FAEMERS* INSTITUTES. 219 



country, and whenever tlie ring is broken, the price of oil will come down. But 

 it is unquestionably true that high test kerosene costs more by the gallon than 

 low test. The best quality of high test oil now costs at wholesale 35 cents a gal- 

 lon, while the so-called 110° oil costs only 28 cents, a difference of about one- 

 fourth in cost. But the high test oil will burn one-fourth longer, so that it is 

 really as cheap as the low test oil. You pay more for a gallon, but get more 

 light out of the gallon, and what you aim to buy is the light. You would not 

 feel that you had made any gain if you could buy molasses of one grocer for 25 

 per cent, less than was charged by another grocer if you found that the first 

 grocer had added one-fourth part of water to your molasses. AVhat you w^aut 

 to buy in the molasses is its sweetening power ; so in your oil you want to buy 

 its power to afford light. 



I hope our present Legislature will make amendments to our law so as to 

 reject all oils heavily adulterated with paraffine oil, and then I think the people 

 will make no more complaint about poor oil, while the public safety shall not 

 be imperiled by a reduction of the test, which will not remove the evils of which 

 the people so justly complain. 



DISCUSSIOX. 



Mr. Clyde. — Is there more danger of the lamp exploding when nearly empty? 



Prof. Kedzie. — Yes ; the space in the lamp from which the oil has receded is 

 filled with gas and the heat of the lamp increased, hence a greater liability to 

 exj)losion. 



The following paper by II. W. Curtis, Esq., was read by Mr. Thomas Bates, 

 entitled 



HELPS TO IMPKOYEMEXT, 



Agriculture, manufacture, and commerce are the three grand divisions of 

 human enterprise. I do not place one above the other, either in dignity or 

 imijortance. It requires but a moment's thought to see that without either the 

 world would speedily lapse into barbarism. I do not, therefore, sympathize 

 with the present fancy of some of my brethren that there is nothing of dignity 

 or honor worth speaking of outside of agriculture. 



According to my theory each is alike honorable ; and true wisdom demands 

 that the most cordial harmony prevail between them. I owe the man who 

 places an improved harrow in my hands a debt of gratitude, as well as fair 

 pecuniary compensation. If I pay him with better fruit, hay, or turnips than 

 are common, he owes me a debt of gratitude for the pains I have taken to help 

 him to a better living. How unbecoming is bickering or jealousy here. How 

 much more will two honorable men, so coming face to face, each be inspired 

 with gratitude towards the other. 



My merchant is an open, ''fair and square" dealer, — no catch-penny trick- 

 ster. I am grateful to him for a bill of honest goods. In return I give him a 

 good sample of wheat. He is equally grateful. And so between us there is a 

 good understanding. Our greetings are always agreeable. 



Were all farmers and manufacturers and merchants upright and honorable, 

 ■each obeying the business injunction, "live and let live,'' there would be entire 

 harmony. They are the dishonorable and dishonest of all classes that cause the 

 bickerings, dissatisfactions and jealousies, 



I desire the elevation of the agricultural classes, not because I consider them 

 lower than the others, not because I would have them gain an advantage over 



