The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-24
Brilliant Close of the
Farmers Convention
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
and civilization, those vital forces OF
nature, not those distinguished by tele
scope and microscope, but those thai
appeal to the eye and mind out in the
country amid the fields. Those secret
forces working in harmony, and thai
possess power for defying the heat OF
summer and overcoming the cold OF
winter, throughout the ages contending
against all strong forces for existence
The majestic heavens are no more
wonderfully adjusted than are the
fields. To the farmer belongs the con
temptation of the solar system. OF
every $500 persons in the city, there
is hardly one that can tell which phase
of the moon now is. In the country
the mind loves to reason concerning
those heavenly bodies.
ssNine-tenths of the men of profess
sions, of great lawyers, great doctors,
poets, writer's, thinkers, vigorous bod
les, come from the farm. ThiG is al
ready recognized, but this life con-
duces to the highest mental qualities
and capacities of humanity. l am at
lacking no books or institutions.
plead for higher thing, that our chill
dren's divine rights be recognized and
given them.
when the angels sang that morning
hymn, Peace on earth, good will to-
ward men, it was not sung in the city;
it was sung in the field. Not to those
men who work in shops, in the legisla-
tive halls, or in the studio, but to the
men with their flocks and herds,
watching the bright and morning star,
and except for these shepherds the
other men would have known nothing
about it. 1t is the country that makes
character and strength and life and
makes civilization. plead for the ed
ucation that makes for this power"
PROFESSOR STEVENS.
After President Winston had spoken Dr.
F. L. Stevens lectured on "A Study of Ma
ture as an Aid to the Farmer" Mr.
Stevens first discussed the feasibility of
the introduction of this subject He said
that we all realize there are some things
that cannot be taught that ought to be
taught. The question is, Is it advisable
and feasible? One great thing needed is
interest, and we can arouse interest on
this subject. Looking upon agriculture
from the standpoint of teacher, the ques-
ton would be, Are my pupils interested IN
agriculture? There is no subject in the
curriculum that appeals to the student
more than does agriculture 1t is nature,
and no child ever studies nature that is not
afterwards interested In agriculture So
we have the prima factor of education in
this subject. Such stories of animals,
plants, insects and birds never fail to gel
the interest of a child. Do not bring the
question of dollars and cents to the six
or seven years old child, but teach him
nature. and wait until he is sixteen and
seventeen, and then give him practical
studies that introduce those subjects
Tell the children what kinds of stalks and
ears the largest kind of yield, and dem
onstrate practically in the schoolroom
Don't teach exclusively from books. but
use natural objects. l would have the
children taken out into the broad open
fields and teach them the diseases of the
many plants, how to bud and graft. There
Carolina that can neither bud nor graft
Teach these things to the children, and
when they become men they will stay on
the farm, and many will stay from interest
inspired by a knowledge of nature, not
from the profits they viii gain.
The next question is the ability of the
teacher to teach it. / think every teach
er in this human school viii go home
and apply it. They have received instruc-
tion as it appealed TO them. and they viii
impart it to others. l once lectured 70
an audience of farmers who were interest
ed in the money returns. When had
finished, an old white-haired man arose
and said he was sorry / did not speak
more about the pleasures, the culture, tie
knowledge and interest in farm work
for the love of this knowledge surpasses
all others.