FAKHERS' CLUBS. 257 



the topic should be open to discussion by all pres- 

 ent : the humblest and youngest being specially en- 

 couraged to state any facts within their knowledge 

 which they deem pertinent and cogent. Let every 

 person attending be thus incited to say something cal- 

 culated to shed light on the subject, to say this in 

 the fewest words possible, and with the utmost care 

 not to annoy or offend others, and it is hardly possi- 

 ble that one evening per week devoted to these 

 meetings should not be spent with equal pleasure 

 and profit. 



The chief end to be achieved through such meet- 

 ings is a development of the faculty of observation 

 and the habit of reflection. Too many of us pass 

 through life essentially blind and deaf to the wonders 

 and glories manifest to clearer eyes all around us. 

 The magnificent phenomena of the Seasons, even 

 the awakening of Nature from death to life in 

 Spring-time, make little impression on their senses, 

 still less on their understandings. There are men 

 who have passed forty times through a forest, and 

 yet could not name, within half a dozen, the various 

 species of trees which compose it ; and so with 

 everything else to which they are accustomed. They 

 need even more than knowledge an intellectual awak- 

 ening ; and this they could hardly fail to receive from 

 the discussions of an intelligent and earnest Farmers' 

 Club. 



A genuine and lively interest in their vocation is 

 needed by many farmers, and by most farmers' sons. 



