THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 461 



the best methods of cultivation, the experience of the 

 different members, the cost of different kinds of crops 

 any questions the solution or discussion of which tend 

 to make better farmers are considered. The women 

 read essays on the various duties of their departments, 

 and thus learn to be better housewives. Sometimes 

 the Grange considers social and moral questions, and 

 sometimes its exercises are of a literary character. The 

 discussion of political and religious questions is strictly 

 forbidden by the constitution of the Order. 



" Another custom which originated in the Grange is 

 that of holding festivals at short intervals during the 

 season. It is impossible for the farmer to leave his 

 business for a month in the Summer and spend the 

 time in recreation, and, if his work could be left, his 

 purse is rarely long enough to pay the expense of such 

 a vacation. But he can spend a day between planting 

 and cultivating, another before harvest, and a third 

 when the grain is stacked ; and the Grange taking 

 advantage of this, either invites those of neighboring 

 townships to a basket pic-nic, or accepts an invitation 

 itself. A day is spent in some pleasant grove ; there 

 is speaking and music, and perhaps a little dancing, 

 and the farmer goes back to his field better prepared 

 for his work, some of the marks of care are smoothed 

 out of his wife's face, and the business of both field and 

 house go on with less of fret and worry for the day's 

 innocent recreation. I was once a farmer's boy myself, 

 and know from experience that those who till the soil 

 work too many hours and have too few holidays. 

 There is nothing that makes the work on a farm go 

 easy like a holiday, and if it is rightly spent it puts 

 new life into the work for a long time after." 



