Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-18

one step further, aud say that 10 FIVE years
We can double the value Of our farm pro.
ducts. Farming has been looked down upon.
We must aim 10 make il so honorable aud
respectable that our boys will be glad to
follow the occupation.
Dea j. Q Follett Of Townshend We
get exaggerated ideas of the. West The
crops frequently do not pay for marketing.
II man has capital TO stnrt with he may
become wealthy. In Minnesota almost all
the farmers are poor. II the farmer will
apply brain power to his work he will enjoy
greater advantages for himself aud his chill.
dren.
The second paper Of Tuesday afternoon
was read by G.. H. Houghton Of Townshend
topic, allow ought our children who are to
till the soil to be educated2"
The general subject Of education like that
Of agriculture has been 80 often discussed that
u is pretty much worn out, yet as regards
it is yet in Its infancy. A majority of the
agriculturists Of Vermont seem indifferent TO
the education Of the young. Why is this ?
Not because Of penuriousuess for many edu-
cate their children in private schools; not
because Of ignorance for nearly every farmer
will acknowledge the advantages Of q good,
practical education; not because the farmer
does not care for his children, for no class Of
our citizens have more natural affection, aud
it is this love aud desire for their childrsn's
prosperity together with the natural desire
that they should stay upon the farm, that
leads to this Indifference aud distrust, which
would not be if convinced that ut maturity
the value Of their childrens labor on the
farm would be increased, but they believe
the contrary TO be the fact, aud that when
ever n boy becomes educated he loses his
love for the farm aud leaves it for other oc-
cupatious. The FIRST requisite in commence
ing any ente rprise is practical knowledge /;
this applies to the farmers calling as well as
10 every other.
The agriculturist needs more thorough,
general education than any other class. All
children should be educated alike until they
arrive at the age when it can be decided
what vocation they are best fitted for, and
that course should be one which will lead
toward the farm rather than one which will
6l the professions with second and third rate
men, which is the result of our present sys.
ten.
The mind should not be educated at the
expense of the body. In this respect our
present system is defective. The youth
should leave the schools with such training
that he will remain student through life.
A system OF agricultural schools iu copnec.
tion with experimental farms should be es-
tablished In each county we have one or
more schools largely supported by farmers,
but in the interest Of the professions. Can
farmers afford to support such schools is a
question which each must answer for himself,
remembering that in many instances the
fault is not so much in the matter taught MS
in the manner Of teaching In our state we
have an agricultural course in college de.
signed Tor other professions, which course
has never received student. T.,is will
make no difference so long as none are fitted
by primary education or disposition to take
such a course. Farmers must see to it that
a system is established which will better
honor and dignity our calling, aud teach oul
children to better love aud respect the pro
fession Of agriculture.
Mr. Hubbard In my school days it never
occurred to me that an education was the
training aud development of the faculte,
God had given me. Our whole system need'
working up. We need better teachers, who
will give the child better development, onC
that he can use in the occupation which h,
may follow. Ii is supposed that if a boy is
bright something else must be made of him
+ but it dot make u farmer of him.
Rev Mr. Burnham We lack facilities il
the way of school houses, but more than thai
We lack good parents. The children have
not the right stuff in them In our school,
the teacher should encourage the children tC
bring into the school room an animal, a stont
or plant, and should talk to them in regard
to the formation of rocks and soils, and the
growth Of animals aud plants, thereby ere
ating an interest iu regard to farming.
j. X. Batchelder Education means t
draw out, to set the mind to thinking. Tn,
boy who thinks will rise. The farmer who
can read, write and cypher has the beginning
OF an education. The boy when he begin
farming must continue to educate himself
The speaker expressed some dissatisfaction
= in regard to the disposal of the agriculture
college fund, there not being a single studen
!, in the course. With this fund amounting t
$4,000 a school might have been estab
! lished which would have benefited the far
mers of Vermont. In such a school tn
: students should be taught just those thing
: which they are to practice through life Tn
sciences such as botany chemistry and geol
3 ogy should be taught. The speaker though
the schools OF Vermont as good as those O
,, any other state; that as regards propert
there Is more equality than in other states
but few being very rich aud but few ar
:, very poor that we have as good churches
D as good morals and as much domestic happI
Z ness as any other state.
a Tuesday Ereni,g
t The first paper of the evening was "Th
!. Poetry of Farming written by Mrs Mari
@ =. Rice Of Springfield and read before til
e meeting by G, Horace Hubbard. This was
a we'll written carefully prepared paper whc
}. will probably appear in full in the lsdie
y department of the FARMER.
r. The second paper Of the evening was froI
q j. D. Follett OF Townshend Topic, I'll
It Coming Farmer
= The average farmer Of the past not avai
10 ing himself Of the full benefits Of the schoo
within his reach, with his thinking powe
o.. poorly disciplined, has looked upon his cal
,r ing rs sort of necessary evil, instead of
It source of delight, and has felt little inciua
d ton to better his condition. His boy ia
Or bibes disreish for the farm and choos
5. another occupation or seeks home IN Il
re west.
e. The coming farmer will be what We nal
st him. This Is an age of progress. There
ct always progress in the mind of the though
ID ful, therefore the coming farmer must be
ct thinking man. To make him thus our schoc
tx must receive careful attention aud our CHI
Is, dren be made to avail themselves of all the
ar advantages. TIE feeling has predOminat'
~ in the American heart that the masses mu