West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-28
The Education Necessary for the
Successful Farmer.

County Farmers Institute, Court House
kingwood. March -, 1901, by MIR. II
ID Correll. Of Morgantown, Secretary and
| Treasurer of the Westvirginia State Poultry
Association. and published by special re-
qurs, Of the Instituted
"rhe world do move" A few years AGO
a sma,teriug of 'readin', riin' and 'ri,hmc.
tic was deemed sufficient for anyone who
earned his bread 10y the sweat of his brow.
But that time has passed with the crude
implements, the mistaken methods and
narrow conceptions of our forefathers. The
farmer who uses modern reaper TO harvest
hrs wheat needs more education than did
his grandfather who used cradle. The
farmer who ,hrashes his graia with steam
thrssher needs more education than his
ancestor who used horse power machine
or fail. Every advance in the facilities
10y which rural labor is benefited calls for =
corresponding advance in educational equip
ment. The question then is: How much
education is needed > Is a college educa-
ton necessary Now college education
may be either classical or industrial and
practical.
Let ms see what Is the benefit of a classi-
cal education. Tell me, II you can, why
a farmer may have pro6tably spent the days
of his youth pouring over Latin or Greek or
abstract mathematics. When he goes
back 10 the farm is he any better equipped
to manage its affairs Contrary to the
| opinion of many learned men, believe that
person TO have squandered the years of
his life 50 spent. | regret that wasted
five years studying Latin and French and
German and other useless branches when
had an opportunity to take up the practical
sciences and mechanical work. | listened
TO the misleading advice that the only
avenue TO an education lay through the
musiy channels OF an ancient and dead
language. IL is my conclusion then, that
classical education is not necessary for the
successful farmer.
Bu, to consider the practical education.
| believe that while il is not absolutely
necessary, for we have seen many uniutored
men succeed, practical education is a most
valuable addition to his equipment. The
time was when man could practice med-
cine without having attended college or
passed an examination before a State
board. Now it is also certain iha, the
veterinary surgeons will soon be required TO
pass similar test of their proficiency. Old
things are passing away Every profession
IS drawing its lines TO exclude incompe-
tency' As our population increases aud
more food is required of the soil, these lines
are being drawn in the profession of the
! agrieulturist. The incompetent are drifting
/ into the cities and towns where mills and
factories and mines utilize their muscular
power. Itis the educated farmer that is
taking the lead. His education may have
been acquired in school or in the broad
field Of experience.
There are two patent factors that stand
pre-eminent among the coninbuiive agents
to agricultural enlightenment. The first is
the newspaper. There are two kinds or
classes of papers. To the first of these
belongs the county paper, the weekly visitor
to nearly every home and read more than
the Bible. Then there are the farm papers
which find their way into every we'll regu-
lated home. II you do not place a good
farm journal in you family your home is not
well regulated The farmer who does not
take a farm paper for his boys and girls TO
read, even If he does not read il himself, is
doing them an injustice. But il Is crafty.
ing TO know that hundreds of thousands of
farm journals are circulated each month and
carry the latest and bes, information to the
farmers.
The second factor is the agricultural
| college. In our State there are three
divisions to this college the correspondence
study, the resident study and the home
reading plan. This places the instruction
so offered within the reach Of everyone.
But how small a number in our State COM
pared with others, avail themselves of the
opportunity. While in the University AZ
Morgantown, II has panied me to see the
farmer boys enier that institution and care.
fully shaking every yes,ige Of hayseed from
their backs aud brushing the dust Of the
farm from their shoes, they look with dis
dain and contempt upon the department Of
agriculture. However among the 600 or
100 now in that institution about 7s or 20
are in some way connected with the school
of agriculture. !, will not be long I'LL the
graduates Of this school will be taking the
lead in every movement that is for the ad-
yanecment Of the farming interests Of Yves,
Virginia. II will no, be long I'LL graduates
Of this school will make up the State Board
Of Agriculture and compose the wo king
force in farmers institutes.
Preston county has good many students
at Morgantown, and c. dilablc young men
they are, but majority Of them will
eventually return to the farm and since none
Of them are in the Department Of Aercul.
ture, will they be any better qualified and
equipped to manage The infinite details Of
the farm than when they left it? TO some
extent possibly but certainly not to the es-
tent they would have been had an agrisul-
tual course been taken.
The most sacred ims, imposed upon the
farmers Of our country is the education Of
1heir sons Shall the boy work on the
paterual billsides nine months Of the year
and attend school but three and this for
only limited number Of years Shall he
follow in the steps Of his ancestors, sowing
as they sowed, respiug as they rcapcd,
ioiliug from daylight ull dark, only 20 have
a roof for shelter and poorly supplied with
the comforts tha, make this life Of pleas.
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