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in every State, yet to be of greatest value it must claim the atten- 

 tion and command the presence of every man who tills a farm. Its 

 province is the presentation of live agricultural problems in a manner 

 not to confirm past practices but stimulate thought and provoke 

 discussion. He who denies himself the privileges and benefits of 

 the well-conducted agricultural institute is a loser in the struggle 

 of to-day. The institute must be made of greater service, its 

 mission needs be more clearly defined and appreciated, its dis- 

 cussions claim the attention of a wider circle. 



The grange is so interwoven with the social, educational, agri- 

 cultural and home life of New England that there can be no fair 

 analysis of existing conditions which does not include the work of 

 this organization. Its field is peculiar. It cannot take the place 

 or do the work belonging to any other agent. It holds by the 

 bonds of sentiment, it helps by kindling enthusiasm. It must 

 ever be the ally of every agent set for the promotion of the farm 

 home and home farm, and for these reasons every consideration of 

 economy should urge the individual farmer to unite in this farmers' 

 organization for those enduring results which are not to be obtained 

 through any other channel. A live, earnest, working grange, loyal 

 to its declarations of principles, is one of the strongest promoters 

 of fidelity and enthusiasm the country home can have. 



May it not be that the evident drift of all forms of business into 

 what are termed trusts furnishes a good illustration of that spirit 

 of practical co-operation which must extend over the farms before 

 the avenues of waste can be checked ? The writer is familiar with 

 a section fifteen miles from market where ten farmers living on 

 one road and in one school district spend one day every two weeks 

 in going to market with their butter, cheese, eggs, potatoes, etc. 

 One man could do the business for the whole by going weekly, as 

 each has his regular customers. The loss to this school district 

 amounts to two hundred and eight days yearly, less the extra 

 expense to be paid for delivering. 



The manufacturers have accepted the inevitable lesson and com- 

 bined. Why should not the farmers? The principle is sound. 

 Its application may be extended in many directions. It must come 

 in the not far distant future in order that all that is possible may 

 be realized from their labors. It suggests almost limitless possi- 

 bilities along the lines adopted by our corporate interests. 



Economy is not parsimony, and therefore to realize most one 

 must expend wisely. My thought is that good business demands 

 the application of the same spirit of enterprise by the farmer as by 

 the manufacturer. If a new machine will do more and better 

 work than the old, reducing cost in any direction, its purchase is 



