Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-02

and sound judgment which comes as the
result of much study. If we need q
physician, we 60 to him who has spent
his time to best advantage, in acquiring
knowledge of the experience and OBJ
servations of others, as recorded in reg
/ ular text books for that purpose. The
Christian church, the great power for
good to-day, relies for its strength upon
| the efforts of those who are learned in
the one line, and have made the sacrifice
of some of the best years of their lives
in preparation for the work. But when
we come to consider the great business
of the producer, he who must under
stand, and mould to his Use the subtler
laws of nature, who has the business of
supplying the world with food, We find
him compelled to begin his work with
no training, and no guide, except the
local experience of those who have pre-
ceded him, and his own limited observa-
ton.
Train the boy for every other calling
in life, but let him farm by intuition,
has been, too much, the rule. The ne
cessity for agricultural education must be
more fully appreciated. The higher pos
sibilities of the farm must be better un-
derstood. We are looking for concert
ed action in these directions in the near
future. Then, we would see farming
pushed as business more than it is. 1t
is well that the farmers family has its
full supply as far as possible from the
farm. 1t is well that it has the best the
land affords. For him and his, there
should always bekan abundance of the
best from land and herds, but before we
can expect the full fruition of the labor
of our best boys there, it must be de-
veloped into business.
The educator has great work in this
direction. He must turn his efforts in
the direction of that teaching that shall
bring him and his pupil nearer to nature.
He must build from the foundation, with
this definite purpose in view. The man
who follows the plow and shapes the
type and usefulness of crops and animals
must grasp the higher truths of his
business. He must learn to get the
most possible from every effort. If the
keeping of ten cows pays him, the keep
ing of fifteen cows under the same con-
ditions will pay as well prOportionally,
and the net income will be increased.
The same thing holds along all lines
of crop and stock production. Think
out results along these lines. Interest
the young by teaching them of the pos
sibilities of the work. Keep them busy,
but not over-taxed. Don't, don't make
them do ''chores." We would Danish
that word forever from the farms of
Maine. The caring for the farm animals,
the managing of the st bles and barns
and gardens, is not ''chores," it is part
of the necessary work of the farm and
should 90 into the working day. Begin
work as early as you wish, but close up
as early accordingly at night. When
supper is ready at 6, or earlier if possi-
BILE, have the labors of the day complet-
ed, and allow no boy to be loaded with
the thought of "chores" to come after
wards.
Go into partnership with the boy. Put
his name with yours on tools and all
other articles. Let him understand that
he has an interest and responsibility.
Give him an opportunity for special
training. With these conditions faith
fully observed, he will be a farmer if he
ought to be; if he ought not to be, there
should be every effort made to turn his
mind to that line of work for which he
is adapted and in which he can make
success.