Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-17
Take the Boys.

Take the boys to the farmers insti-
tutes, writes farmer in one OF tht
prominent agricultural journals, having
reference to the solution of the question
of why the boys leave the farm.
| This is q suggestion of but another
way OF making the business Of farming
interesting and attractive to the boys, ss
a means of keeping them upon the farm.
Our excuse for writing upon this sub
ject so soon again 10 the great impor.
tance of the problem to the farming in
dustry, and the belief that wide discus
sion of the matter will bring about such
changes in farm management as will
keep the boys upon the farms, where
they are needed and where they belong
We find, indeed, reason to believe that
reform in this direction is already In
progress, if the number of boys taking
agricultural courses in our universities
is any indication of the situation. But
still. especially In the east, thousands OF
our best boys are going every year from
the farms to the cities to make the beat
and strongest business men and profes
sional men of the country.
With the changed conditions that are
rapidly becoming established in the
farming industry, great many boys,
who would, few years ago, have gone
into the cities with no real preparation
for success in life except health and am
bition, will remain upon the farms, per-
haps after taking some course in scien-
tific agricultural instruction to prepare
them for carrying on more successfully
the work of their fathers; but still, hum
dreds OF thousands of boys will leave
the farm and its tremendous possibilities
under modern conditions, for city life
and labor under less desirable and still
less satisfactory conditions.
Right here is where the tremendous
responsibility of the fathers and moth
ers comes in. We would not advise an
attempt to keep all the farm boys at
home and upon the farms. Some of
those BOYS are needed in the cities for
the good of the cities, and some Of them
are ndoubtedly better fitted for places
which the cities have to offer.
Ii is but natural, however, that the
boys who are brought up on the farms
will make the best farmers, all other
conditions of ability and preparation
being equal. And 1t seems to us that
the farmer who has a boy should con-
slider that it is incumbent upon him to
make the business and work of farming
SO interesting and attractive to him, and
TO make the farm life and the farm home
SO enjoyable, that he will desire most OF
all things to live and work upon the
farm, close to nature aud natures heart.
In no way, it seems to us, can the farm
or more surely attain this object than by
taking the boy into his plans, consulting
with him in everything where it Is pos
sible to do so, and giving him real in
terest in the management OF the farm
and the results of the farm work. And
if the boy is to be interested in farm
work and farm management, be certain
ly should be given the advantages that
are to be found in all such gatherings as
farmers institutes. The farmer who
does not attend such affairs himself,
either because of general Indifference or
because he does not think they will be a
benefit to him, should consider we'll
whether his boy will not be benefited
and given the encouragement and en-
thu ,iasm that will keep him on the farm
if he is allowed and encouraged to at
tend such gatherings.
1t may cost something to send the boy
or to accompany him to a farmers in
stitute, a meeting of dairy association,
live stock association, or the State
Grange, but is there any question that
the boy will receive more than many
dollars Of benefit in ideas and In enthu-
siasm that will make him better farm
er?-Maine Farmer.