The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1908-12-17
Teach II to the Children.

II matters little if We make great
advances in the science OF agrieul-
ture unless it is taught to the genera
tions that are to follow That is the
whole theory of the agricultural col.
lege. 1t is good. and it has been made
use of TO the great advantage Of our
people We have made great advances.
We are going on and on But II agri-
cultural development is 10 keep pace
with the natural and inevitable in
crease of population in the world there
must be steady gains, and there must
be greater conservation of the re
sources we have The other day
keen-witted public man Of Illinois
gave expression 10 a thought which
might well be considered by all. He
said: There is no country on earth
where the hand of man has titled the
soil long and continuously that he
has not ruined it, And if we here in
America shall teach the world how TO
use the land without abusing it we
will have written new page in his
tory We will have made ourselves
name that will live forever, not only
as agriculturalists, but in the history
of the world. Why not do it? | tell
you we are just playing with the bust
ness of farming; we have not begun
to do business yet; We don't know
what a heritage we have here. 1t is
the youth of the land that must make
this development The professor is on
the right track; teach il to the chill
dren, That is where the power of the
nation resides the schools will make
the thing go. Sooner or later We
will get these subjects drilled into the
children of the day"
Judge j. Otis Humphrey. of Spring
field, in thus addressing a farmers in
stitute. gave expression TO thoughts
that are vital First as to the neces-
sity for teaching to the children that
which we learn. There can be no
question about this necessity. Agri-
cultural education is needed. That
this fact is recognized is to be known
from the many suggestions which are
being made as to extension of school
work. In many states preparations
are being made for teaching agricul-
ture in the schools and the establish
ment of farm schools is going on all
the time. Whatever we learn must go
to the children, that they may use
1t and develop it.
But it is hardly true. as Judge Hum
phrey stated, that the soil has been
ruined wherever man has continuously
titled it. There are farms in England,
for instance, where continuous cult
walton has been going on for hundreds
of years and crops are the best in the
world. They are not complaining of
exhaustion of the soils. They are not
wondering how they will be able to
secure sufficient fertiliZing material
to make the soils as good as they were
IN former years. It is true they pay
much attention to the application of
fertilizers, either commercial or nat
ural, but they do much more than that
for they have care for the sell each
and every year and all the time. They
look to The physical condition of the
soil at all times, and in fact develop
the available plant food as they go
along That is natures way and 1t is
the right way.
But whatever this may be fact is
that We must study our conditions
here in America and find out just what
is necessary to be done and then do
it.. We must make sure of presery-
ing the fertility of our lands and OF
making use of the land that is now re-
garded as almost worthless. If we do
this our work shall not have been in
vain. The field is great one and
may the rising generation devote itself
TO the work.-Campbells Scientific
Farmer.