472 



flowering shrubs, and the remedies. Birds, their habits and agricultural value. The 

 farmer and the hired man — cannot some means be adopted to secure responsible help 

 on our farms? Comparative value of heavy and light soils for farming ])urposes. 

 Field and garden .seeds. Co-operation for farmers. Restoring worn-out lands — how shall 

 •we do it ? The farmer and the markets — how can the farmer get a fair return for his 

 crops? Crops of 1871 — what crops have paid the best for the labor and money ex- 

 pended? Of what benefit has chemistry been to agriculture? Special fertilizers — 

 notes of experiments. Agricultural machinery — what machines does the farmer need ? 

 The law of germination — our use and abuse of it. History of the Concord Farmers' 

 Club. Profits and losses in milk-raising. Education of farmers' sons and daughters. 

 The cranberry crop^soil and cultivation. P^xperiinental farming — its value to the pub- 

 lic. Small fruits raised for family and market. Pickles— at what price can we afford 

 to raise them ? Barns — jdans and specifications, with details. 



This progTainme is suggestive to sucli clubs as are at a. loss to know 

 ■what cour.se to pursue to make their ineetiugs interesting and instructive. 

 These organizations are rapidly increasing in numbers, and, when prop- 

 erly conducted, mu.st residt in much practical good to the agricultural 

 interest. 



As an adjunct of town clubs, supplying a feature calculated to give 

 vitality and permanency, as well as interest and utility to these local 

 organization.s, we woidd recommend rural libraries, in which the farmer 

 may find the latest and best agricultural books and journals for the in- 

 struction and profitable entertainment of himself and family. 



In the West a lively interest is springing up in the formation of town 

 clubs among the farmers, and the good results are already apparent. 

 Our correspondent for Eock County, Wisconsin, reports the existence 

 of a club at Beloit, embracing thirty-four farmers of the township, who 

 farm each from 60 to 360 acres, limestone soil, prairie, and timber-land. 

 He adds : 



We are advancing in this town ; getting more correct ideas of farming by rotation, 

 clovering, pasturing cattle and sheep, raising horses of breeds adapted to farming 

 purposes. We have better stock than formerly, and are also raising more fine-boned 

 hogs than heretofore, and considerably more corn and less wheat ; make more manure, 

 and draw it out and plow it under, instead of burning the straw, as was done twenty 

 years ago. We make no crop a specialty ; mixed husbandry pays the best. 



A correspondent in Butler County, Ohio, in a communication trans- 

 mitting names of the officers of the county society, adds: 



We have very successful fairs, and in many regards our society is well managed. 

 Our grounds are large and commodious, and in every way well improved. Our otficers, 

 however, a long time ago, permitted the introduction of negro minstrels, fat women, 

 big babies, deformed animals, riding nuisances, <fcc., to the annoyance of visitors and 

 to the disgust of those who believe that such exhibitions should not be tolerated at 

 such a place. Part of the grounds became worse than a bear-garden, and the " noise 

 and confusion" are enough to drive quiet people out of the grounds. Besides, these 

 exhibitions distract the attention of the young, and some older people, from the real 

 object of the fair, and tend to educate the people in the wrong direction ; they degrade 

 and debase, rather than instruct and improve. I wish the influence of the Department 

 of Agriculture could be brought to bear agaiust this abomination. 



KECENT STOCK SALES. 



At the cattle sale of Edward lies, near Springfield, Illinois, Novem- 

 ber 15, 22 short-horn cows sold for $15,664:, or an average of $712 

 each. "Jesse Hopewell" was sold to J. H. Kissenger, Clarksville, Mis- 

 souri, for $2,499; "Oxford Duchess" to J. G. Taylor, Decatur, lUiuois, 

 for $2,100; "Potentilla" to D. Sodowsky, ludianola, for $1,800; and 

 "Nelly Ely" to Frank Spear, Tollnla, Illinois, for $1,800. The lowest 

 price realized was $150, for " Rosalie." Ten bulls brought $3,725, an 



