The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-02-16
The teachings Of Agriculture in the
Public Schools.

The teachings Of Agriculture in the
Public Schools.
Extract from paper read by Prof. W.
II. Magruder, of the A. aud NJ. College of
Mississippi, before the State Teachers As
ISOLATION, which assembled at jackson,
December, 1888. Prot. Magruder is the
father of Mr.. A. G. Magruder of the West
Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. ]
After speaking of the Importance
Of agriculture, and stating that "of
all the industries this alone claims
the whole world as it's workshop, the
habitable globe as it's market place,
and mankind as it's customers" he
proceeded as follows:
But however necessary a practical
knowledge of agriculture may be to
the majority Of our population, there
is, objects one, very large minority,
almost one-half the people of the
world, who do not support themselves
by this industry; and our objector
goes on to say that nothing should
be taught in the common schools Of
the State that cannot be utilized in
some fashion by every child, male
and female. To answer this obiec-
ton, l would say that the family is
the unity of American Government,
Of American civilization, and that
every boy and girl hopes some day
to make happy home for loved
ones. Now, every one, whether a
dweller in city, village, or country,
needs to know something of agricul-
ture in order to make a pleasant
home If it be only the little plot of
ground in front of the house, it needs
to be made beautiful by blushing
flowers and twining vines. If a
larger area allow the home a garden
and orchard, the opportunity for
utilizing the knowledge that should
be obtained from a proper teaching
of agriculture is widened, and this
knowledge is rendered much more
valuable to the possessor. | heard
an alumnus of the A. and NJ. College,
who is now a minister, say, not long
ago, that he would not, for any con-
sideration in reason, part with his
knowledge of how to make comfort
able home, derived from the instruc-
ton in agriculture, horticulture and
the rearing of stock given at our
College.
Just here / wish to make this sug-
gestion: The tendency of the pres
ent, especially in our State, is away
from the farm. The girl or boy of
bright mind desires to crafty the
instinct for. intellectual activity. I'm
der our present teachings, the farm
is considered the last place in the
world for such activity, when, in
fact, it is the widest and least ex-
plored of the scientific fields of the
age. Only few evenings ago L
heard young lady say, Il would
not marry farmer under any cir
cumstances. Now, if this tendency
to leave the farm is not counteract-
ed, what is to become of the other
callings? In 1S00-just eighty eight
years ago-only three per cent of our
population lived in towns. In 1880,
the town-dwellers had increased to
twenty two per cent of the country's
population. If this rate of increase
continues, what will become of the
country districtsp 1t is out of the
question for everybody to live in
town. Indeed, the prosperity OF
every calling depends upon this in
dustry, and we must find some meth
cd, for our own sakes, of counterfeit
ing the tendency to leave the farm.
l said ''for our own sakes." What
proprietor of private school in this
assembly does not realize that short
crops mean decreased attendance OF
pupils, and large crops as invariably
mean increased attendance upon the
exercises of his school? In long
experience as proprietor Of private
academy, l found the attendance Of
pupils one of the most sensitive tests
of the financial condition of the com.
munity.
But there is a graver question yet
to be considered. Let us turn tc
the table of statistics compiled fol
the census of 1860 and for that OF
1880, and see what lesson is taught
by comparison of the two, and ask
ourselves why this state of things
exists. First, / select State Of South
Carolina, because she is typica
State-at least for the Southland
because her State superintendent O
the census for 1860 and for 1880 have
been more systematic in their work
than the superintendent in othel
Southern States, and their statistics
are mere readily available. In 1861
the agricultural products of this
State were $45,000,000 in value, ant
the products of all other industries
amounted to $S,5O0,000 only. Ii
1880, her agricultural products hat
not increased, remaining at $45, 900,
900 in value; while the products O
all other industries amounted to tn,
sum of $55,000,0O0. Meantime il
these twenty years the population
had increased % per cent. Thes
figures, translated into simple
statement of facts, mean that agri
cultural production had refrigerated
in proportion to the population 2.
per cent, while other industrial call
ings had increased the value of thei
products nearly or quite 600 pc
cent. in twenty years. Let us nov
look at the nation at large. In 1856
one-half the population of the Unite'
States were farmers and they owne,
one-half the property of the nation
buf IN 1900 ALA ono n IF ~, n ,~<,x,,,