474 FAEMEES' INSTITUTES. 



Much might be done to increase these attractions. Many farmers lack pride, 

 I am sorry to say a large majority do; a more liberal expenditure of 

 time and money in beautifying the home and its surroundings would add 

 much to our attractions. We neglect our public highways sadly. Suppose 

 we expended the amount of time and money that the residents of our towns 

 and cities do, what would be the result? There is no reason why there should 

 not be as much pride and expenditure of money on our public highways as 

 on the streets of our cities and Tillages. Many homes all over this broad land 

 are sadly neglected, that, with a proper spirit of pride, might be made attract- 

 ive. Every farm home should have a flower garden tastefully arranged, 

 and therein attractive flowering shrubs and plants. Give to your wives 

 and daughters all the ground they want for flowers and help them to prepare 

 it and yourself do all the hard work, and I assure you that many attractions 

 will be added to the home. No farmer can have an attractive home unless he 

 devotes a portion of his time to ornamentation in and around his house. 



See to it that the street in front of the farm is nicely graded, all rubbish 

 removed, the grass mowed and fences kept up, or, what is better, a nice hedge 

 fence neatly trimmed on either side of the highway. Be sure to remove every 

 species of rubbish around the house and barn lot, do not allow any old boards 

 to remain on the ground to decay and create disease. If you have wooden 

 walks remove them as soon as possible, and grade up with mother earth in a 

 tasteful way, thereby saving much suffering from disease and expensive doc- 

 tor bills. 



People now more than ever before realize that in union there is strength. 

 Men of every walk of life, artisans of every trade, combine among themselves 

 to secure greater power to promote those interests which they hold in com- 

 mon. He who would hold his own in the race of life must join the ranks. 

 Farmers were the last to learn the lessons of the hour, and many of them do 

 not yet appreciate the situation. Those who do not avail themselves of every 

 legitimate advantage to promote their own welfare are sadly lacking in com- 

 mon worldly wisdom. A Grange properly conducted is one of those advan- 

 tages. Now what does the farmer want that he cannot obtain as well with- 

 out as within the Grange? It is not legislation. The laws of trade have 

 stood for a thousand years, are stronger than statutes and are broad enough 

 to cover all his needs. When the farmers are strong enough to compel the 

 execution of statutes they will be strong enough to enforce all just demands 

 without the aid of special laws. On the other hand there is nothing which 

 tends to promote the farmer's individual welfare and extend his influence 

 among his fellowmen that cannot better be obtained with their assistance than 

 without it. The aid that a man receives from a well disciplined society is as 

 much more effective than that which he receives from the world at large, as a 

 trained army is more effective than a mob. You may think that this is devi- 

 ating from the subject, but I cannot close this paper without alluding to this 

 medium of attraction to the farmer's life. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Warren: I want to emphasize the opportunity for wider culture on the 

 farm than in business, I know that even men of large business are very apt 

 to be conflned to one particular groove and mentally dwarfed in consequence. 

 The farmer has a broader field and can be as broad minded as he pleases. 



