The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-29
Educating the Farmer.

If it is an advantage to the physician,
or the lawyer, or the minister. to re-
ceiye instruction in the principles and
knowledge pertaining to their several
professions, then it Is none the less ad-
vantageous to the farmer to be instructed
in the principles of agricultural science.
Agriculture is one of the most difficult
sciences. 1t is made up of several sub
ordinate sciences, and an understand
ing of its principles requires an ac-
quaintance with chemistry, botany,
zoology, 2ud several other sciences
The soil is a vast laboratory in which
the most complex chemical transforma-
tons are going forward, and it is for
the farmer to understand, direct. re-
tard or hasten those changes, and thus
promote the growth of the plants he
cultivates The successful farmer must
not only be acquainted with the science
of agriculture, but must also know
how to apply that knowledge in the
practice of the art of agriculture. 1t is
true man will succeed fairly well as
farmer who only understands the art of
agriculture, but a knowledge of the sci
ence is needed in order to furnish gen
eral principles upon which to practice
the art and make progress in improve
ment. Tie man who only knows the
practical part of agriculture does not
understand the why and wherefore. and
will not be able to vary his operations
to meet the changed conditions which
are continually arising. His Success in
farming will be more of the "lucky" or
der, instead of resting on any substan-
tial basis. The scientific agriculturist
will be able to surmount all obstacles
and ensure success.
Our most successful and most pros
porous farmers are those who have the
best understanding of their business.
Many of these men do not claim to be
educated men. They never received,
while at school, DAVIS instruction in
agriculture, but they have been close
students of the science since they be-
gan farming. They are keen observers,
they learn from experience, from ma
ture, and from the operations OF others;
they read the best agricultural books:
they attend the agricultural meetings
and participate in the discussions, or
listen attentively to what others say.
In all those WAYS they have been edu-
eating themselves, and BY dint of close
application, have supplied in part the
lack of early instruction in agriculture.
The means by which the farmers of
to-day have educated themselves will
continue to be made use of more freely
than ever before, and the advance in
agriculture Will continue to 90 on. But
is there no better way to educate the
rising generation of farmers than the
hard way in which their fathers have
educated themselves? Could not the
common school, which is the seminary
in which the mass of our people finish
their education, give those who are to
be farmers an education in the elements
of that agriculture by which they are to
win livelihood? But it NAV be said
that already there are too many studies
in orr common schools. and that the
children are already being ruined by
having 20 study too much That is un-
doubtedly true, but much of what Is
studied IS of less practical value than
many other branches that are not
studied. For instance, arithmetic is
studied term after term year after wear,
until a series of three or four arith-
metics have been mastered. and then
perhaps two or three algebras and
geometries viii be equally As diligently
studied. Yet after having spent all this
time IN Studying mathematics. all that
VIII ever be used in after life BY nine
tenths of the pupils viii be comprise
within the four fundamental rules. and
the rule of interest Geography is an
other study upon which much tine IS
spent unnecessarily. Term after term
is spent in learning mass of detail
about different countries, the most of
which Is never thought of after leaving
school Grammar is a study upon which
much time is spent, and oftentimes the
pupil after all, knows very little about |
IT. Many pupils find time to spend a
few terms of study upon Latin or Greek. |
which, to the most of them. will be of |
no use whatever. Now. it seems as
though that By cutting down the studies /
now pursued to-what their importance |
and practical value would seem to re-
quire, there would be ample space OBJ
tanned for studies which would be of |
more practical use in sitter life.-New
EBgiasd FGrnler.