Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-03-25
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
AT HOME.

u way Va ScttiuR q koou
agricultural education without going
to an agricultural college. Farms arc
schools. They are the best Of all
schools in which TO learn much that
concerns farming. They are the only
schools worth naming, so far as ac-
quiring knowledge of some things con-
nected with farming is concerned:
Teaching by object lessons is effective.
The things we see. especially the things
we do, are better remembered and
better understood than are the things
We hear or read about The best of all
places at which to learn the practice
of farming is q good farm. The stu
dent at such a school will almost GER
tainly learn many useful facts and
acquire more or less skill. He may or
may not learn principles. He ought
to learn how to use his hands readily
and we'll.
Farmers are teachers. Any boy with
common sense who lives on a farm
must learn something about farming.
Any fairly bright boy allowed to sit in
a school-room for q term or a year,
must learn something. Each will learn
faster and better if guided bya teacher.
1t is the duty and ought to be the
privilege of every farmer who has sons
with HIM to be their daily teacher
not alone by his practice, important as
this is, but by direct teaching. The
eye should be taught to observe care
fully; the hand to work wisely, as well
as steadily; the ear should be made of
use in learning about farming. Talk
ing about his business, by the farmer,
should be daily made a mean of teach
ing his sons. 1t is not enough simply
to tell what to do, simply to answer
questions. The questions should be
encouraged or drawn out When
known, the reasons for doing such
things should be given. 1t will rarely
do harm to confess ignorance Of such
reasons Talking in public-in the
farmers club or grange, or in a farm
ers' convention. by intelligent farmers,
is q means of teaching of which they
do not do enough. Unfortunately IL
often happens that when such talking
is done by them the young men and
boys have not even been asked to be
present. Young farmers need the club
and grange more than do their fathers,
vet at many agricultural meetings the
attendance is almost entirely Of those
who have reached middle life.
For ten years past it has been my
privilege to give instruction in agricul-
ture to classes of young men and boys,
mainly fresh from the farms. Striking
differences have been noticeable in
them as to their knowledge Of the busi-
ness with which they have been con-
nected all their lives. Many of them
! have had good training in the ordinary
practice; but the large majority have
= shown little evidence Of training in
= habits of careful observation, or in
: acquiring intelligence about farming.
Most have read very little about farm
4 matters. Reading is one of the very
best means of acquiring an education
T at home; and reading about farming
may be made as profitable to the young
farmer as reading about almost any
thing else. No II cam, from his own
= experience, learn all that is known
Q about farming. We do wisely to get
the experience of others, and often
times We can only get much of this by
> reading.
, A good agricultural paper is the
l cheapest, most convenient, and most
readily effective means through which
!. any farmer, young or old, a gain
information concerning many points IN
J, agriculture. and keep himself well
posted concerning agricultural news.
v Inducing farmers boys to read such q
v paper is one of the most effective
j. modes of exciting or increasing theii
Il interest in farming affairs. As educa'
II tors of young farmers those paper'
which give some explanation of ele
mentary principles. much attention q
practical details. aud careful sum
marics OF current agricultural pro
N grcss-discoveries. experiment, etc.
,e are most valuable. There are NOR,
ID goo papers of this kind than ever be
Sc fore. and they are low priced.
d. choice can be had between those whicI
ny cover a wide field, or most exceiien
ones devoted to some one line of agrl
cultural work, as live stock. Some O
the great news or political papers Civ
much of valuable matter about farm
as ing. There is reed of care in selection
Much of little value is written. just q
.er much of little value is talked.
or Agricultural books, as a class. M
little valued by the mass OF farmer
it'll Probably not one farmers boy In
hundred has ever carefully read eve
rk one book on an agricultural snbiec
But some of these books are valuabl
~. Not SO low-priced In proportion
ck quantity of reading ms are periodical
many Of them have been written wit
-. care and have a permanent valu
,i. There is room for criticism OF many
them, but with care in selection agl
49, cultural books can be made importa
wv helps in getting an agricultural educ
ton at home. There are two or thr
Is very creditaUle American books In 3
rms nature OF cyelopcdias of agricultur
well worth all they cost, and contai
for- ing much of interest, oven to !
Young. There Is, also, a good numb
, Is OF excellent books on specific subjec
,,i<i and these are often read with great
nd interest than those with greater rams
81 IL A Young man gets interested
~horse-brccdipg,. iairying. ensilaj
at drainage, etc. he will need little urgi
ali TO read hand-books on these subieo
pey Small books giving trustworthy
struction in the elementary prlncip
God of agriculture a be had, and
and strongly commend their study 10
telligent young farmers who have
-,rk had the opportunity to get . IS
nil. training In such sciences n hota
and chemistry. but vino have 30
Ill ambition to understand something
ea the processes going on In farm wor
III in tiiling the soil, the growth OF pia
wv" and animals, etc. None OF these no
,, are designed for. or will be of value
IL " little children, nor. indeed. TO any
not willing to give them careful re
~ ing.
VICE A thoughtful farm boy OF ~ OF
VVs- with a fair common-school educs'
q IN can learn very much of interest
the value by giving bis evenings 10
but month 10 such little books as Tho
sons .'Scieucc in Farming OF v
" re- ripgton's Chemistry OF the Far
de- Iuese each a lie had for III.
there were much demand Tor Z
> Ne they ought % 10 cost mors than
10 to this. Following the stniy oil on
these Masters pant Life on
Colo Farm might be read. although
more not count il 30 valuable rs the oil
r fJr- for this purpose. For Ha"te MS
r a. minds, with some training IN cal
reading. | know of nothiag supeti
n;r.1 Prof. Johnsou's How Crops III
t.aa. and How Crops Feed
mil. should be giad IL some hind
or thousands OF those who expect
-, farmers would set themselves to
Co., 10 soms'hshs % .sSve. sor
..u future calling. The time sal cert