St. Tammany farmer., 1901-09-07
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
LAYING A FOUNDATION.
The Value of Agricultural Teaching
In the Public Schools Can Not
be Overestimated.

schools is not a new thing. 1t has been
in operation for many years in Ger
many, France and elsewhere IN Eu-
rope. 1t is an innovation that can not
be completely accomplished in this
country at once. The necessary pre-
liminary steps have not been TAKEN
First, there are needed text BOOKS,
competent teachers and experimental
grounds. AL these will come in time.
But shall we lose precious years walt
ing for what we need, and refuse TO
take what we can get? Any comPe-
tent teacher can, in a week tlMe'
qualify himself to teach the principles
of plant growth, plant breeding, crop
growing and harvesting, and the
economical uses to which agricultural
and horticultural products are devot-
ed. Any system of education, prePar-
atory or collegiate, that omits these
branches is defective. 1t is mpossl-
BILE to conceive such an anomaly as an
educated person ignorant OF these
things. Such knowledge is not only
necessary that person may avoid the
stigma of gross ignorance. but neces-
sary for the very purpose of all school
education to broaden the intellect,
enabling it to think intelligently on
subjects in relation to which action
may be required. Such knowledge
should be general, not confined to
farmers. 10 withhold such knowl-
edge from the prospective lawyer,
physician or merchant, would be as
wise as to restrict the study of his
tory to those who are to become his
torians, or mathematics to those who
are to be civil engineers, OF language
to those who are to become lexicog-
raphers. As agriculture is the most
important industry of our country,
Tor any other country, for that mat
teri and one that directly concerns
every man, woman and child, certain
" knowledge of its principles
should be part of the life equipment
of every child i'll the country. Farmers
and fruit growers are not the only
ones requiring such knowledge. Every
home owner, in town or country, must
plant and grow for sustenance, profit
much the better. To begin with, the
fundamental principles should be
taught now, and measures should be
taken to prepare text books and
teachers. competent to teach this
branch more thoroughly. 1t should
be taught in every public school, and
once introduced, the growth of agri-
cultural education in the public
schools is assured. It is not intended,
of course, to make farmers or fruit
growers of every pupil, for we will
have lawyers, physicians, teachers,
bankers, merchants and many callings
we could very well dispense with, and
they will all be the better qualified by
having weIl-grounded knowledge of
natures plans and requirements, as
set forth in vegetable life. In the
course of time we hope to see every
public school in possession of an ex-
perimental plot, where the lessons of
the classroom may be illustrated in
actual practice. The durability and
usefulness of every structure depends
on its foundation. The business of all
public schools is to lay foundation
for the superstructure of life and
character. The soil and the subsoil,
its physical features and productive
powers form the best foundation on
which to build superstructure of fu-
ture knowledge and usefulness.-Tex-
as Farm and Ranch.