Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-06-09
ossibilities of the fair as an educator

noesibilties of the fair as an educator
in these lines.
"Jt has been the intention of the so
cieties to comply with the law III re-
lation to gambling and the sale Oh IN
toxicating liquors on their Srou1ioS
4 few complaints have reached the
office that the law was not compiled
with and an investigation has shown
a delinquency in this respect to the
detriment of some of the societies.
The officers of the societies should see
that both the spirit and the letter oil
the law are fully complied with.
The following figures show the bnsi-
ness of these societies for the past
wear: Number of horses and colts eX-
hibited 1926: number of neat cattle
exhibited, 1886; number of sheep ex-
hi5ted, 1929; number of swine eX-
hibitcd. 472; number of poultry
(coors) exhibited 2607; amount of pre-
miums and gratuities awarded S26,-
SO2 SO; amount Of trotting purses, S21,-
1876: per cent. of premiums and
gratuities to total awards, 56; per cent.
ties receiving stipend, 40.
"The Department Of Agriculture is
still working in the direction of more
l-cducation in agriculture in the public
schools of our State We fully believe
in the advantages of an extensive
general education. 1t makes broader
and better citizens; it creates loftier
and nobler ideals: it trains the mind
| to logical and systematic thinking; 1t
develops the reasoning powers. And
there is no man who needs broader,
,,oro l;bcraI o6uca ion than tho farmer.
The problems which he is called upon
to solve cover a wide range of thought,
and require a trained, alert mind for
| their solution.
If agriculture in its diversified forms
is the basis upon which progress and
| prosperity must stand, it is essential
| that the farmer should have the broad
est of cducations. But in addition to
| this public education, we have always
been of the opinion that a special
training in agriculture is a very impor-
| tant matter and that, to be efficient it
must begin in the early days of school
life There is no addition to our school
curriculum that will be Of more practi-
cal benefit than the teaching of agri-
culture in the rural districts and the
mechanic arts in the city schools. This
gives the farmer boy an opportunity
to learn the science of his business and
brings within the reach of the poor boy
in the city a school of technology.
We cannot lay too much emphasis
upon the thorough teaching of agri-
culture in the rural schools This pre-
liminary training in agriculture will do
much towards making an intelligent
successful farmer, and those who have
the means and can take an extended
course at the agricultural college, will
be proficient in their calling. When
cur people are educated along this line.
agriculture will become more desir-
able and more profitable occupation.
AS it is the leading industry, it IS
eminently fitting that the State should
educate her citizens in this direction.
Our country homes are the bulwark
of the nation Upon the rural sections
rests the responsibility of maintaining
and developing government of the
people. for the people and by the
people. Let us give them the best
facilities for education. and in them we
shall find the best type of intelligent
citizenship