Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-06-20

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The art of farming needs fresh sup
plies of youthful blood, warmed with
energy, and hope, and ambition, 10 re-
juvenate its customs, traditions, and
ancient methods. As men grow old,
they are little inclined to experiment, to
try new things, or to change their
; if they have been successful,
they decline any addition to their rou-
tine knowledge; if unsuccessful, they
put in plea Of s'too old to learn"
Farming, as a trade of manufacture, is
in the hands ofmen advanced in
life, and, as q whole, is more stationary
than any other branch of business. If,
by some combination, the experience,
prudence and caution Of the. father
could be united with the ambition, push
and activity Of the son, a decided adj
vance might be expected in farming.
The best talent Of the family seldom
stays on the farm ; youth receives no
encouragement; the boy is classed
with the hired help he finds nothing
for his brain to feed upon, nothing to
his pride, nothing to fire his in
ventive genius, nothing to satisfy bus
longing desire to step up higher; hence
he early seeks ahome in some city or
manufacturing village, where the de-
mand for brains is more pronounced,
and whore the prizes Of life are distri-
buted in open competition. Soon the
boy, whose father, but a few years be-
fore, doubted his shusinesseapacity in
sven selling aysarlins - thssrillage
butcher, stands 1t thesheadaefssome
mercantile house. HhosekNeeEeaeales
are thousands. How thetbsgssedpan-
eial shrewdne.sand business Eaaaeed-
cd on the farm be left! ThesToungest,
whose budding intellect wassippsa by
the chill frost Of parentdsseElhess
and indifference, Is heard from Il after
life as the eminent lawyer. His sound
sense, reasoning power and keen per-
ceptions were sadly needed on the
home farm. The lad who pleaded IN
vain to be allowed to lay out a stone
wall, a culvert o. a lane, unwillingly
turns his back on the scenes Of child
heod, yet the near future lays the
world tribute to his scientific sEllin sus-
pension bridge or aqueduct. How east
ly this engineer could double the value
of the ancestral acres by drainage and
proper construction of roads and build
ings.
Farmers, think of this the very
boys you r rearing to-day, driven
from home, will fill the highest places
in the gift Of commerce, art, mauufac-
ture and legislation. Why should the
farm see this talent depsrk2 My rob
itself Of their needed brainss 4Kfs]hese,
s@a&EtA Ika 49, ff".EF -'rNtFF 11Z@s
your descendants, can giJeanEl1Ae e
trade, ~inYention to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ence to the forum, why not i~AdpelsS9ch
ability to remain with youaaNh dot
encourage such talent to aiftaAaleeuff-
walton of the soil into hesftoakAfSik
to select with business sagacity the
profitable branches Of culture, to con-
duct with merchants shrewdness the
the buying and selling of tools, and
seeds, and products?
If commerce or,manufactures make
loud calls for your boys, make louder
calls yourself. Give the boys q chance
at home, encourage them, ostimulate
them ; give them q piece Of ground to
cultivate as their own, give them cattle
to rear; surround them with svclsbc0ks
and papers as your means afford i per-
init them to make inexpensive expert
tnents ; treat them as equals, as. young
men Of brains I; Of perceptive faculties
give themes little authority, a little
power; talk matters over with them,
consult with them, trying capacity, put
confidence in them. Encourage the
village lyceum the farmers club; take
the boys along ; let them try a little new
seed. . little poultry; let them raise a
few early lambs; introduce any culture
the success Of which depends on their
personal attention to detail; make the
boys interested, thoughtful, anxious to
excel. Don't kill them with drudgery ;
brains are worth more than stone walls,
knowledge is more powerful than iron
bars, stady Is nor potent than physi-
cal force. Make home pleasant to
them, encourage social gatherings Of
young folks promote <sociability, com.
pany, anusements, variety Of occupa-
ton. These are among the city's at
fractions, and the cause of the migra-
ton is apparent. Adopt the remedy,
keep the boys on the farm ; if more
~businsss>is wanted, supply it in increased
md improved culture.
The writer Of the above article, which
appesrs in the American Cultivator, is
evidentiya person of considerable ex.
perlence' and good sense. But when
he says: ''the very boys you are rear
ing to day, driven tom home; will gil
the highest places Ia the gift Of com.
merce, art, manufactuse and legisla.
ton while true in rare instances. is
altogether too sweeping an ,sertion /;
for they who rise to such distinction are
comparatively few. With this exsep.
ton the advice is wholesome and tims.
ly, though often given before.