The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-19

trttned IT, the numerous and varieo oe- tails of hIs professionai "ork. Education and training are absolutely necessary.
 Training.
 Training is the prime essential to success in agriculture. as 1t Is In any other branch of science. or of the me- chanic arts. Today the profession Of ~.ientihc agriculture stands with arms wi.le opsn, and calling for devotees who will carefully and studiously prepare th"nselves to become worthy members The tie soil cries aloud for the in- teifigent touch of the scientinc nus bandman to unlock her rich store or hidden treasure and force into full fruition the varied crops for man and beast she may have planted upon her responsive bosom. The animal-husbandry branch or farming awaits greater and more in- teiligent development. Not by hap hazard methods, as in the days Of yore. but at the hands of the professional agriculturalist, who is familiar with both plant and animal physiology: the requirements of the animal for special purpose and the food containing the necessary nutrients to meet those re- quirements Along with feeding he must be possessed of correct idea Of the principles of breeding; how to select, how to cross and to grade, etc., whether his object be the maximum production of beef, of milk, of pork, of mutton, of wool, etc.
 What He Must Know.
 This professional farmer must know the requirements of his soil, and be able to provide his plants with bal anced ration, in available plant food, r,ok A di- Restible clements in the various stock foods and is able to balance them to meet the necessities of his animals. He must be familiar with the chemical changes which take place within the soil; the beneficent influence of soil bacteria, and how to protect and assist them in their valuable work for his benefit. He ought to know of the chemical and mechanical changes in duced by tillage; the influence of at- mospheric agencies in assisting tillage operations; the importance of tilth, of drainage. and the various systems of cultivation adapted to peculiarities in his soils, his crops and the seasons. He should be acquainted with the sources from which his fertilizers are obtain ed. whether nitrogenous, phosphatic or potassic, so that he may be able to procure his plant food in the most reasonable market Rotations of crops and the special management of various cultivated crops should also be a part of his information His knowledge should extend along chronological and geological lines so that he may be familiar with insect. animal and bird life, and know which are the friends and which the enemies of his crop and of his live stock.
 T,. hA nP ntt1f 1ft5Ta is so comprehensive that it would be indeed difficult to say just where to set a limit to the branches of scientific study it embraces.
 The Old-time Farmers Doubts.
 To the old-time farmer all this, no doubt. would sopnfr as popycock and rank foolishnes. Hnd 1t is quite pos sible that similar Idea pervaded the mind of the old-time barber, who, as well as being blood-letter and a cup per- was also a dentist. that Is a tooth carpenter. when he was first informed that dentistry was a profession, and that besides knowing how to sever from its connections an offending mo- lar, the dentist had to study human anatomy and physiology as well as the art of beautifying the toothless human mouth by inserting substitutes in por- celain and in gold.
 But the day has in reality arrived when every profession or branch of in- dustry which one adopts as a life work, and that is worth following, is worth the necessary equipment in ed ucation and training. In order to get the most out of 1t the one who under takes 1t must educate and train him self accordingly. And the profession of farming is no exception to the gene- ral rule, although, up to the present. it has received less attention, perhaps, in this direction than many of the other professions which. as a matter of fact. require much less study and training.
 Where, it may be asked, is the pros- pective professional farmer to receive the requisite training? A question which may be looked upon as wholly irrelevant in an assemblage of this character. The agricultural colleges of the country are, of course, the i'm stitutions that are equipped for this work and that are to turn out the men who are to lead in this advanced agri- culture.