The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-27
THE EDUCATION OF THE FARMER

$500 "a ALE E0hMER
In the Worlds Work for July Prof
L. II. Bailey says:
"More than half the people Of tho
United States live on farms. II iO
probable that the proper balance Of
production and consumption will
make it necessary that at least half
our population always shall be farm.
ers. It is evident that the education
of these farmers is one of the great
problems now before the world"
Bone, sinew and brain are deyel.
oped on the farm, and there is no
good reason why the farmer should
be satisfied until his children have
advantages of the best grade. Of
course, not all Of these can attend
the university, the college, or even
the high school, but people are be.
ginning to learn that education is a
result Of individual application, and
does not depend entirely upon loCa.
ton, environment nor even teachers,
I would not under estimate the value
of any of these, but what is needed
more than any other thing is q
supreme personal confidence and ap.
plicatiOn. The boy or girl whoreally
wants an education can get it by
paying the price No matter where
one lives, nor how far from great
schools, the spirit of education is
abroad and wherever there is a great
purpose and an indomitable will
there is a university.
The newspaper, the magazine and
the book are full of vital food. Take,
for instance, any issue of a daily
paper. 1t gives a birds-eYe view Of
the world. 1t touches almost every
subject Of interest to man. History,
biography, geography, science, phil.
Osophy, are all here to him who has
eyes TO see and a mind to grasp and
apprehend. Take the July number
of the Worlds Work, which can be
obtained for 25 cents. Here is almost
a liberal education in one number,
and any other number is equally
good. These are available at the
most remote p~ostofice.
But how about the farm itself?
What problems are here presented
in the wide range of practical in
quiry? What kind of soil: Whence
came it? What are it's ingredients
and it's applications? How can it be
fed? What crops can be cultivated
to best advantage? The answer IN
wolves a knowledge of geology,
chemistry, M teorology, and almost
everything else. To quote Prof
Bailey again Persons need pOinto Of
view and enthusiasm more than
they need knowledge. A little knowl'
edge that becomes a part of ones
life is worth more than volumes OF
information that is merely remem-
bered. If the person sees nothing OF
interest in plants and fields and birds
and the out of-door life he can have
little vital interest in farming"
Every farmer should get the cata-
of the agricultural college OF
his own State. It would be a good
plan to write to the Cornell UniVer-
sity College of Agriculture, Ithaca
N. Y and ask about their Home
Nature Study Lessons, Farmers
Course Lessons, Farmers
Wives Lessons, etc. Write TO the
Department. of Agriculture, Wash
ington, D. c., and ask for the last
report. This will be sent free.
This indicates the individual pos
By establishing neighOQI.
h"d centers and uniting as far a.
possible all the progressive peoPleo -
y'.nr township or nolghbOrhOod ""
will begin a great movement OF GU"
g tt1on thHB Will give life AMI 1nteL0e
TO your community such as you n6 w.
known j I'm 3. Paul, ia VI"
oAgo Farmers Voice.