FARMERS' CLUBS. 399 



well attended, and have done a great deal of good. They have 

 improved our stock and our crops to a great extent, and havp been 

 a source of benefit in many ways. 



Mr, E. G. Phelps of Oxford. Our Farmers' Club was organized 

 about the middle of October last. Col. Swett and Hon. Sidney 

 Perham took an interest in the matter, and we started a club and 

 had a good attendance for eight or ten meetings ; but on the ap- 

 pearance of a member of this board, we increased in number, and 

 we found a growing interest taken in the club. 



We met every week, alternately at Oxford, at South Paris, and 

 at Paris Hill, and got up quite an interest. Tlje meetings have 

 done a great deal of good. We adjourned in April, until the first 

 Monday in October. 



We have arranged to try experiments in fertilizing, and other 

 ways, and we hope to have an exhibition of the results at the fair 

 this fall. As is well known, the season has been remarkably dry 

 and hot, and many farmers feel rather discouraged, but neverthe- 

 less, we expect to see a gratifying exhibition of the fruits of their 

 skill and labor at the fair. 



I had the pleasure of attending the session of this Board last 

 winter at Lewiston, and I am happy now to be here and to receive 

 instruction from the lectures and discussions to which I have 

 listened. I will endeavor to carry back the information I have 

 received, and distribute it among our farmers. 



The Chairman. Do you succeed in drawing out the practical 

 farmers ? 



Mr. Phelps. Yes, sir. The best farmers in the town attend. 

 They came some distance, and took a deep interest in the club ; 

 not all of them are scientific men, but they are practical and in- 

 telligent in regard to farming. They have laid before us the results 

 of their experiments, their reflections and their labors, and there 

 has thus been much good gathered from one another. 



The CHAiRMA>f. Have the topics discussed been of. a local or a 

 general character ? 



Mr. Phelps. Mostly general ; such as have been discussed here : 

 plowing, the raising of fruit, grass, fertilizers, &c. 



Col. Swett. In order to show the working of Farmers' Clubs in 

 different towns in our county, I will relate a few instances which 

 have come under ray own observation. 



In the first place, I will say that in expending a portion of the 

 State bounty, as we were instructed by the Board to do, for the 



