The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-03-28
Farmers Educate Yourselves.

Farmers Educate Yourselves.
1t is ONLY in recent years that science has
come to the aid of agriculture. InTty
wears ago there was not a college or school
within the United States devoted especially
to the education of young men on the appii-
cation of the sciences to farming. III useu
to he thought that the dullard of family
should be put to farming while the bright
ambitious fellow should be prepared for the
so-called learned professions. 1t Is auile
true that our colleges graduated many
young men in Greek and Latin. metaphys-
les. in mathematics. chemistry ana natural
philosophy who were expected TO follow
''planting'-the name by which farming
was thought to be dignifed in the days be
fore the war" But it is Il fact that the col
lege graduate and prospective farmer. or
planter Of thrty-odd years ago was bat
little better prepared by his college training
TO carry on the business of farming than
his nrother who had remained at home and
got all the education that was to be had at
the crossroads county schoohouse. In
deed. the boy who went to college learned
81 little that would prepare him for success
full farming and lost SO much time from
the practical routine of farm life by being
absent from the farm home that he was re
ally at a disadvantage, compared with his
stay-at-home brother. and all his DOCK
hearing was considered useless so far as
successful farming was concerned, 1t was
not intended or expected that his college
education would make him better farmer.
The overseer or the foreman was expected
to DO the planting. There were few max
ims great number of practical details OF
work, theories about planting. tlme Of plant
ing high beds and lew beds. hill and drill
deep and shallow culture. No two planters
agreed i'll more than half these questions or
practice. and the majority of these details
were of very little importance. The gener-
al idea and practice WAS to cut down the
timber and burn it up. build high fences.
wear out the land. then clear more and
finally to sell out and go further west.
But the times have greatly changed as
well as the conditions. In the mad struG-
gle to get rich the great middle class which
includes the farmers of the country.
realize that it Is all they can do 10 mold
their own. Indeed they have lost their
grip and are falling to the rear OF the pro
cesSion. We do not stop here TO inquire
into all the causes of this decadence. but
wish only to make the point that the farm
ers must awaken to the Importance OF
studying the very foundation principles of
their calling. Every farmer who can read
should become a student. lie should sub
scribe Tor lOufl3IS tHaI are puDHSHCu ioT
his especial benefit. There is much TO be
learned from reading the right books.
Agricultural literature is becoming album
dant and cheap enough to be within the
reach of the poorest farmer who Is able to
buv ANYTHING The boy who has had the
run of the ordinary country schools and
has learned only the rudiments of an
English education must betake himself TO
his books and Journals and form the hab-
it Of reading and study and keep it 10 dur
ing life There is probably more room for
the growth and development of the art of
agriculture than for any of the great avo-
cations OF life. Science has only within
the lifetime of the present generation
stuck its spade into the soil. Other pur-
suits have been advanced III q much more
rapid rate of progress and development,
simply because inventive genius and scien-
their aid. But scientific inyestiga-
tors. trained eXpcrimenters and in
telligent practical disciples of the art,
are making rapid progress in systematlZng
the knowledge of agricultural principles
and practice. There is large and con-
stantly increasing fund of information
that is of vital Importance to far,
mers-the results of the Investigations and
experiments of the experiment stations and
the efforts of unofficial but enthusiastic and
competent workers in the cause.
1t is the privilege of farmers to avail them
selves Of these results in more than one
way, and at small cost, or none at all. The
experiment stations send their bulletins free
TO any person engaged in farming. The agri-
cultural journals rarely cost more than 81
year Standard books on general princi-
pies of agriculture and on the several depart
ments--the culture of the different kinds
of fruits almost every kind of vegetables
the breeding, care and treatment Of every
kind of live stock, etc, can be had at mod
crate cost If man wants to engage in
market gardening he can find n book that
tells all about it. 50 of peach culture, grape
culture, fish culture, sheep husbandry, swine
breeding. etc.
Let every farmer start library. Take
one or two, or a half dozen if he feels like
it. of the best journals in the country. Away
with the foolish prejudice against book
farming '-the unfaling badge of ignorance.
The well educated farmers of the country,
as the term finds It's common application,
have little advantage over those who know
only the three RS, except in the fact that
they thereby more readily realize and &C
knowledge their ignorance of the principles
of agriculture and at the same time are bet
ter prepared to educate themselves by
course of reading and study.
We will have something to say, in flu
ture article, about what is doing and what
may be done in the schools for the education
of the farmers sons.