162 



(5ENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 184 



change that the few refreshing showers had made in 

 restoring fohagc to its former vigor. The fields of 

 "vvhcat ihat had been early sown were very spotted, 

 owing to the severe drouth, but were fast recover- 

 iug their uniform hue. The seed time has been 

 unusually fine ; and the wheat crop never was put in 

 in better condition ; and I believe it is generally ad- 

 mitted that a favourable seeding is usually followed 

 by a bountiful harvest. 



I first called upon friend A. and found him and all 

 the fanuly actively engaged in jjreparation for the 

 coming Count}^ Fair; the mother and daughers were 

 busily employed on various articles of domestic in- 

 genuity and skill ; and I could not but admire how 

 beautifully it called into activity the energies of the 

 youthful mind, in planning and adjusting the various 

 specimens of their industry. The boys too, were 

 engaged with equal zeal in fitting and preparing the 

 stock for exhibition, and it was really delightful to 

 see what a beneficial effect the "Farmers' Jubilee," 

 (for such it ought always to be called,) had upon 

 these youths, each one cheerfully performing his ap- 

 pointed task. 



I n:>xt called on friend B. and found the same 

 lively activity ; all busily engaged in preparing for 

 the joj^ful day, where each could exhibit the evidence 

 of his industry and skill, and enjoy the more exalted 

 pleasure ot a social visit from all parts of the county. 



I remarked to B. that these exhibitions must have 

 a very benpficial effect in improving the social feel- 

 ing and active energies of the community, and es- 

 pecially of the young ; and that it could nut be pos- 

 sible that any one could have the least objection to 

 them. B. shook his head, and with a look of sincere 

 regret, said, " yes sir, however unaccountable it may 

 appear, there are many farmers who do not approve of 

 our societies, and will not give them their support : 

 there are others who occasionally attend the fair, but 

 not for the satisfaction of the social interview, and 

 the pleasure of seeing, and comparing other's pro- 

 ductions and stock with their own, but purely as a 

 matter of money making ; their only motive is the 

 premium, and they never attend, nor pay as mem- 

 bers, unless they are confident that they have some- 

 thing to exhibit that will take a premium ; and if 

 they do not get it they are vexed and abuse the man- 

 agers, and condemn the Society.'* 



I answered, lam astonished to hear it, friend B ; 

 I thought that the Farmers' Jubilee would be so con- 

 genial to the noble feelings of every cultivator of the 

 soil, that there would not be one in the Count}^, who 

 would not be highly gratified in attending, and take 

 pleasure in contributing something towards making 

 the exhibition interestmg and useful, regardless of 

 the premiums ; for that is not the object of the soci- 

 ety, and ought not to be the motive for attendmg the 

 fair. It is intended as a social interview, for mutual 

 improvement, to see and coinpare what each one is 

 doing, and to ascertain how he does it, and not for 

 the sake of a few dollars. 



I passed over the way and called on farmer C: was 

 kindly received — the civilities of the day were pass- 

 ed — and friends inquired after — the weather discuss- 

 ed ; and the daily avocations t: Iked over; but not 

 one word about the fair. Dinner being ready, all 

 were seated at the table, and 1 was struck with the 

 difference in appearance between the young mem- 

 bers of this family, and the one I had left. None of 

 that active and lively animation which youths ex- 

 hibit, when buoyant with future hopes. I at last 



mentioned the coming fair, and that A. and B. were 



very busy preparing for it. 



I saw a gleam of hope in the countenance of 

 each young member present, speaking in language 

 that could not be misunderstood, that they 

 would have been glad to be thus employed, but father 

 C. says no. 



I took the liberty to inquire his objections to the 

 society, and remarked that he was denying his chil- 

 dren, the satisfaction of a social interview with their 

 fellows, and checking their active energies for use- 

 ful improvement. He replied " that he never had 

 thought of it in that light, but considered it a mere 

 speculative business ; a few big farmers, and busy 

 managers took all the premiums, and always would 

 do so, for his part, he had no objections to the soci- 

 ety, if it could but be fairly managed, and, that he 

 was not alone in that opinion, for a majority of the 

 farmers agreed with him. 



I endeavored to reason with him, and stated that 

 if the farmers generally would take an* interest in 

 the management of the society, that they could 

 soon put things right ; but he said no, it was no use 

 trying to do anything, as long as the like of A . and 

 B, who were rich farmers, took all the money. 



I returned to A. and informed him of C's. objec- 

 tions to the society, and he frankly declared that 

 that objection should be done away in future, on his 

 part : he would not take any more money from the 

 society, and if he should be a successful competitor, 

 the premiums should remain in the treasury. The 

 money never was his motive for attending the fair; 

 the satisfaction of the social interview with his fel- 

 low farmers was a bountiful compensation to him ; 

 the greatest benefit to be derived from these exibi- 

 tions, w^as the encouragement it gave to the young, 

 by stimulating them to thought and action. 



I again saw A, and his views were the same as 

 those expressed by B. He too resolved to do all he 

 could to remove the prejudice that existed amongst 

 his fellow farmers against agricultural societies and 

 exhibitions, and declared that it should not again be 

 said of him that he attended the fair for money. I 

 also called on friend G. and he heartily approved of 

 the resolutions of A. and B. and hoped that it 

 would be generally followed by all the active friends 

 of the society and of agricultural improvements. 

 Respectfully, . T. D. 



Sept. 24th, 1845. 



For tlie Genesee Ftirmer. 



LETTER FROM WYOMIiXG COUNTY. 



Mr. Editor, — The pursuit of agriculture is admit- 

 ted to be the noblest and most useful avocation of 

 social man ; and in no way can the statesman, phi- 

 lanthropist, and the lover of domestic happiness, do 

 so much good, or promote the happiness of his fel- 

 low so well, as by fostering the interests of the cul- 

 tivators of the soil, and advancing them to their real 

 dignity, and deserved standing in society. And it is 

 truly gratifying, in this our day, to witness the in- 

 creasing interest in society in favor of the true mode 

 of increasing social happiness and national greatness. 



I was highly gratified to leai-n, that it was your 

 intention to visit various sections of the State, (and 

 particularly ours) to endeavor to arouse the farmers 

 to a sense of their true interest : and I hope you will 

 favor tis with a special acknowledgment of this 

 kind, as our county is placed in somewhat an inland 

 position, and we, young in the science : Yet 



