190 "^EST OXFOBD SOCIETY. 



of science to greater skill in the cultivation of bis soil. All through 

 the winter months I find that the farmers are anxious to know what 

 varieties of corn are the most profitable. What kinds of wheat may 

 best resist the weevil. What potatoes, the rot. What breeds of 

 stock are best adapted to this climate. This is what I call true 

 science. "A question asked," sajs Lord Bacon, "is half answered 

 in the asking," and when this spirit of enquiry is aroused, correct 

 results will sooner or later follow. 



In this connection let me suggest to you, what I believe might 

 and should be formed in every town in this county, and that is, 

 Farmer's Clubs. I will tell you how it may be done. Let two 

 individuals in a town resolve, that they will meet once a week for 

 twelve weeks through the winter, at each other's houses, whether 

 others will meet or not, and you have a society with a back bone in 

 it. Do not depend on lawyer A., nor Rev. Mr. B., nor Dr. C, to 

 lead off merely because they can talk, but take your wives with you, 

 and make a visit, and introduce some subject for conversation. Ask 

 questions of each other for information. Carry with you some 

 tjhoice fruit, or seed, that may be of interest. At the close of each 

 meeting, let your host bring on his best apples and nothing else for 

 your entertainment. Some of your neighbors may sneer at your 

 efforts, but that is of no consequence, labor on. Others will be in- 

 duced to join you. Make a few by-law3, the fewer, and simpler, the 

 better. At first you may feel a little awkward in your efforts, like 

 a boy with his first new coat, but you will soon have a spirit of en- 

 terprise aroused within you, and a determination to do better than 

 you have ever done before. I well remember, that Avhen a club was 

 formed in the town where I reside, it was thought that we should 

 exhaust all the subjects worthy of consideration in a few evenings. 

 Instead of that, every succeeding year brings out new subjects of 

 increasing interest, and far more numerous than we can find time to 

 discuss, A healthy spirit of rivalry exists among the members, to 

 dOj at least as well as their neighbors, and better if they can. 



As you go to your homes in your respective towns and neighbor- 

 hoods, talk this matter over with your neighbors. Act on the prin- 

 ciple that in council two heads are better than one, and you will be 

 benefited as well as delighted with your efforts in that direction. 

 The exercise of i^lain common sense in connection with all that you 



