108 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



are directly prohibited, by their fundamental regulations, 

 from discussing politics, but this the Farmers Clubs may do 

 freely. Now, it would not be at all advisable to consider 

 questions of politics from a partisan stand-point. But all 

 matters pertaining to the welfare of the farmer, and the 

 relation which each and every measure brought before the 

 State and National Legislatures sustains to the interests of 

 agriculture and the agricultural masses, should be freely 

 discussed and debated. This would be one way to make and 

 keep legislators honest. 



If to this were added the firm resolve to send farmers 

 in numbers proportionate to their ratio of voting power, to the 

 Legislature, and also to Congress, a long stride would have 

 been taken towards securing those rights for which the 

 farmer is now struggling. 



HORTICULTURISTS BETTER ORGANIZED THAN FARMERS. 



I have already mentioned the undoubted fact that the 

 average horticulturist is far in advance of the average 

 farmer, as regards scientific familiarity with their respective 

 callings. He has also made much further progress in the 

 direction of organization. 



In most of the older States, and many of the younger, 

 there are active and thoroughly organized State societies in 

 the interests of horticulture, the members of which meet 

 regularly once a year. They discuss the experiences gained 

 through the local societies, legislate upon such matters as are 

 of general interest to the fraternity, and compile and publish 

 the record of whatever is new or valuable to the profes 

 sion. Their Transactions, often published at their own ex 

 pense, will compare favorably with other literature pertain- 



