Year: 1879

.MIND-CULTURE IN FARM LIFE


Among the na1y~reasons why Nounn
men leave the farm, the~main onefis bee
cause farm life is made unatfractve. Tbs
boy who is compelled to pass the most in
teresting period. of his life in a hon. IN,
which is little less than boarding house
can hardly be blamed for leaving such q
place and. seeking happiness elsewhere
The exodus from the farm goes on day BY
day and year by year in spite of an array
Of arguments by the thousand to the ef.
feet that 'sfarm life, however dull and
dreary its drudgery, can be, and generally
is, more INDEPENDENT than any commer.
ciai or than most mechanical pursuits; Or
that On per cent Of those who engage in
commercial pursuits fail"


~Thefe is one<way of making farm life


nore attractive eSte boys, and that is, byin
creasing the facilities for megzaL eaioy11eu,
=Fducatfon is never thrown away upon =
farm. No boy can be blamed for refus
ing to toll day after day, when he can see
nothing but drudgery in it, which is to con.
tinue year after year. The facilities for


intellectual culture must besincreased on
the farm if we would put stop to the
smothered or expressed desire to leave it.
1t is right that the home should be made
pleasant for him. 1t is right that he should
have agricultural papers, and access to a
library of books of practical and interest.
ing character. 1t is right that he should


have at least small pecuniary interestin
the profits of. his labor 1t is right that


his ambition in the direction of attempts
| to improve present mode of culture. should
| T. t. . .-.I,A al. |. i


have a chance to try new methods which


are constantly being suggested, with the
view of placing farming on a better pay
ing basis. 1t is right that the farmers
boy should know something more than
merely to know how to read, write. and


cipher. 1t is right that he have the most


ample facilities in acquiring information
| in regard to everything pertaining to the
pursuits in which he is engaged.


| e There is no need for the seeking of
wider or deeper field of intellectual cul-


ture than well directed farm life affords.
| Herein lies an explanation of the fact that


men of wealth, of leisure, of education,


and the highest social positions have
found the occupation of farming a con-


slant source of pleasure, to say nothing
| of the attendant profitable results when


carried ON in business way, on business


principles. There is now growing pop


ularity for this calling that augurs well for
the future of the country. Agriculture


when viewed from an intellectual stand
point, rises above the plane of a mere me-
chanical pursuit. The reason is evident
The daily duties of the wide-awake pro-
gressive farmer, bring him into familiar
control with the marvellous operations OF
nature. If he will but make his calling 4
success, in the highest acception Of the
term, he will find in ample scope for the
application of all his knowledge, and
abundant materials for fresh thought and
study. Agriculture as pursuit, is un-
questionably entitled to the foremost rank
among the industries of mankind There
for let every farmer set about the solving
of the great problem of mind culture in
farm fife Grange Bulletin,