Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-02-23
Importance of Education on the Farm.
A Paper read by r. Il. Richardson OF Wat
erford, at the meeting OF the Board of
Agriculture in Peachsni, Feb. and 2.

in the qulcksands of ignorance and super
stition, that nation is as surely doomed as
there are stars in the heavens. If we wish
something as lasting as the granite in yonder
mountain, something that will be beneficial
to posterity, we must build broad fouuda-
tion on the firm rock of knowledge. Knowl-
edge is the fulcrum aud action, the lever by
which the agriculturist Of this country will
be raised to q sphere where enlargcmnt is
inevtble.
Man is formed for action, and knowledge is
the governing power. 1t is only by the COM
bination of both, each working in direct
union with the other, we that can attain the
high position God intended we should occupy.
There is need of broader and more compre-
hensive knowledge of the fundamental priu-
ciples Of agriculture. There is no other oc-
cupation where so little brain power is used
as on the farm. 1t has been too much the
practice of educating the smart boy and
retaining the dote on the farm, but judging
by many of our professional mon, the prac-
tice is being reversed.
1t has been and by some it is still thought
anyone is qualified for farmer Any man
with thimbleful of brains ought to know
this is not true. We are cropping in the
dark, and men of education, men Of thought,
men Of action arc required to dispel the veil
Of darkness and ignorance surrounding agri-
culture. There is no other occupation where
such dense ignorance prevails as in agricul-
tural communities.
do not wish to be understood as saying
all farmers are illiterate and uulettered for
such is not the fact. There are those in
every neighborhood who are shining examples
of ideal manhood and womanhood. They
have rent asunder the gives of brass and
stand on their own noble footing far above
those who ridicule knowledge obtained from
books. A knowledge of the dead languages
is unnecessary, but a thorough understand
ing of the English branches, especially chem
istry, botany and anatomy are indispensable
to successful husbandry. To acquire this it
is important there be a different system of
common school education. There is not
single branch taught relating directly to agri.
culture. On the contrary everything tends
to create in the minds Of farmers sons dis
like for one Of the grandest occupations al.
loted to man. What is wanted is system
to fit farmers sous for farmers, making it as
honorable profession as any other.
There is also another system wanted, one
that will stop the complaint about farming
being low and degrading pursuit. If it is
such low and degrading profession why in
the name Of common sense and decency do
you not sell out, clear out, get out some way
or other and seek an occupation more in ac-
cordance with your aristocratic ideas. How
is it farmers have come into the possession Of
such absurd and foolish notions 1t is by a
false system Of education. From earliest in-
fancy they have been taught, if they ever
hope to be anybody they must seek more
genteel and refined pursuit than farming.
They think they must 60 through college and
engage in some professional vocation, and
the result is We have country flooded with
fith-rate lawyers, ffth-rate ministers,
and ffth-rate men deserves the rdicule Of
every sensible person. Nine-tenths of our
professional men are out of tho sphere God
intended they should occupy. They are
trying to be something God never intended
they should be and they deserve to be kicked
into their proper position. If they were
what vast addition there would be to our
hodmen. There is only one way possible to
retain young men on the farm, that is, make
farming pleasant and attractive. This never
can be accomplished until farmers are better
educated. If farmers had a thorough and
} practical knowledge of the science pertain
ing to agriculture, there would be less dis
content, less complaining about hard times
aud the unprOftableness Of farming.
: If farmers would spend their evenings
} perusing good books and papers relating tc
agriculture, or engage in social chat with
J their neighbors upon subjects pertaining Il
practical farm operations insteads of squirt
: ing tobacco juice at the fire that Kisses a
: the insult, or what is ten thousand time
, worse, spending their time in the vent hole
, of hell, the rum shops, they would rise to al
intellectual plane far above the position the,
! now occupy.
5 1t has been truly said, "the child is faith
J er to the man, aud that farmers may gai
g the exalted position they are entitled to
0 it is necessary that there be course of edu
cation in our common schools relating Il
r agriculture. Just so long as farmers contu
!, ue TO educate their sons for other position
o in life will our farm be robbed of tina
i which is absolutely necessary to raise farm
: ers to the high position God intended the
Il should fill. Just so long as farmers continu
d to complain about farming being lowering t
o ones manhood will they be looked upon q
1t the dregs Of society. What is wanted O
a the farm is men of ability, who are NJ
3 afraid Of work, be it physical or monta
u That we may have such men, we should pa
'f rOnize our agricultural college. YOun
ID men need to be educated for farming as we
ID as for for other professions. Farmers wit
to their families should attend the meeting
ID the state board of agriculture, which is d
70 ing noble work in diffusing practical know
OF edge among farmers.
i'll God speed the work of the VERMONT IA