Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-01-24
Why DSss Educati0u Draw Tie TSuHg HT
ron the farm: ltNt p

umes OF the reports OF thls bV1Tu VI
Agriculture. End that they contain
several papers discussing the reasons why /
young men leave the farm 70 engage IN
other occupations. instead Of devoting
themselves to the business Of their faith
ers. In these papers It is dePlored. as
a great evil. that so many young men,
aud especially those best educated and
most qualified to deyelOpe the improved
agriculture we 50 much need. are averse
. to farm labor. and seek every Opportuni-
ty to engage in some ether business.
For a number Of years | have been great
" interested in the subject Of agreul-
tural education-that is, the preparation
Of the young farmer for his business BY
q course Of study in those branches Of
knowledge. acquaintance with which
would be Of direct practical benefit IN
the various and difficult operations Of the
farm. But in all my appeals to my broth
er farmers to take an interest in what
seems to me to be 4 most important mat
ter-one without which We cannot hope
to see any great improvement IN farming
Il have been met by the statement that
education only drives young men away
from the farm. If then ask an intel
ligent farmer who has raised this Objec-
ton, whether be believed that ignorance
was the best qualification for success in
farming. he would say. Not at ALL
am in favor Of bringing all the knowl-
edge possible to bear upon the practice
Of agriculture see its benefits every
day. believe in agricultural papers
and books, in farmers clubs. agricultur-
al societies, Boards Of Agriculture, in
everything that will increase both seien-
tihc and practical knowledge among those
who are already farmers. And l would
favor the direct training Of the young
man for farming in an agricultural col
lege. if saw any prospect Of getting
him on to a farm after he had completed
his college course. But experience shows
that young men who have received Al
academical or collegiate education very
rarely engage in farming. 1t may b
different with the agricultural colleges
but perhaps we had better wait in Yer
mont to see how they succeed in othe
States, before we try it here" If ven
ture to call his attention to the fact tina
We already have an agricultural eolleg
in our State, he smiles q gentle smile
and says, Il have heard so. but can 20
show NE any Of its graduates engaged
farming hereabouts o.
Now ! au Obliged to confess that it
not our most ignorant farmers-the hare
shelled fraternity Of scrub-faruers-th;
talk in this way. These objections al
urged by our best and most intelligen
practical men. They see the need We a
have Of more knowledge in our bushes
but they have serious doubts as to Of
being able to get that knowledge on
the farm from any educational instit
tons which are now in existenee-ev'
though they may be called agricultur
colleges.
1 an compelled by daily observati
to acknowledge that there Is truth in VII
these good and practical farmers 50
And yet cannot get over wanting to $
a closer connection made between know
edge and agriculture, through the scho
and colleges Of the country. see
men Of other ayOeations educating YOU
preparatory to their work with sucee
see not only the Divinity and Law I
Medical and Normal schools trimming
rising generations for their work in th
branches. but finding no difficulty, sucl
the farmers find, in persuading Il
graduates into the paths in life
which they are fitted find the p
ciple being extended into the mechan
branches. 80 that in the technical scho
such as the Cooper Institute in
York. the archaeological school Of
ton. (Which shares with the Massacl
etts Agricultural College, the incom
the funds bestowed by Congress for
dustrial education in that State,
similar schools in nearly every large
aud many large towns all over the c
try, turning out students, who inn
ately engage in the very business
which these schools have fitted c
and rapidly rise over the heads Of
men who have had only practical I
ing, and become the great builders
great contractors. the leading nan
turers Of the day. rr. HCl
Seeing this cannot help asking
there Is in farming which proven
from sharing in these great benefits
derived from knowledge imparte
youth. to be used in manhood for Il
veloPment Of the rich resources O
soil.
And when look further. aud sci
in Europe agricultural education Is
cess equally With any other special
ing. am still more anxious to il
what there is In the climate Of
America which prevents knovledg'
being brOught,thrOugh the schools.
farms az this nation We ~. no