MONTHLY 



JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



VOL. 11. DECEMBER, 1846. NO. 6. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



The first Plate presents a Portrait of Mr. W. R. Grinnell's prize colt, Champion, three years 

 old, by Almac — he by Mambrino. 



Th.e second Plate. — The second repres<ents, as will be seen, analytical sections of niould-boarda 

 of the East LotJiian, Mid-Lothian, Berwickshire and tlie Lanarkshire Plows — being illustratioos 

 of Stephens's Book ol the Farm. 



FARMERS' CLUBS. 



RULES FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT ; WITH SUGGESTIONS AS TO THEIR 

 OBJECTd AND MANNER OF PROCEEDING. 



"We have long been persuaded that these Clubs, holding monthly meetings for 

 free and familiar discussion, when well and judiciously conducted, are better calcu- 

 lated for the increase of agricultural knowledge and, of course, for the proraotioa 

 of agricultural prosperity, than are our Annual Fairs ; for which much time and 

 expense are appropriated by those who contribute to them, and which, when the 

 year rolls round, come and vanish, very much like "trials of speed," leaving time 

 scarcely sufficient, among the thousands who are brought together, for a day, 

 even to exchange salutations — much less to exchange information, and so ac- 

 quire and impart a better knowledge of the various branches of their commou 

 pursuit. 



The thief benefit of a show is the opportunity of letting those who go, see 

 what are the qualities of the various breeds of domestic animals, and, by the 

 display of the best specimens, evince the degree of excellence which may be at- 

 tained in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables by superior care and intelligence. 

 And still farther are they useful in this: that some are prompted to buy and take 

 into their counties and neighborhoods specimens of superior animals for the 

 improvement of the neighborhood stock ; but it sometimes happens, unfortunately, 

 that these purchases of large, sleek, fat-looking animals, captivating to the eye, 

 are made without judgment or reference to the particular resources and circum- 

 stances of the region to which they are carried ; and thus may mischief, instead 

 of benefit, ensue the most patriotic and well-meant designs of the purchasers. 

 One farther remark here may not be out of place : In the States south of New- 

 York and Pennsylvania, if a man buys, no matter at what cost, a male animal 

 of the choicest blood and qualities, his neighbors are apt to think him churlish 

 and mean if he does not allow the free use of him to all who choose to send, 

 if indeed they do not expect the animal to he sent to them! This is one of the 

 (Sia) 16 



