The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-08-11

- 49, Observation-Disclosures
tabllsh* schools, where: real farnni Il;
(not drudgery) as a business is taug :.
1t is difficult to be- extravagant in e.
cation; but, Notwithstanding our; ST.
1iherality In educational matters;
are woefully~ deficient in. the numl.r
OF our agricultural schools.
Better farms would make better p,
PIE, not only better farming people, y
only better country people, but bet -,
city people. In the days Of the clvi
cation TO- come, city Capitalization "
nave stopped, and equitable and prof..
distribution will be- one of the orders
OF the day. The tendency will not be
from outdoors into indoors, but will
be the migration of both mind and
body out into the great and glorious
open air; and Gods country will be-
come the arena of our greatest con-
tests.
What Schools Might Teach.
I wish the country school, yes, even
t'le city school, would instruct the
boy In the elements of agriculture,
theoretically, if necessary, but in some
way instill into his mind the truth
about planting and it's resulting har-
vest. We are teaching almost every
thing in our public schools, both in
the city and in the country, save the
one fundamental science of all, the
science on which depends our health
and wealth-that of agriculture
II kho for 10
remain on his fathers farm, il it Is
improperly cultivated and is mere
place of drudgery; nor would l ask
MIN to remain upon a barren farm,
where every product is literally forced
from an unwilling soil. I would SIM
ply say, because you are a farmers
boy. give the farm the preference II
your fathers farm is not suitable to
you: ambition and to your capacity, go
to some larger and better farm. Con-
s!der your fathers farm first. II there
be evidence that this is not best for
you, then consider some other farm.
Give the farm the first choice, consider
It. from every standpoint and without
prejudice, even though your farm ex-
periences may have been unfortunate
and disagreeable
Advantages and Disadvantages.
After you have placed all the ad-
vantages of farming in one column,
and all the objections in another, study
each advantage and disadvantage by
itself and collectively; then, it the dis
advantages greatly outweigh the ad-
Vantages, you have every sensible,
moral and business right to forsake
the farm, either for a mercantile life
III the city or in the country. But do
not leave the country, or the country
town. even if you leave the farm, un-
til you have .intelligently exhausted
its opportunities. The country needs
5ou; the city may not want you. Do
not make a, radical change without
high motive, and be sure that your
motive is not mistaken preference.
What kind, and how much, school
EDUCATION can the farmer use to adj:
vantage? To specify is we'll nigh i'm
POSSIBLE. Upon general principles.
however, it may be said that there is
little likelihood OF the farmer, or the
would-be farmer, acquiring too much
book knowledge. In this country there
are many successful farmers who are
graduates of classical colleges, and this
broad education has not injured them.
although it may not, in every case,
have been of financial benefit. If I
were forced to answer this question
specifically, I would advise the boy
who intends to follow agriculture to
obtain, at least, a high school educa-
ton. l would not advise against a
classical college course, but l find it
impossible to consider higher education
essential. I advise most emphatically
and enthusiastically the boy to attend.
and graduate from, an agricultural COL
lege.
II the boy and his parents are not
familiar with the location, scope and
requirements of these agricultural in
situations, information can be obtained
from the editor of the local newspaper.
the, minister, the lawyer, the doctor, or
the, teacher, or a letter addressed to
the. secretary of state, of any state, at
the state capitol, would either bring
ful} information or would inform the
.,wrlfer,Where he can obtain it. =:
Prof. John F. Duggar, M. S., director
OF the experimental station, at Auburn.
Ala, and professor OF agriculture at the
Alabama Polytechnic Institute, in a
letter to the author, says:
Il am thoroughly convinced that
maEy country boy overlooks rich OPP
pol'tunities for useful and prosperous
life in the country. The country has
been made unattractive to the farmers
children On account of isolation, on ac-
count OF the farmers uncomplimentary
talk about his own vocation, and on ac-
count of the failure of the average
country boy to understand the fascin-
attng. operations OF nature with which
ne; is surrounded Awakened public
sentiment in favor Of improved rural
schools and better roads is already