The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-30
SCHOOLS AND THE
FARMER.

EARMER.s
"vast as has been the progress OF
the United States in manufactures, ih
commercs, in invention and the like,
national life which has shown more i'm
mense advancement in the past 30 years
than that OF agriculture" SO declares
Mr.. W. S.HARwooD In the North Ameri-
eau Review in an article under the title
"what the Country is Doing for the
Farmer"
In these days when we have been hear
Ing so much about the misfortunes aud
condition OF general depression, not to
say degradation Of the ggrsuit of agricul-
tu-e, these words are probably contrary
to the general impression CT people even
though We do not believe all that the
fopulistic orators tell us. Bot Mr..
HARDWOOD goes on 10 stew that no pur-
suit is fosteren with more consideration
or with much greater success than that
OF agriculture and that no profession or
labor has advanced much more rapidly
from the stage OF empiricism TO enter up
on "sensibly scientific career" than
that Of the farmor-tbough the writer
does not lose sight of the fact that be-
cause so great portion Of our national
been blessei with soil of pr2digal pro-
duciivenoss as 70 lead men, all uncon-
scious OF the real conditions OF affairs,
"to place no conidcnce in anything but
the soils fertility, to accept failures of
crops as unavoidable visitations OF provi-
dence, to ignore the aid which sciencs
stands roady to give all who will accept
it,"
"What the country is doing for the farm
err" the writer finds lurgely expressed
through our agricultural schools, and
ing that we imagine are applicable no.
where any better than here in Rhode
Island, where we have an agricultural
college SO conducted that as little sdvan-
tsge as Is fairly possible accrues to the
pursuit OF agriculture through the train
ing of its young men. Mr.. HARDWOOD
states the case in this wise:
I. The education to ne given q young
man from farm should be sucn that he
Will be a bic 10 go back 10 the farm fitted
to take up the actual work OF the farm
from tho stsndpoint OF an enlig igbtened,
educated, scientific workman.
2. That nothing ahnnId- be taught with
a view Of leading him to forsake the farm
at graduation, but that every possible in
fneace should bo brought To bear TO
cause bis return to the farm as a pre-
ferred place for his life work.
There is today an agricultural college
or college having an agricultural course
under tho provisions of the morrill, act
IN every state and territory except
a laska. Of the experiment stations assoc
cated with maay OF the colleges and
upon which the national government
alone cxpends apont $500, coo year, the
writer cites abundant testimony to the |
practical advantages ci joycd by the
agricultural class from their work. The
rrontab ble work OF the agricultural COL
egcs is, however, discounted In num-
Der OF instances, where In lieu Of courses
II education appropriate To the cultiva-
ion of psscticel farming there Is an at.
empt to secure "that pleasant and indeed
but in this case, ipappro-
'rinte breadth OF culture which is az
estigsting this matter the writer In
luires ~ to the following points: u.)
The number OF students 10 agriculture.
81 The number graduated since the
sta blishment Of the college. 49, The
,crceniage Of stcdehts in agriculture
oing back to the farms after graduation.
he result Of tho investigation, prepared
ast July, SHOWS much variation in the
eturns, from number Of agricultural
oll,ges. AS the writer points out, "there
tendency IN some quarters TO a too
enerous curriculum, leading the young
zen TO enter the professions rather than
o become agrieulturalists; the model in
titntion will so shape It's courses
bet the student Will perforce be-
ONE an agriculturslist." How far the
esults Of the fl i.ures may be relied upon
D tell the story for which they were
nugnt, 1t is difficult to judge. The
CURES for the Rhode ISLAND College of