STOCK-TAKING 163 



ago farmers banded themselves together into 

 Agricultural Societies. These held the stage for 

 years, but interest waned and they yielded place 

 to the Grange. The Grange then had its day, 

 in turn declining and yielding place, for a time at 

 least, to the Patrons of Industry. The Patrons 

 after a brief space, as such disappeared entirely, 

 being succeeded by the Farmers* Association 

 and again the Grange, and now the U.F.O. 

 (It should be born in mind that the Grange is 

 still a strong organization.) Within these 

 particular associations themselves there were 

 periods of advance and decline. The fact to be 

 noted is that all are but expressions of the one 

 great, irresistible, pulsating life of rural Ontario, 

 which has had its ups and downs, now going 

 strongly, now momentarily recoiling in the face 

 of some great disappointment. So, while there 

 is good reason for believing that the U.F.O. 

 embraces more elements of permanence that any 

 of its predecessors, it would be contrary to 

 all the teaching of history to expect that it will 

 march steadily onward, never suffering from dis- 

 couragement and disappointment. A very 

 pressing question for leaders and members there- 

 fore will sometimes be, how to weather seasons of 

 depression. No one, with any understanding of 

 what has already been accomplished, will have 

 any fear that the farmers' movement, under any 



