Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-25
Educate for Usefulness
Western wis Farmer.

EuuCdlt lUT OstlulDcSS.
Western wis., Farmer
Under this head the WESTERN FARM
Err few weeks since gave some useful
suggestions on the education Of our
young men, urging the application of
science to agriculture and mechanics.
Farming, as all must allow, necessi-
tates continued and active muscular
labor; the old adage, "He who by the
pillow would thrive must either hold
himself or drive" is too true to be
overlooked, but this is by no means the
only requisite for success. Muscle and
close application have been the foun-
dations Of many hard earned compe-
tency.
The tide of emigration, now flowing
from all European nationalities, is Civ
ing to America the bone and sinew
that is to bring life out of the soil of
our vast territories. And to give q
proper direction to labor, skill and sci
ence have combined to produce fruits,
grains. etc, and all the finer and
higher grades of animals. In fact, the
very distinctive changes wrought from
the wild potato, the scrubby pony of
the wilderness, the native prairie
rooter, were but the foundations from
which science ard culture have devel-
oped the noble specimens that distin-
guish our present excellence,--yet not
perfection.
The past fifty years have revolution
lied the whole productions of agricul-
ture as from barbarism to the high
grade of civilization already reached
1t is as a second nature for Americans
to work for profit, and the most sue
cessful agriculturists and stock-raisers
to whom we are indebted for our i'm
provements are counted the lucky
ones. Those who kaow how to bring
out the effects can dictate prices for
their fancy stock and their improved
varieties of fruits, grains, etc.
For the very purpose OF developing
such improvements and raising the
standard of our various productions,
the agricultural departments of our
colleges are organized. With the pub
lie appropriations, opportunities and
advantages are offered to furnish the
science and skill that shall give direc-
ton and control to the vast amount of
muscle and sinew that is to do our
work in the future. An overseer of
work, in which he is master,
can command the earnings OF
q score of unintelligent laborers
with skill and foresight, he is in a po-
stion to reap the benefits OF his dis
cernment and observation.
Farmers of Wisconsin! do not sup
pose that college education is only for
professionals. Give your sons AZ chance
at the higher grades of your own noble
calling, and yourselves the advantages
for instructing them through the boun-
ties Of our state and nation so literally
furnished; that they may help to raise
agriculture, the great source of our
national wealth, to the standard of
highest excellence and profit. May
we not yet return to Europe stock and
grains of still higher grade than the
fabulous prices we have paid them in
the past?
| The fact that SO large a portion Of
| the labor coming to us from foreign
shores is not OF the most intelligent and
educated order, opens n greater field
for profit for our own citizens, who car
| control it III their interest and oui
country's prosperity. The skill of oul
farm machinery is doing half OF the
hand labor of fifty years ago. Look
around and you find here and there 8
leading farmer coming money by pro
ducing new varieties of crops, or better
grades of animals, and getting fancy
prices for them. Such men are count
ed shrewd; their secret consists of jus
such kno,cledge as is impaired by oul
agricultural schools, even sometimes
picked up second hand. The machin
cry upon which their success depends
is knowledge stored in the brain, witt
discretion to apply 1t as occasion of
ters, and the Improvements developed
from time to time are but the protic
tons of its work.
You buy varieties of machinery fol
farm work; give your sons the key
that will unlock to them the why anC
wherefore-the cause of this and tina
which produces these results. Sucf
machinery must regulate the mass o
I intelligent labor now seeking employ
ment on our vast fields of industry, auC
develone our extensive resources.
Let this department of our STATE
University he filled with our sons VIII,
aim at profit and utility, and help rails,
our industries above the mere waste o
tissue and muscle to the most intelli
gent standard of agricultural greatness
Because young man seeks a hlghel
education than is taught in our publ,
. schools; we must not suppose he IL
unfit for anything but "the professions
in which thousands are struggling al
J most against hope for profitable EN-
ploynent.