The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-11-26


| ing the value of its products:'' the
time may come-and may God speed
it-when the farmer, the mechanic.
the laborer and the business man.
arm IN. arm. will march up to the
polis and cast the ballot
! Which shall fafl, as silently as fails the
l. snowflake on the sod,
To execute the freeman's will as lightning
4 I does the viii Of God.n
| EDUCATION.
To educate and elevate the Amer
l.ican farmer is the paramount object
of our organization. We have de-
/ clared to the world that we shall adj
/ vance the cause of education among
ourselves and for our children by ali
just means within our power, and
advocate our Industrial Colleges.
that practical agriculture, domestic
science and all the arts which adorn
the home be taught in their courses
of study" 81 t4 80 3
No subject is more closely con-
/ nected with the welfare of agricul-
ture. No other calling or profes
sion requires more close study, deep
| thought or more thorough appli-
cation of the deductions Of science
to its purposes. y
The condition and necessities of
agriculture in this country demand
more technical knowledge among
those who cultivate the soil. The
earth is the great repository of Gods
blessings to man, and its rich and
bounteous products cannot be fully
developed and prepared for his use
and comfort without the aid of edu-
Gated and w ell-directed labor. ZIG
The great problem to be solved in
American agriculture is, how to
produce crops at profit and at the
same time not only maintain but in
crease the fertility Of the soil. This
has been accomplished in some of
the older countries of Europe, and
thu. soil which has been under con
slant cultivation for a thousand
years or more is richer and more
| productive to day than. it was when
it was first reclaimed from the forest
or morass. .,
If similar results are to be obtain
ed in this country, similar means
must be put forth. o.,
There, Agricultural Departments
with Ministers of Agriculture at the
head, model farms for experimental
purposes, stock and dairy farms, ag-
ricultural colleges. schools of physi-
ology and agricultural chemistry,
schools of technology, and farm
schools where the rudiments of ag-
ricultural science are taught, have
| been established and are maintained
by the Government; and agricultu-
raj enquirers are employed and kept
constantly among the farms collect
ing and imparting useful informa-
ton on all subjects relating to the
operations of the farm.
Agricultural and Industrial
Schools in this country are of but
recent origin, and have received but
meagre public support and encour-
agement, while Univers ties and
Colleges, with a course of study and
all the influences surrounding them
literary and professional rather than
practical, have been established, am
ply endowed, and literally support
ed. We have no fault to find with
the liberality shown to these insti-
buttons; but does not the public
good and general prosperity require
that man should be educated for
business and industrial pursuits as
we'll as for professional life1
AS but comparatively few of the
sons and daughters OF farmers can
hope to receive the advantages of
the Agricultural Colleges and must
depend upon the common school for
their educational advantages, should
we not devise some practical meas
ures for carrying out the recommen-
dations of this body, made at its pre-
vious sessions, that "the elements of
scientific agriculture be taught in
our common schools.?" @
Perhaps no other country in the
world places higher estimate upon
the value of a prosperous agriculture
for increasing the nations wealth
and the general prosperity of the
people than France, and in addition
to all the encouragements and aid
already given to her agriculture by
the Government, measures are now
being inaugurated to introduce the
Elements of Agricultural Science"
into all the common schools in that
country. Shall we be behind the
young Republic in this movement?
These questions are important and
should not be overlooked in your
deliberations.
/ na LECTURERS DOCUMENTS.
The action of the National Grange
in req uiring the National Lecturer
to prepare and send quarterly to the
Masters of Subordinate Oranges
and the Grange press a programme
of literary exercises. social recrea-
ton, and a comprehensive list OF
topics suitable for discussion in
Grange meetings, has been faithfully
carried out by that officer, and all
who have examined these documents
cannot fail to be impressed with the
good judgment, taste and ability ex
hihited in DreDarino and arran0iuo