188 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is each year becoming more important. That farmers are more generally being 

 awakened to it is evident from this fact that our agricultural fairs were never 

 so well attended as now, with the horse-racing left out. The exhibition of farm 

 products were never so great, and the standard of excellence was never so high. 

 With these facts before us, we have great reason for encouragement. It shows that 

 the prejudices of ignorance and indifference are fast being overcome. Can w-e stop 

 now and turn our steps backward ? The rapid development of the new West, with 

 its deep rich soil and luxuriant growth of crops, must add a new impetus to our 

 energies to compete with them in the markets of the world, and improvements of 

 the age. We must place ourselves upon that noble and inspiring platform, " Sys- 

 tem, Progress, Imj)rovement.'^ Our labor must be systematic, directed by intelli- 

 gence. The brain and the hands must be co-workers in the elevation of the stand- 

 ard of our calling. In these depressing times, when the products of the farm are 

 sold at extremely low prices, it is the more important that farmers should have 

 these meetings, witli a free intercliange of opinions upon the best methods of farm 

 management. Agricultural societies, granges, farmers' clubs, or whatever 

 name by which tliey may be called, should be organized and supported by the 

 farmers in every township. Stated periods should be fixed for these farmers' 

 meetings, and very much in this way can be done to encourage and awaken a 

 deeper interest in our work. Agricultural papers should be more encouraged 

 and jiatronized. They are the disseminators of the great fundamental truths 

 that lie at the foundation of farming, and no farmer can afford to be deprived 

 of their weekly visitations to his fireside. The systematic farmer does not sat- 

 isfy himself in selfish present gains. He has a pride in his well-tilled fields and 

 tlie merits of his improved stock, beyond their value in dollars and cents, be- 

 sides the noble satisfaction that to his posterity he leaves a farm rich and full 

 or all the elements that bring ample remuneration for the labor bestowed. 



We sometimes hear the remark that ''Farming don't pay." But who are 

 those that make this complaint? Are tliey those that take a pride in their pro- 

 fession as farmers? Are they those intelligent and persevering men that see 

 far enough beyond self to know that when commercial reverses, panics and 

 bankruptcies sweep over the land, tliat if they are true to their profession as 

 farmers, this sign upon their door-post insures them immunity from these 

 scathing destroyers of men's brightest liopes? Some may say tliis is fancy, and 

 easy to talk about, beautiful in theory. Still there is tlie reality. These are 

 questions that must be met and solved. This is, brother farmers, why we have 

 met liere to-day. This is why tlie farmers of Eaton county have invited 

 the able and experienced professors of our State Agricultural College to meet 

 Avith us at tliis time, that in their theories, combined witli their practical ex- 

 perience on tlie college farm, they may give us the true methods of scientific 

 or systematic farming. 



A short essay was read by Mr. J. Dean, Jr., on the " Discipline of the Farm." 

 Mr. Dean, though confessedly not a very enthusiastic farmer himself, set fortli 

 in a very pleasant manner some of the things connected with farming wliicii 

 were not only conducive to pliysical culture, but furnished also good moral and 

 intellectual discipline. After the reading of this essay a recess was taken till 1 

 o'clock P. M. 



