Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-12-16
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT
AGRICULTURE AS A PROFESSION

What does agriculture OFFER a young
man as professionG This is a pertinent
subject for discussion In view OF existing
economic conditions. century Of IN
difference toward this matter has result
ed in reducing the marvellous yielding
powers OF our virgin soils 10 a point
where their cultivation Is now frequently
unp-ontable, and has firmly established
in the minds Of thousands the belief that
agriculture offers no opportunities Tor a
life Of service and the requirement OF
wealth As a result, the cost Of living
has risen TO the breaking point and the
brains and energy OF the country have
been largely absorbed by industrial en-
terprises concentrated In towns and
cities. The desertion OF the country is
oce Of the most serious problems con-
fronting our civilization, but II Is not
surprising that this condition should have
occurred in view of the indifference ex-
hfbised toward agricultural education In
the past and the fact that as a science
1t is stu ell but in its infancy.
II has besa wen said that the darkest
hour is just before the dawn" and un-
doubleday there are better things ahead
for the young man who prepares himself
to be an agricultural leader than many
Of our educators yet realize II has taken
a long time 10 win for this type of train
ing an acknowledgment that IL provides
q mar with the essentials OF a liberal ed
ucation- When IL is considered. however,
that a good course in agriculture con-
templates as thorough preparation for
college entrance as in any other depart
ment OF the university. that at least half
Of the subjects studied will be for the
purpose Of developing culture and breadth
OF viewpoint while the balance will pro-
vide for that essential and. technical
knowledge necessary to the proper equip
ment for ones life work in this vocation.
It does not seem irrational to conclude
that a course in agriculture provides
the elements of a liberal education II
necessarily follows that any course Of
training which brings one in touch with
principles Involved in some Of the fuuda-
mental sciences Is an interesting and in
structive course TO pursue. II Is an in
spiration 70 be famidariEed with the dis
coveries OF such great men as Darwin.
Mendel. DeVries. Bakewell. Pasteur.
Koch. I4ebig. storer. Warrington. and a
hundred others who have left such an
indelible impression on the sands OF time
by their effort as the long centuries will
not efface.
A type OF training such as Is contem-
plated In a modern agricultural college
gives variety TO ones faculties. for III
provides not only for the enlargement OF
the mind. but for the training OF both
heart and hand. Any course in such an
Institution worthy of the name win not
only impress the minds OF It's students
with the theory OF the great and funda-
mental subjects upon the mastery Of
which its value depends. but will indi-
cate how these truths may be applied by
a thorough and exacting course of lab
oratory instruction in all applied. SEMI
applied or purely scientific subjects which
properly come within its purview- In adj
dition the principles laid down will be
tested IN practice through the agency OF
the college farm. its herds and fiocks and
the demonstration pIats which collective
" constitute its field laboratories for
testing the practicability and correctness
of the principles and deductions set forth
IN It's class rooms
Few types OF instruction open up such a
great variety OF opportunities to the
young men OF the present day and gen.
Grafton. and Georgia is no exception 20
the rule. A young man who has receive
ed fundamental course Of training In
agriculture may anticipate success as q
farmer. the first. the most profound and
still the noblest occupation Of mankind.
The man who from the red old hills OF
Georgia" takes annually bale Of cotton
per acre will garner more wealth from
a weIl-managed plantation than any ex-
cept the most favored of our professional
men II was said a few years ago in
criticism OF the agricultural colleges that
they did not turn out farmers The
situation is now reversed and the col
leges find themselves in the predicament
OF not being able 10 offer their own grad
yates large enough salaries to induce
them TO leave their farms and engage in
Its service. This statement may be seri-
ously questioned by some, but II has hap
pened repeatedly in the experience Of the
writer In the past five years Cheap land
may now be had but not for long. The
young man who owns IL or who may &C
quire II should not lose the golden oppor-
tunity OF today. The time has passed
when il can be truthfully said that there
IL no money in farming provided science
is the handmade OF the tiller OF the soil
This Is but one OF many directions in
which the agricultural leader may spe-
cialize- He may become construc-