Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-14
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Industrial Schools.
attractive

If it is true that ignorance of the farmers
trade prevails among those that are old
enough to begin farming for themselves, it is
desirable that there be established farmers
school,
Three things are essential about the same
time. A man, a farm and buildings. When
place is prepared it is easy to find n man
to accept given salary and n manner do
the duties required. To have eminent sue
cess we must have a man thoroughly imbued
with the Importance of the work and its sue.
cess. AS Fairbanks in the manufacture of
scales, Gray in horsc-powers, Estey in or.
gans, or if you please, teacher like as was
Twilight Of Bloomington, as is Spaulding of
Barre, Orcutt of West Lebanon or Conant OF
Randolph. An able man gives character to
the whole enterprise. This need is pecu-
liarly felt in this enterprise. The boys of
mechanics and professional men cannot al
ways be prodtably employed in their fathers
business, so they are educated until size and
maturity enable, them to fill certain places
for which they prepare. Farmers boys
are never out Of work, their time is of value
and their strength is worth much on the
farm at the very period when they can ac-
quirc knowledge with the greatest ease.
Yet farmers would spare them if they were
sure the boy would be benefited by the edu.
cation he would receive.
The teacher must be an enthusiastic lover
oi nature, close observer and apt to teach.
lie must value knowledge that is immedi-
ately practical and profitable as well as that
which only dsciplines the mind. lie must
be farmer in its highest aud broadost sense,
although he may not touch plow or shovel,
but should be skillful in their use and must
know, direct and teach as imagine Hender-
son, Wick, Gregory, Waring or Prugle know,
direct and teach. With board of instruc.
tors such as arc usually found in a college
we never could succeed. With proper in.
struction pupils will be abundant | predict
A farm for farmers school should have
diversity Of soil and be of fair natural fer
tiity as such will be the character of the
farms that will be occupied by the students
in after life. As most of tho country is
warmer than Northern Vermont it seems
probable that the students would receive the
most benefit from a farm where the corn
crop would be almost sure, and where tender
vegetables like tomatoes, beans, squash and
other vines would mature, and fruit like
apples pears, grapes, strawberries, black.
berries and gooseberries reward reasonable
care. Some OF these are hardy other slender,
and VIC exclude the peach and ounce. If
it could have running brooks and pond for
fish all the better.
1t is apparent that as far south as the
middle Of tho state would on some accounts
be preferable to the extreme north. Yet
one northern man offers $500 if his farm
should bO selected.
There are in the state several sets of build.
ings that are not now used to their full capac-
ity, At Fairfax an imposing structure has
been thronged with youth in years past but
might educate larger classes. In Lyndon a
new, fine brick building seems not fully Occu.
pied. At Waterbury Center is another
large, rOomy brick building nearly new not
coming up to the hopes Of its projectors.
At Mortified the Norwich Military acad.
emy is not crowded. Indeed at all of these
places the teachers and trustees would gladly
welcome much larger number of scholars
l approhend. There are in the state many