The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-20
Northumberland EpucATIoN.

An evidence of the progress and de-
veiopment of the world In the past three
decades is the rapid multiplication Of
agricultural schools, OF schools where
some of the branches considered neces-
sary for a thorough understanding OF
agriculture are taught. Under the
land grant act of congress passed
I'm 1862 for the express purpose OF
encouraging such schools there has
grown up a system of agricultural edu-
cation which has never been equaled.
True. It has its weaknesses, but what
educational system has not? II can be
improved, but it is sufficient answer TO
this argument to point to the great Inn
provement which is made each year.
The young farmers, it is said. who go
there for the purpose OF studying agri-
cultural production are turned away
from farming into some sort of a pro-
fessional pursuit. Perhaps that is so
much the better Tor agriculture. 1t takes
a man, and whole man, to be a truly
successful farmer. Some men may be-
come we'll off by the natural rise in the
value OF land. or by the fortunate rails
ing of a few special crops when there
is an unexpected demand for them, but
the man who can be truly successful in
farming must be such an all-round man
as only one other business requires
Journalism.
It is no argument TO say that such
schools are not needed, that there is no
necessity for a young farmer going to
them. There is a necessity for such
schools and the thousands Of young men
who annually graduate from them bear
willing and unqualified testimony TO the
benefit Of a course of study in agriculture
prosecuted in a scientific manner, each
succeeding subject developed naturally
from the one Immediately preceding.
The course Of study at some of the
schools and experiment stations is as
large and requires fully as much exer-
else OF natural ability as the course in
dead languages provided at most Of the
colleges. Here is a course at one of the
prominent agricultural schools Of the
country. and 1t may be said that 1t does
schools and colleges of the same char
acter. The only difference will be found
to be notifications introduced for purely
local causes:
ogy and agricultural chemistry illustrat-
ing the qualities of soils and fertilizing
material anatomical and technical botany;
physiology and anatomy and veterinary
medicine and surgery as applied to do
nestle animals; principles of land survey
ing. levelng and practical mechanics;
agricultural economy and geography;
theoretic mechanics and elements of
mechanism.
That course will go farther toward
making a whole man OF any boy who
undertakes 1t than all the Latin and
Greek ever crowded between the covers
of the volumes of ancient Greece and
Rome Not a subject but is pract-
cal and needed many, many times dur
ing the day Not subject that is not
valuable in everyday life. and that is
what men should be educated for in
these pushing times, particularly the
farmers boys.
The most serious criticism passed upon
the schools is that they do not perform
their work, do not inculcate taste for
the practical, personal work of the farm.
In a certain sense that is undoubtedly
true At the same time, If man thor
oughly understands the subjects emu
merated above, II is almost unnecessary
for him to do much more than direct
the operations of others. The terrible
waste of the farm, caused by dense ig-
norance, has been the source of more
poverty than any other one cause. The
waste of fertilizIng material alone would
enable the average farm to produce
threefold what IT does now If properly
applied. This education fits men to un-
derstand these things and teaches them
how to save and then apply the results