248 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



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public. To lock them up as soon as read, among their archives, or to keep 

 them exclusively for their own use, or for any partial purpose, or for publication 

 with a view to sale, would be totally incompatible with the true and proper 

 spirit and objects of such Associations. Such a narrow course of proceeding 

 will never be countenanced by any liberal minded friend of the cause. Again, a 

 question may arise whether the subject for discussion should be given out, month 

 by month, one month beforehand, or whether it would not be better to have one 

 for each month, agreed upon in the beginning of the year, so that there would 

 be ample time to make observation and trial of manures, animals, implements 

 and processes with a view to the question being well discussed and settled. For 

 example, at a meeting in January, twelve questions are decided on, one for each 

 month. When that for February is disposed of, another may be propounded to 

 take its place the ensuing February, and so through the year, twelve months, be- 

 ing always on hand for inquiry, research, and experiment. If any particular sub- 

 ject should present itself, seeming to demand more immediate investigation, an 

 intermediate special meeting might be called for its consideration. These, how- 

 ever, are matters of detail to be arranged by each Club, and are only mentioned 

 as seeming to be likely to arise and to be worthy of early attention among the 

 few who, in the beginning, must always be relied on to bring such Associations 

 into existence. Until farmers can feel interest enough in their calling to assist 

 in their formation, and to enter with spirit into their design and proceedings, 

 they must be content to play second fiddle to other and subordinate pursuits, that 

 live on their substance ; and would do well to own at once that they are devoting 

 their lives to an unworthy, spiritless and submissive calling ; that, in fact, they 

 have no profession, and are willing to lay down their necks to be trodden upon 

 by those who have more forethought and sagacity ; and a higher spirit and de- 

 termination to take care of themselves. 



To give an idea of questions discussed at these Clubs, we copy the first at hand, 

 as having been the subjects of deliberation at the last twelve monthly meetings 

 of a Society whose proceedings are most conveniently within reach : 



QUESTIONS. 



The use of saltpetre as a manure. 



The use of gypsum as a manure. 



On the comparative advantages of using fer- 

 mented or unfermented mainures. 



On the management, and clieapest method of 

 Ijeeping cart horses. 



On spade husbandi-y. 



The writer from whom we have already quoted to impress in more forcible 

 terms our own ideas as to the objects and the usefulness of these Clubs, makes 

 another remark to which Ave would especiaUrj invite the attention of every -pa- 

 rent farmer in the United States, and if we could, we would make it a part of 

 his grace, to be said daily " before meat :" 



On the be.«t method of improving the breed 

 of neat cattle in this district. 



On stall feeding. 



On the besr plan of keeping farming accounts. 



On the advantac;es of cutting hay into chaif. 



On the turnip fly. 



On the effect of soil on manures. 



On the selection of seed wheat, and the best 

 method of steeping and planting it, &c. &.c. 



"There is another point I might name, 



•WHICH IS, THAT POINTING OUT TO THE FA- 

 THERS THK ADVANTAGES WHICH SCIENCE 

 MAY CONFEll ON A (ilUCULTUKF., HUT WHICH 

 THEIR OWN EDUCATION HAS GIVEN THEM l.IT- 

 OU NO TASTE TO FOLLOW UP, MORK 



TION, BETTER SUITED TO THE ALTERED SIT- 

 UATIONS THET MAY 1!E CALLED UPON TO FUL- 

 FILL ; AND THEKE IS NOTHING TENDING TO 

 THE PROGRESSION OF AGRICULTURE FROM 

 WHICH I AUGUR HAPPIER RESULTS, THAN 

 FROM GIVING A HETTER EDUCATION — AN EDU- 



READILY INDUCES THEM TO PUT ! cation specially directed to their fd- 

 THEIR SONS IN THE WAY OP RK- I ture employment — to the rising genera- 

 CEIVING A MORE LIBERAL INSTRUC- ' tion of farmers." 



Finally, we must close these remarks on Farmers' Clubs, which have been 

 drawn out by our anxieties, a? usual, to a greater length than the reader may be 



(536) 



