Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-07-21
AGRICULTURAL.
A Farmers Education.


We would start our college with a
ypresident-not a cadaverous literary
ell.skiu, who has spent the best years
of his life in noting 6ne discrlmlna-
lions in the various meanings OF the
Greek particles, but stalwart, active
man, the full master Of allthe arts and
sciences spoken of as necessary for the
instruction of cur swarm of young
farmers. He should be young man
himself, full of enthusiasm, whose
busy life should include every detail
of management on this farm OF, say,
five hundred acres, inspiring and d.
recting it's schools, laboratories and
workshops as we'll as the labors of the
farm and garden. He should be as
sisted by a professor Of the English
language and literature, by a profess
sor of mathematics, a professor Of &C.
.oligy and mineralogy, professor OF
chemistry, veterinarian such as
Youatt, a professor Of physical culture
and gymnastics, machinist and a
horticulturist. With class of twen-
ty.fye lads in their fourteenth year
we would start, and then with five
hours of labor in the open field and
FIVE hours Of study, with two hours OF
gymnasium work, with twelve hours
for eating, sleeping and amusement,
with perfect hygienic arrangements,
the dormitories being so arranged as
TO exclude rain and snow, only the
air having full access at all times, all
s,imulants, including tea, coffee alco-
hol and tobacco, not being allowed
on the premises because nervous de-
preston follows nervous eXaltatlon,
besides, they interfere with digestion
and it destroys profound sleep. We
should cultivate the farm grow crops
and raise farmers at the same time.
The milk, butter and cheese from our
dairy should 60 to market and estab-
lish its reputation A. No. l. Our fruits
of all kinds and vegetables should fol-
low as soon as we could get them
started. In addition We should grow
enough Of the cereals and grasses to
feed our stock, preferring rather to
buy feed than fertilizers, though we
should use them freely when circum-
stances required it and it was protta-
BILE to do 80. At the end of our first
year, with our routine and discipline
thoroughly established, our first class
would become sophomores ana twen'
tv-6ye freshmen would be admitted,
and 80 on for the third and fourth
year, when our numbers would be full.
At the end of our fourth year we
should graduate our first class OF
twenty-five thoroughly accomplished
farmers, perfect in physique, longing
to grapple with the problems of llfe'
perfect in the art of farming, familiar
with all that had been written on the
subject, able themselves TO write on
any topic and give results OF actual
practice, thoroughly accomplished IN
all the sciences relating to agriculture
veil versed in English literature,
skilled in mathematics, uprlght IN
morals, economical and temperate IN
their habits. Such men would be Or
naments to society, would be able by
their skill and labor, in this country
of cheap lands, soon to purchase a
farm and establish themselves. This
is Just the kind of agriculturlsts we
need to renovate our WORKOUT soils,
to dignity our profession, and to place
country first in the list of nations.
IAN institution such as is here
sketched is entirely practicable, and
would prove blessing to our State
Eds. A. F.
Tim EAn