safe to feed children upon Jersey milk, because, if she did, she could not trot her baby on her knee without churning the butter! Adjourned.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Board re-assembled at two o'clock, and the proceedings were continued by the reading of a paper on

FARM LABOR,

BY HON. SETH SCAMMAN.

Man was created for action-mental, moral and physical. It was never designed that he should be a drone, a mere hanger on upon society. He has a higher and nobler mission to perform. Made but a little lower than the angels, endowed with powers of mind capable of investigating the laws of nature that surround him on every side, and in connection with his physical ability bringing those laws under control, and subservient to his welfare, he has such a field for thought, for study, for action and for good that he has no time, nor has he any right to let those powers remain dormant and lost to the world. The position assigned him in the creation, "to have dominion over the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the fish of the sea, and over every living thing," and when placed in the garden and commanded "to dress and to keep it," must or ought to have impressed him with the magnitude of the labor assigned to him by the Creator, and the importance attached to the proper and faithful performance of that labor. It is commonly understood that before the transgression Adam had nothing to do but enjoy life, and regale himself on his surroundings. But this is a great mistake; for the fact that it was said after every other living thing was made, "that there was not a man to till the ground," and also that he was required "to give names to every living thing," implied thought, study, investigation and labor; and that too before the fall. How much more then are his duties, cares and labors enhanced since he has disregarded his high prerogative, by disobeying his Maker.

We accept then the proposition that labor is one of the conditions of life essential to our happiness, our usefulness and the welfare of society. The subject of labor is now largely occupying the public mind. It is made the theme for discussion in public conventions, and public prints, and is legislated upon in deliberate assemblies. We have our labor reform associations, and our

union labor societies, and our ten and eight hour systems of labor; all very well so far as they have a tendency to elevate man, and to make labor more effective for good. Yet all this bustle, hue and cry about being the laboring man's friends, should be accepted with a very wide margin of allowance, as being more the work of demagogues and designing politicians, as a means of foisting themselves into place and power, rather than as indicating a sincere desire to make labor honorable and to contribute to the real welfare of the laborer.

Early in the history of the world agricultural labor was the only occupation of man; and from that period to the present it has been the most important of all industries. Not antagonistic to any other honest employment that has grown out of the world's progress and development, but stretching out its arms to cherish and foster all, as a faithful parent does his children. Yet agricultural labor has not and does not to-day, command that respect and remuneration when compared with other kinds of labor, that its importance demands. This may be owing in part to the widespread ignorance prevailing in the farming community, to the old fogyism that holds on with a death grasp to the old ideas, ways and measures of our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers, not considering that progress is a law of nature, and that something new in the condition of things is constantly developing which demands a corresponding change of action to reach the end in view; or it may be owing in a great measure to the false estimates of character made by men in other occupations of life Youngmen are oftentimes noticed while pursuing their studies, but if force of circumstances compel them to lay aside their books for manual labor they are passed by unnoticed. Well do I remember when a young man and attending the academy, a certain legal gentleman who was considered a model of good citizenship, took special pains to give me a friendly shake of the hand and otherwise encourage my efforts to acquire some knowledge beyond that imparted by the district school. But after school books were exchanged for the goad-stick I was no longer recognized by that gentleman. You can judge of my surprise better than I can describe it. Being young and knowing little of life I wondered what I had done to forfeit his good will. I thought of his cordial greeting while a student, and could it be possible that he would thus treat me because I was at work? Too much of this feeling is

manifested in action if not in words, and young men are quick to observe it. Their pride of character is touched. They discover at once that it is the occupation they follow for which they are thus treated. They reason that if farmers' boys are not to be admitted into circles of society sometimes looked upon as higher they will not be farmers; they will seek some other occupation ; will choose some other position in life. If a boy has any pluck at all he means to be respected by respectable people, and will make choice of his occupation accordingly. These with other reasons that might be named, turn the mind away from farm life, and induces the constant migration of young men and women to the city or wherever else they hope to better themselves.

How long and to what extent this state of things is to exist it is difficult to foresee. It is certainly time that the public mind was awake to the matter, and if any remedies can be applied they should be speedily. One way is to elevate labor and make it honorable. Much has been done in this direction by diffusing useful knowledge. Men of science and of large and expanded views have thrown themselves into the work of investigating the laws and principles of agriculture, and have given the results of their investigations to the world. The knowledge thus obtained has shown us that the study and practice of agriculture in its true and successful, legitimate issue is yet but in its infancy; that to succeed it is necessary to understand the principles that lie at the foundation of success. As well might the engineer attempt to run his locomotive with speed and safety without understanding the first principles of his machine, as for the farmer to expend his time and labor successfully without some adequate knowledge of agricultural science. Happily a spirit of inquiry and research has arisen among many practical men, which augers great and beneficial results to agricultural labor. Books and agricultural papers are sought after, and read with avidity. Agricultural societies and farmers clubs have been formed; boards of agriculture and agricultural schools and colleges have been established. Many of our young men are now in a course of training preparatory to farming. Men of intelligence and culture are reducing the principles they understand to practice. This is a very important point gained. It is one thing to understand a principle, it is a very different thing to apply that principle to practice so as to secure all the benefits which may follow its proper application and use. What we now most need is men of this character who have the

ability, will and opportunity to illustrate science in practice. It is said we have men of science enough, but they are men of science only. They can tell us what to do, but do not do it themselves. Such men are beginning to see that to make agricultural labor successful, intellectual and manual labor must be combined. The great trouble has been that the theory has been in one man's head, the practice in another man's hands. Now combine these two in one person and you elevate both. Intelligent labor will create a revolution in agriculture. We look with much hope to the Agricultural College to see this accomplished. The young men there are obtaining the rudiments, the first principles of science, while they are at the same time practicing in manual labor; learning to use their hands as well as the head; combining intellectual with physical effort; disciplining body and mind-not to the injury of either, but to the benefit of both. A reasonable amount of manual labor is both compatible with, and necessary to the growth of mind. Experience has shown that active physical labor imparts vigor to the system, and that bodily vigor imparts activity to the brain. In fact, no education is complete that does not develop the body in connection with the mind. One or the other or both will otherwise be dwarfed. This is the way in which every child should be educated. On this principle we may account for the fact that boys in the country with very much less schooling will compare favorably in intellectual knowledge at sixteen, with city boys. The active labors of the farm have imparted vigor to the brain so that they are able to learn from books and teachers in less time than those do that have not this active labor. And it is on this same principle that we account for the fact that the men who spent their early days in active labor on the farm in connection with mental discipline in the country schoolhouse, are among our most active and successful business men of the cities-who fill the professions with so much credit-and are among our most eminent legislators and statesmen.

Now what an argument is this in favor of agricultural labor. With such examples and facts as these before her, what mother would not prefer that son or daughter should have their lot upon the farm rather than in the city? be trained in early life to habits of industry and application, rather than be left to idleness and the temptations of city life? Mothers have a mighty influence in moulding the characters and shaping the destinies of their sons and daughters. One unguarded complaint about the drudgery o

farm labor, one complaint that there are so few privileges in the country; one glowing description of the beauties and privileges of city life, have been ripe seeds planted in the mind of many a boy that have sprung up and made him restless on the farm, and carried him to the city to be worthless there. Then let mothers be careful how they speak disparagingly of that occupation that has furnished many, yea, most of the brightest examples of manhood: an occupation that affords the widest field of research for knowledge among nature's choicest gems. Oh, the depths of knowledge yet to be unlocked in agricultural science! Oh, the beauties of nature yet to be developed by research into the principles and laws that govern the mineral, the vegetable and animal kingdoms! Another benefit of farm labor above most others is the great variety of manual labors to be performed. The position of the body being so often changed, and a different set of muscles brought into exercise, that relief is afforded to all, while all are brought into exercise.

A knowledge and use of the best agricultural machinery is another means of keeping boys on the farm as well as carrying on the farm with the least expenditure of manual labor. The impression, whether true or false, is current that farm labor is the hardest as well as the lowest of all occupations. Now, very much of the heaviest labor on the farm may be performed by the improved machinery of the present day, and boys take pleasure and pride in working that machinery. It also enables the farmer to do up his work more promptly in the season of it, and raise better crops and secure them in better condition.

A little time spent in setting out ornamental and shade treestastefully arranging and embellishing farm buildings-encouraging boys to cultivate a plot of ground as their own in their own way, and the girls to have their plots of flowers will serve very essentially to make home and its farm-house the most desirable place on earth, and labor becomes a pleasant duty rather than an irksome task.

Another and most important consideration in favor of farm labor is to be found in the health and prolonged life of those engaged therein. The pure air and out-door exercise of the farm tend greatly to preserve health and render the constitution vigorous. It has been found by careful observation for a long term of years, that the average age of farmers in a given locality is about sixteen per cent. greater than in other occupations, that of mechanics