448 Correspondence of the Cincinnafus. October, 



COEKESPOXDEXCE OF THE CIXCIXNATUS. 



BY A TRAVELING AGENT. 



Agricultural Fairs have become a fixed fact and are being greatly 

 encouraged by those for whom they are formed, as they should be, 

 and with " Excelsior" for their motto, our American farmers are 

 destined to outstrip the older established countries in Europe. By 

 invitation, the writer lately attended a Farmers' Lyceum, whether 

 an " offshoot" or the " root" of the first, ergo, Fairs, is no matter, 

 but if at all supported generally as this one is, there is evidence 

 positive of its being a powerful adjunct to County Fairs, and as 

 such should receive a like encouragement from our sturdy yeomanry. 



THE farmers' LYCEUM 



alluded to, was held at the house of the Kev. Mr. Watkins, a mile 

 and a half from College Hill, composed of neighborhood farmers 

 residing in a circle of about fifteen miles. It has a President and 

 Secretary and is in fact a debating Club. The subject discussed at 

 this meeting was wheat raising. In perfect agreement with the 

 sentiment advanced by Prof. Mattoon, who was present — had we 

 been told in advance that we would have to sit and listen to the 

 discussion of so dry a subject for some two and a half hours, it 

 would be expected our patience, to say the least, would be greatly 

 taxed ; but instead of this, the deepest interest prevailed, and the 

 results of the experience of the intelligent farmers elucidated on 

 the occasion would be matter enough for a lengthy article. (Such, 

 an one may be bound in another part of this No). 



Another commendable feature of these Lyceums is, that the farm- 

 ers bring their wives and children and baskets of provisions. The 

 result is, that the little folks have their games, the ladies their chit- 

 chat, or as " gallery visitors" they improve the opportunity of hear- 

 ing their liege lords debate — a vis-a-vis they may not enjoy at home 

 — after which, or before, as in this instance, under the wide-spread- 

 ing walnut tree, mutually discuss together the good things prepared 

 for the inner man, by their own fair hands, creating thereby a fine 

 state of social feeling, and a softening down of the asperities that too 

 often attend human life. This Lyceum meets once a month from 

 farm to farm, as the majority decide, and fix upon a subject connect- 



