The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-01-15

AND USEFUL INFORMATION.
Keeping Boys on the Farm.

At least once year every agri-
cultural paper in the country con
talns leading article on the above
subject. Speakers at agricultural
fairs seldom miss an opportunity to
advise the boys to stick to the farm.
Directions are often given to farm
ers ABOUT the best methods ofkeep-
ing the boys away from towns and
cities, They are ordinarily in
formed that if boys have some of
the advantages of city life they
will be content to remain on the
farm. They are accordingly adj
vised to send them to high schools
that they may become highly in
telligent. They are also recon-
mended to furnish their hous-
es with libraries, paintings and 9th
er works of art. In case a boy
shows positive dislike to farming,
his father is advised to send him to
an agricultural college that he may
acquire an artificial taste for the
production of plants and animals.
Now, common observation shows
that boys ''stick'' best to farms
which exhibit fewest marks of i'm
provemert of any sort. They rare
ly forsake those farm houses in
which there are few books and no
paintings. 1t is the boy who was
brought up on q highly improved
farm, who lived in a genteel fur
nished house, and who enjoyed the
benefits OF high school who most
frequently desires to forsake coun-
try life tor life in great city. The
statistics of agricultural colleges
show that very few of the boys who
attend them ever become farmers.
At least, they do not return to the
farm from the college. Late in life
they may engage in agriculture,
horticultural and stock raising for
the taste of these pursuits is likely
to develop as one approaches old
age. When they grad uate, how
ever, they are likely to seek posi-
tions in cities and to prefer intel
lectual employment to manual la
Dor. 1t is extremely doubtful
any amount of encourage
ment will attach a boy to farm
who has strong desire to leave it.
Reading many books, attending
high schools and travelling in differ
eat parts OF the country will, in
most cases, serve to make him more
restless and uneasy. Even instruc-
,'on in an agricultural college will ,
not essentially change his tastes or I
fP6IrPG ln6oaH a n
hat it will render him still more dis.
with life on the farm and
With agricultural pursuits, by pre-
enting TO his mind a knowledge of
)ther affairs. :
If boy Is dissatisfied with farm I
ng it is generally because he has a /
aste for some other pursuit. This i
icing the case it will ordinarily be
he part of wisdom to allow him TO
ollOw his own inclination in re- a
pect to the choice Of an occupation.
The great trouble with farming o
q this country is that so many per- e
ons engage in it against their own e
lstes and inclinatIons. They are d
ept at work on farms until they "
re too old To learn any other BUSH t
ess. If you talk with an unsuc .
esslul farmer you will often find
lat he was encouraged to stick
} the farm" when he was young,
Rough he had strong desire to be
machinist. engineer, or sailor.
Re are Cltcn informed that many a
Ood farmer was spoiled by the at
,mpt to make preacher. Now it
also true that many good mer-
lant, doctor, editor, surveyor, or
"a captain was spoiled by the at :
,mpt to make a farmer of him. 7
here are as many men out of place
q farms as in other positions. :
hey are generally persons who
ere encouraged to adopt or remain
an occupation they did not like.
heir want of success is owing to
lie fact that they did not engage in =
,me other business.