The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-12
More Educated Farmers.

The educated farmer possesses the same
advantage over the uneducated farmer that
the educated lawyer or doctor possesses
over the uneducated lawyer or doctor, says
J. L. Berson in the Southern CuLtiUdtor;
and one might as well expect to succeed
practicing medicine without having first
attended medical lectures as to expect to
succeed at farming without first posting
himself with regard to the nature and COM
position of soils; the nature, composition
and habits of plants, and the manner in
which the plants absorb and assimilate
their food. 1t is not absolutely necessary
to success at farming that one should have
a collegiate education; neither is it in law,
medicine, or pharmacy, but in each case it
is much better. liberal education, how
ever, will aid the farmer in analysing soils,
fertilizers and farm products; in terracing,
draining and building; and in gaining gen.
eral farming information by scientific in
VeStigation and experiments. Every boy
who has chosen farming as his hfe-work
should make strenuous efforts to attend
some first-class scientific or agricultural
college, and after his education is complete
stick to the profession he has chosen.
My young friends, it is lament able fact
hatnearly every young ma when his edu-
cation is completed, chooses law, medi-
cine, trade, or some other avocation than
farming-one in which he thinks there is
more honor %, more money, and less hard,
dirty work. Such young men say they
would like to farm, but they cannot stand
the name of being sarmer; that the farm
erS are poor, overworked and ignorant as a
class of people. Now, that there is much
truth in this no one can deny still, where is
the faultl 1t is with the farmer, the young
man and the government. The farmers
iault lies in his want of industry, economy
and care; young mans in his lack of
moral courage to take hold of and try to
elevate one of the noblest professions on
earth; and the governments in not giving
enough of equal and fair legislation. What
we want is to make our beautiful southern
cline blossom like rose and send out its
perfume sweet and rare until it reaches the
oltactories of the whole world, and this re-
quires more educated farmers.
Men in many other professions are In
clned to sheer at the farmer and his pro-
lesion; yet. how was it before the war,
Wnen it Was the farmers that were educatedf
Where was the refinement, the intelligence
and the best societyi Was it not on the
Plantationl 1t seems strange now. Where
was the money thenl Was it all in the towns
IN the hands of a few spectators and ex-
tortionersl No indeed.
Let US try TO educate ourselves, my young
friends, so that we may be better able TO
combat successfully the innumerable diff
calties that beset our pathway. How are
We TO do thisl Our fathers are poor and
cur school opportunities are not the best.
Inc odds seem against us, but l am pre-
pared to say that any boy with ordinary
opllity and under ordinary circumstances
can by industry, economy and persever-
a.ce acquire liberal, if not a collegiate
education. First, plant firm resolution
mat you will obtain an education. 1t would
re utterly impossible for me TO tell you
Just how to proceed, still viii give you a
OriSi outline: Begin early to read and