The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-12-21
AGRICULTURAL ED y CO
TON
Article by 5 E. Porter Of the
Maryland Agricultural
College.

wrjJleu very interesting article
on Agricultural Education. which
we reproduce herewith;
Agriculture l. the o.de>, aud
most important Il all Industries.
/; is the lt' ge>t IA he amount and
value ct lis products. The one in
Wuich more people are engaged
than any other: jhc enc 10 whIch
nearly all others look Tor the raw
material 10 keep the mill and fac
tory running. as we'll as for the
food TO supply the tables of those
who run them; the one that grants
10 those engaged in it freedom of
thought and action and broad and
SA numerical Development Ii s.
otry and experience have proven
that it Is the basis of all perma-
nent national wealth and the pro
moter of national virtue.
As from lie eaI ii all vegetables
aud plant growth spring, SO the
other industries rise from agricul
tuTe as Il foundation. and the sci
enceS, art, manufactures and com
merce follow as a natural and in
evltaOlt consequence.
Our agricultural resources and
the progressive manner III which
they are being developed are en-.
rlching the nation in an incalcui.
able measure, and ii is due to
them that the balance of trade
with Europe is favorable to us to
the extent of millions of dollars
annually Consular reports and
statistics gathered bl the national
and State departments bear out
these statements. How important
il Is. then, that class engaged in
an industry so vital to the Amerl.
can people and SO productive of
wealth 10 the nation should De
literally. thoroughly and techni
ealIy educated. All utilized men
have more or less appreciation Of
education and Its benefits and are
III some degree educated" as the
tenn is understood.
AT present no one doubts the
value of education to any class of
people. lu fact. nothing speaks
with greater praise OF this grand
and glorious nation of ours than
do.t4e public schools which have
been established for the develop
ment of the Young, living in cry.
village or country lane. Go where
you may luto any community.
county or State, and there, if az
rlcultural education with all its
new aud COunmendaoie features
I have been taken up, the strong
evidences bearing testimony OF the
fact arr the beouti ul houses. i'm.
proved stock and we'll kept farms.
The object of education is TO
develop the individual, to tit him
tyr life. TO make his condition
more agreeable. not only to him
self. but also with those with
whom he comes in contact. Edu-
cation is tire pathway to progress.
1t Is the crowning glory of ciyili-
Zatlon. Now, here Is the farmer
who does not need these accom-
plishmeuts! He is the man whose
intellect and industry provides
food toI the world. His products
renew the brain cell of the phil
O>opher aud give bloom to the
maiden'S cheek. Without aim
armies would be useless and the
wheels of progress would stand
still He forms IA large part of
the population of an extensive
community. Should not such an
Important element OF society be
invested with all that tends to
direct his energies and make his
efforts more etftctual.
With The increase iu land values
comes a demand for al increase of
Its prOductiveneSS "HOw NAV
this be accomplished" is I he
question. This question cannot
be answered by a word, but by
more intelligent d Erection. a
broader knowledge of the breeds
OF stock, Of crops and of soil, and,
wlthal, a closer attention TO de.
tails. To accomplish this, educa-
ton is necessary, and, in fac, the
farmer must possess qualifications
that would fit HIM for success in
almost any other field of human
endeavOr.
The farmer requires a broad,
scientific knowledge. He deals
with plants aud must know botany:
his range embraces animalS-he
must study natural history; he
must have a knowledge of chemis.
try and under stand thoroug hly the
principles OF business. The birds
ale his friends, and he must pro
tect them. AT length with all his
technical knowledge, be must not
forget his civic duties, for through
out the country he yields polit-
zeal influence which should be
directed bv intelligence, because