Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-23
Education for Farmers.

4
Much has been said upon this subject, Of
late, but it presents SO many different as
poets and its Importance is so great that
there is still good reason for continuing to
discuss it, even at the risk Of repeating many
things that have been said already.
The time for claiming that thorough cd
ucation is of no advantage to farmer has
for the most part passed away, though it
would still be possible in almost every com.
munity to find men who would advocate such
an idea. In conformation of this, perhaps
they will contrast the success Of some shrewd,
energetic, observing farmer who has but
limited knowledge of books, with the compar-
ative failure Of another who has more "book
learning" but whose health and natural abil.
tiles are far less. In reply to such argu.
ments we need only to say that this success
full farmer" with the education of the other
would be still more successful, and almost
invariably he laments his lack Of early ad-
vantages and gives his children better op-
portuuities. But important as is the cul-
ture Of the schools, to the farmer, there is
still grain Of truth in the assertions Of
those who affect to despisc it. This arises
from the fact that physical, as well as INTEL
lectual education is necessary to successful
farming At no time in life can practical
knowledge in regard to the performance of
farm labor be SO we'll gained as 10 youth /;
and one who has spent nearly all his time
for six or eight years in college is but poorly
fitted for n farmer unless be has wealth
enough to make pastime Of it. The muscles
need training as well as the mind. For this
reason many of the graduates Of agricultural
colleges have turned aside to other pursuits
Admitting, however, that better educa-
ton Of farmers is desirable the main ques-
tion for us now is, how can We improve upon
the past so that the future farmers of Ver-
mont shall come nearer to our idea of what
a farmer should be2 In answer to this ques.
tion We may say that boys who expect to be
farmers should be educated with a more def
mite reference to their future calling. Some
Improvement might be made in this direc-
tion even in our common schools. In some
of them there is much attention given to the
higher branches Of mathematics Now if
botany aud other branches of natural history
or some elementary work on agriculture were
substituted for algebra, etc., it would be a
great improvement. Probably our teachers
are not very generally qualified to teach
these branches but with demand for in
struction there would soon be a supply of
teachers to meet it.
Also good many who expect to become
farmers attend an academy few years as
sort of "6nish up" to their education, but
how seldom do they study anything that has
any direct reference to their future calling
Usually the higher mathematics como in for
a good share Of the time aud frequently,
through the influence of teachers and for the
sake of continuing in the same classes with
acquiantances a study Of the languages is be-
gun. A recent writer on the subject says,
"a knowledge of tho dead language is un-
necessary, but thorough understanding of
the English branches, especially chemistry,
botany and anatomy are indispensable TO sue
cessful husbaudry" l do not fully agree
with the FIRST part Of this quotation, as | be-
liove that knowledge of Latin, especially,
will be of great use in the requirement of
English branches above named aud in many
other ways, but if a prospective farmer has
only two or three terms Of school before him
be will do best to concentrate his energies
upon studies Of more direct value to them as
farmers, and if the time at his command is
longer the proportion of it spent upon these
studies should be much greater than usual.
Last but not least there are many young
and middle aged farmers who could do much
to increase their stock Of agricultural infor-
nation by Improving their spare moments in
study. A careful reading of agricultural pa
pers is OF great importance, aud some method
should be taken to preserve the best articles for
future reference. But we have men among US
who have done much more than this by way
of seli-culture and their examples are worthy
Of imitation. There are several such 10 this
state who are looked up to as authorities
upon various branches Of agriculture whose
education in the school is very limited. They
gained this position by careful aud accurate.
study Of the matter in hand Seeking to
learn from books and observation all they
possibly could about it,
believe that the study of the natural
sciences will not be found 50 difficult as one
might imagine if undertaken with will. Iu
botany for instance careful reading of the
! text will enable one in few weeks or months