Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-07-24
Educat1o. Of the Farmer.

Every person wishing to be q good
farmer should be educated. The we'll
management of the farm requires q
knowledge of the sciences and informa-
ton relative to the advancing discov-
! cries that are made. Agricultr has
not kept pace with the improvement of
other useful arts. Not one person in
the mechanical or manufacturing arts
of this day follows the course of his
ancestors; neither can he in agriculture,
chemistry, geology, mineralogy aud
meteoroloRy. All have direct in
huence on the farmer, and he should
have some knowledge of them which
will enable him to excel in management,
besides gaining the satisfaction that
knowledge imparts to those who seek
it.
The farmer has the means of improv-
ing his taste for study and observation
abundantly more, perhaps, than any
other workingman. His range of duties
carries him over many of the sciences,
whether he knows it or not; and if he
learns few Of the leading principles
each day he will add to his store till he
has mass of information ready to be
applied when needed. How many of
the farmers of the present day can tell
why plaster (sulphate of lime) is fer
tilizer, or the influence ammonia, car
bonic acid, oxygen, nitrogen and other
gases exert on plants; of the phosphates,
carbonates and other salts with which
science has enriched the farmer? Yet
knowledge of these is essential to
make skillful agriculturist, which
every farmer should strive to become
As rule it is servile toll with the
farmer The silver path of life, all
worth living for, is blank, and from
youth to age the same monotonous
routine is followed. Springs work,
sugaring, haying, harvesting, fall plow-
Ing, etc. 1t is but o short time between
fal! and spring that the farmer has the
slightest relief from hard work. He
has no time to read or study. He has
no time to form taste for anything,
and book learning" he considers worse
than useless. In some respects he is
right. If he has no natural ability to
go with book learning it is of no more
used to the farmer than it is to any one
else without brain. Book learning is
waste matter" in any occupation OF
life unless there is something else to
put with it, and if the farmer has that
something" he will find "book learn
ing" paying investment. To the
average farmer stretch of green
meadow is so much land" field OF
waving grain is so many bushels oi
wheat; the sunrise, that many would &C
miles to view, only tells him it is day
and time to begin work, and the sunse
tells him that his work is done. HI
has no time to note the beauties o
nature in the midst of which he lives
the woods and fields aud flowers pre-
sent no picture to his eye, and
A primrose by n rivers brim,
A yellow primrose is to him
And 1t is nothing more.
Education gives the farmer apprecia
tion of that which makes the bette
part of his surroundings. Education
helps the farmer to realize some of tn
profits from his hard work which h
thinks go to some one else. A farme
does not need to plod more than an,
other business man, and he has just a
good an opportunity to make something
of himself and his family.
Farm work is called drudgery. Tber,
is drudgery in every kind of work ant
in every profession. When farmer
realize that they are not cattle, and in
stead of giving their stock good hous
and living in barn, change places will
their stock, they would find there woult
be less drudgery.
The farmers compose the great bod.
of our population, and the infuenc
they exert ought to be all-powerful
They control the destiny of the republi
and give stamp to the national character
and, of all classes, should be educated
enlightened and advanced, and tn
farmer should be able to take his plac
beside the learned and great. H
should have freedom of thought an,
q knowledge of his duties qualifying
him to take his stand in the world an,
keep it, making him honored and &C
complished; and if happiness is to b
found in this world it will be among hi
rural cares and his rural duties.
4lba7lu Journal