Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1880-09-30

ieeps lively an interest in agriculture every
where. The trained observer and reasoner,
who brings warm sympatIlies into any
branch of farming. finds his chief advantage
not SO much in superior information direct
ly, as in the ability gained to use experience
to advantage. The Information is neces-
saly as help to experience, not AS a SUBJ
stItute. The truly educated iarner, like the
educated physician, is enabled to reason |
for himself in the practical questions of his |
calling 50 rs to advance With every addition
OF experience. The drilled artisan without
such education follows his routine fairly,
but is Ielt bcEtind with every advance in his
art.
Tile assumption that this broader eCluca-
ton einpts away from lhe practical urt, is
not we'll founded. While II j, true that the
usual college education il seldom Dnt To use
in farming Or any other Hrl, il is because
the DRIFT OF feeling through the course has
been to other kinds OF labor, than because
such training units tor -urh work. when
the newly developed ingenuity is rightly
turned III daily surroundings and labors, ii
finds no field more encouraging to its exer-
else. Fhis is proved by the history Of agri-
culture and horti allure during the last
fifty Years. But I'll; j. sill better established
and ilIu5 trHted by he rNperenea OF a few
Institutions whose course has been consist
emily maintained III the direction Indicated
I,y-t .tc al,
est established in }Ni% way, is The Michigan
Agricultural College. Opened il 1857, it
had its early experiments in leng course
and sAort course, III General discipline aud
technical drll bat sOoA settled into Il four
years course ot real study, associated with
daily drill ia practical affairs and constantly
increasing Illustrations Of experimental ag-
ricu!lure. HE re>uits are worthy Of study.
While he intellectual training has been
more and more complete trt''n year 10 year.
the tendency To use This trained Intelligence
directly for agriculture has increased also.
1t is not 50 generally known rs it ought to
be, that nnrr ttNn fifty per cent. of its
graduates are tI'r&yt'y engaged in hgricul-
tural pursuit. and less tilAn twenty per cent.
are IN the 50 called! lr sies~ions while hun
drels Of It's students have gore ont without
degree. to 4, definite success in practical
farming and wider influence in its promo
ton. on acc ,uIr ut tuyi. brier intellectual
training.
In spite u1 the iatt iiIit farming demands
more cuptel i'll !itG DeGiiling than any OF
~, his oh
stacle. Such ii bcut is given throughout
the course IA, leads to lifelong interest, even
when the Way IN It's pursuit is closed. The
only nillistei. among lis 100 graduates was
long the pl,it!s'ut ol notable farmers
club, Ail&s las hept his pen 1T work in agrl-
cultural interests. y few lawyers among
its graduates are widely known for their
interest in agricultural growth and educa-
ton. The e;,tin4 agricultural papers OF
the country ,iraW trDin this fountain, and
itsinllnence is being felt in ntany State in
stitutens of less experience. In spite OF
keeuv>i 'oc;I opposition, the Agricultural
Colleges ol Mississippi ant Texas have
fuunA il wise 10 ioIo, other similar institls-
tons il, t"hiu@ professors from among the
graduates Of ltc Michigan College.
Tli~ is no lr4 tor the cole e, since it
needs done but it is a plea tor thorough
e,uc.liun. l,ut only in but with agriculture
and >nlil#r arts. that one who takes such q
course ta.l1 t.el himself the equal of other
educated men, While his powers are exerted
in the teid nearest his thoughts. The tie