We have
some soil that is naturally barren which can
be improved, but not any more than those
portions that arc naturally more fertile by
the same treatment. and it is Just so with
the human mind. Many people arc really
educated men that have never attended any
school or studied books; they get their
knowledge by mingling with an intelligent
community. | have an illustration of this
in case of Jonathan jenkins, one Of my old
neighbors, thirty years ago. lie was what
would DO called now an iliterate man, and
he had no knowledge of written arithomtic,
but he was truly business character. and
became rich by ETning No one could
cheat him in reckoning interest or in any of
his mercantile transactions. One time in
measuring some boards for me he explained
his method of arithmetic, us follows: One
inch on II board ~ feet long will DO | foot,
and il Is feet it will bc "a, If Is feet II, and
If it is 10, 10 or IL feet long. we can guess
what it would be. Aud he would guess
very nearly, and not vary many feet in meas
uring large stock of boards. Now if such
men had n good, thorough education in adj
dtion to their natural genius, their mental
power and influence would be proportionally
great.
+. l.. llovey: | am sometimes accused Of
being radical, aud acknowledge that | am
upon this question. | say there is no man in
the country in any occupation that needs so
much and so sound an education rs the farm
or, not only practical hut book farming, and
never was il so much needed rs ut the pres
ent time What success would u lawyer
have who knows nothing outside OF his
law books? lie would make no lawyer at
all, though he knew all that could he OBJ
tanned from books pertaining to jurispru
dence. What gave Judge Ross his success?
1t was thorough education and great and
extensive general knowledge and informa.
ton. lawyer ought to know something
about farming, and farmer something
Of law. II is quite convenient just now for
10, IN til In NIL D. hf.l ,,,, A.
rupt law, but really there are few persons
very well informed upon this subject While
lawyer, physician or minister can get along
tolsrably well without so much general ed
ucaton, fhru. er cannot get along ut all
well. We have different kinds of soil on
almost every farm that require entirely dill
fcrent treatment, and to know how To man
age these soils requires great knowledge and
skill. A farmer can have love for the
beautiful rs well rs an artist, though not to
so great an 0Xtent. OF course he is not eX-
pccted to fill his rooms with costly pictures
and statuary, but love for beauty can be
exercised and enjoyed in connection with
his necessary work and arrangements about
his farm and buildings. know Of farmer
who takes great pride in n nice AID wei
furnished sugar orchard, and well he may.
It consists of about 1900 trees. every one in
thrifty condition. Every dead or fallen
tree is removed, and every maple can be APP
preached with n team. And, again, farmers
are too we'll satisfied with letting other class
es of people run the affairs of the govern
mont. which they do frequently TO its dctri-
ment think we can clearly sec that better
times are coming in this respect. Only give
the farmers better education, and they will
he fit for and fill political places and man
age tho administration with better economy
than il has been in the past.
Rev. j. Humphrey; This is the first time
have had the pleasure of coming among
YOU think your remarks have boon ngen-
ious and instructive am not sufficiently
verscd in farming matters to speak very in
diligently upon your question, but | have
been gathering instruction, and am much
obliged. | make distinction between edu-
cation and learning. Education Is ncedful
for every person, not necessarily learning
A man may have good deal of Information,
but not education enough to make good use
OF it, | would recommend an education in
whatever pertains to the acquisitions of the
different kinds Of soil, and whatever is req
usite to the application of principles that
will make two spires Of grass grow where
one grew before. Farmers should be able to
study and understand the various books
treating upon agriculture, and the teachings
of our newspapers upon farm topics. would
have farmer just MS intelligent as any other
man. Then when we ask how much learn
ing a farmer should have the answer is, there
Is no limit to it. But my idea Of farmer is
that he should, ut least, ba able to make the
power of his mind felt In an intelligent COM
munity by speaking in public, or writing
lucid and wcll-eSprOssod articles for an ag-
ricultural paper upon topics coming under
his observation, or themes aud theories de-
vlsed in his own mind.
A. II. Hovey think book education to
n man of energy Is "A grent advantage, hut