Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-03-06
2faricllrhrral department.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

prorress nay Re effected. but We must
seek the solution Of the question mainly |
in education. using the word II its wide
est sense The wealth Of farmers de- I
pends On their knowledge. skill and .
thrift. skill Is required By both taru- /
srs and laborers. II IS plant Of slow .
growth. The artiran acquires it BY .
plodiius application. The skin Of the .
6rst-class agricultural labOrsr Is acquir- I
ed ia the sane way. The skill Of the .
srs.-class farmer. too. Is the result Of
continuous application to business The F.
skill acquired BY Que generation Is eaPa-
be OF being impaired 70, and Of being
improved upon BY. the next. Il would
Be unfortunate II any Circumstance Or
set Of circumstances should interfere
with this ieveloPement-
Il has been affirmed that general
kn5vlejgs imPsrts power 70 every man
This Is true IN every state Of life Il Is
true in science: it is equally true in the
industrial arts. The proposition Is sup
ported By AZ overwhelming mass Of evi-
dense. AL cur systems Of technical ed
ucati0n are based on this one idea In
the chief cities and towns The rising
generations Of the manufacturing classes
can acquire scientific knowledge which
viii Be Of direct use 70 them in their
several pursuits In the village school
scientific truths are impaired which can
no, fail to Be Of use TO the trader and
artiIan-
How diEsren. IS the case with the far
mer's BOY. In his educauon no system
etc effort has been made TO instill into
bis mind those elementary scientific
truths on which enlightened agricultural
practices are based. The result IS that
be grows up in complete ignorance Of
the rudiments Of agricultural science.
How is this state Of things 70 Dc rem
edied? In other words. how is suita-
BE amount Of agricultural science to Be
impaired to farmers
In answering this question it Is in.
portant TO distinguish between ordinary
working farmers who receive their edu
cation in COMMON schools. and farner'
who are able to pay for higher educa,
ton. such IS IS afforded in colleges ans
seminaries and other institutions Of tht
sane grade.
As regards the first Of these tS0 class
IS, there is 10 reason Why an adequate
amount Of agricultural instruction eoul,
not Be impaired in the common schools
All that IS required Is 4 suitable text
book or two. and such system Of iusPeC
ton as will insure that the book shall B
read. and all difficult passages explain
ed By the teachers. This simple syster
Of agricultural education has been trie
in Ireland for many years. It has ID
bored nnier many difficulties; but
has succeeded admirably wherever it b.
been fairly tried. In 4 movement Of til
kind all sorts Of people will cone in Wit
all sorts Of advice the busiest and noa
active Of these may be the most ignO
ant q the A B c Of science and Of 81
lighiened agricultural practice. Kee
clear Of these people If not, you vi
either fail altogether, or effect lit
good. ike many others vhO. fran tn
to tine, have embarked in agrieultur
education
The words agricultural educatiOr
have led TO much confusion Of th0ugl
Some persons use them il = way Viii
would imply that the farmer should Ia
special system Of education peculi
70 himself. from the moment be eut'
school till be leaves it for good
course this is not true, and it IS eerts
that in the case Of large farmers
must look more 70 the effects Of . q
general education than those Of spec
instruction. The first truths Of ply
cal science, Of chemistry and natu
history, should enter into the eurricul
Of the common schools. This knoEle,
will be useful TO the student, no ma,
what bis future calling may be- As
CARDS the farmer, it may be rsnari
that without knowledge Of uechar
he cannot be in a position to buy in
ments and machines to the best adv
tage. or TO understand how to az
horsepower and other forces in the I
judicious manner. Look. for exam
at the loss Of power daily caused BY
norance Of the elementary princi
involved in common draught Loo
the loss entailed on farmers in the /
PIE matter Of common gates. for wau
knowledge Of the means Of resis
strains, and Of other principles equ
elementary. IL is certain that in
production Of animals and plants
great mistakes are committed for :
Of knowledge Of physiology. This
enee. should. therefore. Be taught i
our public schools attended by farr
boys. We must not. Of course. ne
mathematics, the study Of which is
very best training for the mind. 1
farmer be well instructed in all ths
=