Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-05-27

mankind is man, and it seems to me that a prac-
teal education with the study Of anatomy phys
OlOgy and the laws of health left out would he
sadly cient. so let all the children in our com
mon schools have as much training in these i'm
pOrtant branches as II is practicable to give them.
Let them come up with habits Of correct living,
free from the use of the so-Called stimulants and
narcotics. Let the physical powers be cultivated
in connection with the mental so that sound
minds may be furnished with the best Of dwelling
places sound bodies The science of geology. So
far as it may assist in determining the origin and
nature of soils the formation Of rocks, the loca-
tion of subterranean water courses etc would
be- interesting and IN some degree practical il com
priSed in the farmers education Chemistry. as
applied to agriculture. especially should not b.
neglected, and botany should be studied to tn
extent of acquiring the ability To analyze flowers
and ascertain the names and nature or medicinal
properties of all the plants shrubs and trees Of
our locality. The study Of microscopic fungi
might result in discoveries Of blights Of various
kinds and suggest remedies that would save the
farmer many dollars The science of entomology
should also claim attention, for the insect world
contains both friends and enemies that swarm in
the farmers fields garden, and orchard and he
should know which to protect and which to de
stfoy The elements of agriculture or agriCu
tural science should be included in the course of
study in the farmers school. chapter on dis
eases of farm animals and their remedies should
be- found in the proper text book. Sufficient in
structiOn should be given with object lessons at
some time during the course in school of
every girl and boy. in the art of cooking and
general housekeeping. Dairying especially should
be embraced i'm the Vermont farmer practical ed
ucation. would like to see manual training in
rOduced wherever possible in our common
schools for il is # great practical value to the
/ farmer to know how to use the tools of different
trades, not that he should be expected to be pro
tcient to that degree that he could manufacture
everything he might need. but that he could ~
pair breakagts and thus valuable time that
otherwise would have to be- taken to 20 to the dis
tant repair shop. The manual training that
should be furnished in connection with our public.
schools would in many cases serve to point out to
the young student the occupation best suited 10
his or her tastes and natural capacity How oft
en- do We find people who quite unsuitpd 70
the occupation they seem compelled to follow
They are like square pins IN round holes and can
. not make a success ia life. when if their elucn
ton had been what it should have been they
would have found cougenial occupations in which
they could have achieved fair degree of Success.
Thus have eudeavored to give YOU briefly some
of my ideas as to what should be embraced in a
practical education for the farmer. Have !
laid out too much work. Does the task look
discouragiug, ] am aware that all cannot oh
tain so liberal au education. vet ! believe that
the coming generation of farmers will need 10 all
aud more, and that should do what can to
provide the means for H. requirement Farmers
i'm common with the rest of mankind. labor in the
pursuit Of happiness, and know Of no way by
which they can hopr 70 attain II except 10y thu
proper culture and expansion OF their minds
/ thereby Increasing their CAPACITY for endowment
well as those that arr to follow the order of
Patrons of HuSbandry is ready and efficient
From an experience and observation covering "a
period of l. years am fully satisfied that every
earnest. active member is benefited much more.
/ m the way OF practical education than can be
estimated 10y the actual dollars and cents il has
/ cost MIN. am also convinced that every such
member Receives in consequence more every year
of that happiness for which all ara striving than
can br called an equivalent for the outlay he is
made 20 sustain by reason Oi his membership
mend every farmer with his family 10 join the
grange