The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-18

food
1t can certainly do no injury to any one
10 devote enough time to the sciences or
/ any other department Of human knowledge.
to be acquainted with its elementary prin-
ciples, though it Is not necessary for one To
pass through college and to be the recipient
OF diploma in order 10 have this informa-
/ ton, yet such course may tend, and,
doubtless, does have the effect Of fixing on
/ the mind, in a more forcible manner. than
would be the case if such information were
obtained by observation and reading. with
out the advantage Of the experiments a
student would witness in properlyequipped
and scientifically manipulated apparatus,
such as every institution of learning should
have.
! EDUCATION Is KNOWLEDGE.
| 1t matters not what the pursuit or pro-
fessiOn one may be following, that person is
edu Gated in his calling to a greater or less
| extent, and as knowledge is power. the
| greater his education, the more completely
/ will he have his vocation under his control
All knowledge, to be valuable, should ba
at command, and its value depends upon
the extent to which we may be able %
make it subservient to the wants and ne
cessities of our nature. No one can. during
the average period of life learn AN there
lie in any science or art, and the profession
of agriculture, which requires some knowl-
edge OF all sciences, must be divided into
parts suited to the requirements Of the
case.
The attention of students, whether pri-
vate or III attendance at college should ba
specially directed to that portion he expects
10 apply to the greatest extent while no
branch should be neglected. II he is to
engage in rearing stock he will not loo
called upon to know what will be required
of the cultivatUr of the soil There is
much truth in what an ancient philosopher
said when asked what should be taught t0
boys: "teach them that which they are To
practice when they are men,
There was a time when agriculture re-
ceived very little attention as a scientific
pursuit, but new era has dawued. and no
agency has operated to bring about change
to the same extent rs agricultural colleges
We must admit that in many portions of
the world the virgin soil has become cN-
ha0sted of its constituent elements ueces-
sary 10 make its cultivation profitable or
even remuneratiye enough to sustain life
with an average amount of labor and we
have been compelled to call to our aid,
science and art to assist us in our efforts at
recuperation, which necessity has been
supplied by agricultural colleges.
With their aid, lands have advanced from
100 to 1000 per cent. in favored localities.
that would have been barren waste, and
would have failed to produce enough TO
even support the insect life generated I'M its
bosom, much less the niger order of animate
nature.
There is a constant and rapidly growing
demand for scientific knowledge throughout
the world, and to no class is this of more inn
portance or of more enduring benefit than
to the agriculturist, who compose SO large a
class of people in all countries, and who are
doing more to encourage scientific invests
cation than any other portion of our race,
simply because they know their success de-
ponds upon its requirement, and, also, upon
its application.
The life of farmer and physical labor
are not inconsistent with "A high order of
mental capacity, but quite to the contrary.
In the country we may find relaxation from
mental labor, of a character far more iuvit-
ing than elsewhere, and will find the pure
Of the rural districts conducive
TO a healthful condition Of both mind and
body. The farmer should have few of the
trials known to those who occupy the busy
marts of the world, and should have more
time for mental improvement.
As early as l776, Washington expert
mented at Mount Vernon; John Adams on
his farm at Quincy; ThOs. Jefferson at
Monticello, and none Of them, even during
the cares of business and responsibilities Of
high stations, ever neglected their farming
interests. 1t is said that Mr.. Jefferson ex-
ercised his mechanical tastes in improving
the mould-boards of plovrs, which he after
wards adapted 10 an improved pillow sent
him by the Agricultural Society, Of the
Seine, in France.
Thus it is shown that from the farmers Of
the land, at least three of those who were
called to preside over the destines Of this
great country we're selected. Their educa-
ton, their habits and their calling eminent
ly fitted them for this high station. We are
satisfied that Jefferson, because of his peace
full occupation, was better fitted TO be the
author of the Declaration Of independence
than he would have been if his mind had
been of that character, and his disposition
such as to have caused him, in early life, 20
adopt the profession of a soldier, or any avo-
cation that would have caused him to be
less charitable toward the erring, or less for
giving to those who would enslave and keep
in subjugation people who were determin-
ed to be free and Independent. At a later
day, we find that Calhoun was a farmer, and
John Randolph, of Roanoke. The mighty
Webster, the farmer of Marshheld, while eE-
pounding the Constitution Of his country,
and holding a senate of mighty minds SPELL
bound by the power Of his intellect, never
neglected his farming interests while labor
ing for the welfare of his country.
Others might be added 10 this list, but
why name any? Are we not well satisfied
that agricultural pursuits require inteill~
gence of the highest order, but that an em-
ployment in its quiet and soothing occupa-
ton is calculated to enlarge the understand
ing, to ennoble the thoughts and feelings
and purify the heart?
The cultivator Of the soil knows when no
places the seed in the ground, that he will
reap for the Creator has said, "day and
night. summer and winter, seed time and
harvest shall never cease" His head and
heart must become better educated by his
reflections concerning the works OF God,
when he deposits in the earth even mus
tard seed which he knows contains all the
elements necessary to cause it TO germluate
and to become plant 80 large that the birds
of the air may rest.upOn it.
His rejecting mind will see sermons ln
stones, sermons in flowers and i'm the pebbles
of the brook, as well as in the manifestations
of Divine power as made known by the pro-
gress Of his growing crops, and the develop
ment Of all that occupies his time and atten-
ton.
Let Young men who attend agricultural
colleges rest assured they viii be as well ht-
ted to occupy high places as any one, ana
NAV. as was the case with CluCinnatus, ana
others, be called upon by the viii Of the peo-
pie to assume other duties yet while they
accept such hOnors as may be conferred, lt
would be well to cling to the field, the forest
and the grove as the places where the purest
endowment, in the cOmpaniouship Of wife
and children, NAV be found, who have, ia
the bloom OF health and robust constitutions
that greatest Of blessings, which a pure at
mosphere, freedom from annoyance and an
honest endeavor to do our duty will gener-
ally insure, and never to covet the life OF
the city with its fashions, its designations
and disappointments I'm
Ietus 50 educate our children that they ~
,,-oyv mn with proper appreciation Of the
5asmties of nature. the Importance Of agri-
culture. and with just and correct idea OF
the dignity and honorable position Of labor
and. while we keep our army Increasing IN
number, let US increase in a corresponding
ratio its discipline and efficiency, admitting