Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-08-11
Education of Farmers.

TO the Editors Of the Chronicle:
Your leader of Wednesday on the
above brings the subject so prominent
ly before the public, that an impartial
and dispassionate discussion of it
should not cease till the community at
large have a clear and comprehensive
knowledge of its relations to and bear
ings on their present social condition
till the masses clearly foresee the many
blessings its general diffusion will con-
| fer. Not till after having self-convinc-
| ing practical proofs, derived both from
experience aud observation, will they
| fully appreciate, seek and obtain an
agricultural education. That the peO-
pie of this State have manifested the
most ardent desire to this end, is evil
dent from the many agricultural asso-
Citations now existing, having for their
object the elevation and enlighten-
ment of the farming classes. But the
question arises, how is this agricultur-
al knowledge to be acquired generally?
to be brought within reach of, and
available to, the humblest occupant of
the soil; to those who can not afford
to give their sons an agricultural edu-
cation based on scientific principles,
and acquired on model form? Sim
ply by introducing it and its kindred
sciences, in their elementary forms,
into the common schools, distributed
throughout the land. Make agricul-
ture the prominent and important sub
iect on the school programme; the
i goal which must be reached and pos
sessed before the pupil can lay claim
to his laurels. No subject taught in a
school could be more easily elucidated
and impressed on the mind of the rural
pupil than husbandry; his earliest re-
collections are most intimately asso-
ciated with 1t; it still occupies most of
his every day life, and likely he ID
looking forward to 1t as his future avo-
cation. Surely, then, its cultivation
as a special study would invigo-
rate, sharpen and give his mind
that investigating blast which other
wise might never be acquired from his
other studies. The Jealous teacher,
with q simple cabinet OF the principal
mineral and vegetable productions OF
this country, could very easily incul'
cate his pupils with useful rudiment'
ary knowledge of the different quail
: ties and constituents of rocks and soils
! the various crops, their rotation anC
culture; the application of manure
peculiar to, and adapted to their sue
, cessful growth domestic economy, in
= Guiding the raising aud management
: of stock, poultry, &c. Horticulture
y too, could be successfully taught, as {
= piece of land should be fenced in, ant
attached to every school and laid out
-, planted and tended by the children
y who would then derive both pleasur
and profit from the work. Think
= now, what an interest those school ex
hibitions would excite in the farmer
! mind If he heard our youthful orator
- philisophically discuss the cultivation
= of some useful plant, the treatmen
. and cure of cattle disease, or som
other interesting topic connected wit
farming, instead of the parrot harangu
y committed verbatim from some authC
- and passed off for original, like counte
T felt money for original? The fema
pupils, too, could CLEAN such facts frol
those lectures as would greatly asst
=, in after life to fulfill their obligation
III as wives and mothers, as a knowledl
of the fruit and flower garden, dali
e and aviary would be indispensab
~ afterwards. / humbly suggest tina
by adopting this course of studies
all schools, the farmers, who pay Il
Heavier share of the taxes, would thu
get an adequate remuneration for the
money. p. DAILY.
mIa ,,,oely 10 I,,n a.,