Excerpt from Menticulture and Agriculture

Agriculture, is to give all our youth a thorough training in the common English branches. These lay the foundation for suc cess_ in all after weik, whether on the farm, in the shop, or store. The point Of greatest weakness even in our colleges is found ih the deficiency of their candidates in the elementary branches. Thoroughness here at the outset means thorough ness everywhere. The habits Of accuracy, Of application, Of self-control, and self-reliance in overcoming difficulties early formed inschool, constitute the best preparation for the farm and all other callings of life. Far more thought and time and drill should be given to these simple elements. Rightly taught, they provide the truest discipline for the juvenile mind and form the best basis for all future acquisitions. When we build the superstructure without a firm foundation, all is inse cure. The fir st effort Of the school is to lay the ground work broad and strong. That done, and you create the desire and the skill to build up the edifice, that done and school 1s a wel come place, and study becomes a pleasure, that done and there follows such a hungering for knowledge that when one's school days are ended, he realizes that his education is but just begun, and for the rest, it shall be the aim and pleasure Of his life to educate himself. Even though the milking may summon him early in the morning and the chores detain him late at night, he will seek time and find time for the cherished work of self impror'ement. Place him where you will, let his work press as it may, he will find leisure for reading, and occupy rainy days, the long winter evenings, and all intervals of labor in efforts for self-improvement. Even the Odd moments thus utilized, in the end yield a large reward. The habit of utilizing these Odd moments and thus learning how to economize time as well as money, has most important moral bearings. The boy who thus early learns, that life is real, life is earnest, and makes the most Of each passing hour, is gaining self-command and self-respect, high aims and purposes that lift him above tempta tion and give him the true farmer's self-poise and conscious in dependence.

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