344 BOAED OF AGRICDLTUEE. 



His were the first courses of lectures on agriculture, accom- 

 panied by systematic instruction in chemistry, ever given in 

 an American university, and their influence upon Mr. Dyer 

 was to lead his quick judgment to separate genuine from false 

 science, and fact from fiction in the agricultural writings and 

 teachings. 



Long prior to this, he had marked the benefits arising from 

 the association of farmers for mutual improvement, by com- 

 paring experiences, interchanging ideas and ends, reading and 

 discussing the same books and periodicals. How often he 

 would say that every man had or thought he had some knowl- 

 edge which might be valuable to his neighbors — every man 

 was or should be able to do something better than it was usu- 

 ally done ; and that the Farmers' Club was the place where 

 all should cast in their best thoughts for the benefit of all. 



With the new inspiration acquired at Yale College, his 

 efforts to establish a Farmer's Club in the town of Brooklyn 

 were very successful : circumstances were peculiarly favora- 

 ble. The town is in a fine farming and fruit region, formerly 

 a part of Old Pomfret, famous for its good farming, good 

 stock, apples, Putnam's home, and the wolf den. The farm- 

 ers, many of them belonging to old and honored families, 

 were intelligent and, many of them, educated men. The 

 Brooklyn Farmers' Club was practically so marked a success 

 that it made its influence felt in all parts of the State. 



Mr. Dyer exerted himself with increased zest in favor of 

 improved Agriculture in his adopted State. At no small 

 expense of time and money, he obtained lecturers and went 

 with them through thf various towns in Windham County, 

 gathering tlie farmers in public meetings, and securing the 

 formation of Clubs in all the principal agricultural centers. 

 When the interest in improved farming was fairly roused, and 

 the more intelligent farmers saw the benefits to their own 

 practice to be derived from association in this way, a County 

 Agricultural Society on a permanent basis was the natural 

 result ; and it needed only the skill and common sense, with 

 uncommon foresight and knowledge of human nature, wliich 

 Air. Dyer always displayed in such matters, to establish it 



