EDUCATION OF THE FARMER.

Mataura Ensign, 15 March 1909, Page 4

EDUCATION OF THE FARMER.

" IS POWEIf." .Mr W. Xoniian, the retired F.uglish farmer wlio is now visiting New Zealand and is at present on a visit to his nephew in (lie Glcnhain district, has all through his farming days been a thinker and an enthusiast for progress. In a lecture, lie delivered to an audience of Cumberland farmers 20 years ago lie made the following observations on the, great value of knowledge. "Wo (piote from the lecture (says the 'Dominion'), which was published at the limn in booklet form:--"1 now conie," said Al r Norman, "to the third or educational remedy, and it is perhaps the most important, of all, as without education lew would be able to see the value of, or apply, the legislative and commercial remedies. It is lamentable, that so many fanners are illiterate men. Thev miiv answer the ■purpose of some landlords and land agents, who regard I hem as mere serfs or rent-paying machines. There is not much trouble in managing an estate worked by such maehinerv, so loni' as the machine is able to perform its function, but ignorant men will never increase the prosperity of agriculture. I would urge on all fanners, whatever else they do, to give their children the best education in their power. f,et them remember whatever misforutne , may overtake a man no creditor can disirain on the property contained in his skull. If a „,;,„ dies and leaves his family well educated he has left them j< f;'V more valuable properly in their 'rains than a f,., v 1,,,,,,],.,,,, ,„„„„, odd be ,n t| l( .,, IW , k(>ts . A fort i money may take to itself wings and ; lopom I hat no man can lose, and no ; thud can steal. F,„- ,„y part I <|„'t I see why iarmors ought'not t„ W ~. ' best educated men in the country If hey pursued their calling intelligently ' hero is no profession so well calculated i, ? <l"velop the intellectual faculties Kieiy I,Oage operation they perform in l Hie fields is dependent for its success v •ailnre on some scientific principle, > -one lau ol nature. It H most import- l int. therefore, that tliey should have f in acquaintance with those principles ipon wine, Uicir practice is based » Men may betray folly by scoftiinr ~,u j 1 ■ncenng at education, but dopcnd"upon •' 'crc is no truer saying in Hie world >' nan mat knowledge is power' \n<l li t larmers had nio'rc knowledge thev « onul have more power, and if such t >owei were guided by wisdom we would ! »'■ ■odii see the ancient industry rvnnv its'o omn a,„I b w . o me even more import-i n. .in.l prosperous in the future tliau I i n.is ever been in tlio past."- !