98 AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS 



The chief interest of most of these societies was in holding 

 fairs. In many ways these fairs were of considerable educa- 

 tional value, especially in diffusing new ideas, in furnishing an 

 opportunity for social intercourse, and in introducing better farm 

 practice and new types of farm products. Often addresses by 

 prominent speakers were provided as special educational features. 



On the whole this period was marked by a great development 

 of organized effort, including associations of many kinds, and 

 ranging from national organizations to mere local farmers' clubs. 



THIRD PERIOD 



This period is characterized by large associations, national in 

 scope. It represents a stage in development when agricultural 

 people began to recognize the importance of "getting together," 

 and of using co-operative means for securing better business 

 and educational opportunities, and more favorable legisla- 

 tion. This was undertaken through large formal organizations, 

 through co-operative concerns which were intended to do away 

 with the "middleman," through activity in politics, and through 

 education, directly by means of colleges and other schools, and 

 by means of discussions and publications. Several large organi- 

 zations constituted the machinery of this movement, the most 

 important of which were the Grange and the Farmers' Alliance. 



The Grange was founded in 1867, and became a national 

 society in 1873. l It is a very complete organization with the 

 lodge as a unit, subordinate to the County Grange which is sub- 

 ordinate to the State Grange, this in turn being subordinate to the 

 National Grange. The purposes are fraternal, social, educational, 

 political, and financial. Educational work is a feature of each 

 meeting, a certain part of the program being devoted to this 

 subject. Sometimes the educational work of the lodges of a 

 whole state is planned definitely by one of the state officers, the 

 state grand lecturer. The meetings of the lodge are often held 



1 D. W. Aiken, The Grange Its Origin, Progress and Purposes, U.S. Dept. of Agric., 

 Misc. Ser., Special Report a; Charles W. Pierson, "Rise of the Granger Movement," Pop. 

 Sci. Mo., V, 32, p. 199. 



