1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



59 



For the New England Farmer. 



CONCORD FARMERS' CLUB. 



Last eveniag, (Jan. 5th) the Farmers' Club had 

 a public meeting, and although the walking was 

 very bad, there was a very good attendance of gen- 

 tlemen and ladies. A very interesting lecture was 

 delivered by Simon BROWN,Esq. He began by speak- 

 ing of the antiquity and honorable character of 

 Agriculture, and its importance as the basis of na- 

 tional wealth and prosperity; prosperity founded on 

 commerce may be interrupted by war, or destroyed 

 by competition ; but that which is founded on 

 Agriculture is of a more permanent character. He 

 then spoke of the means by which Agriculture has 

 been improved, and is to be still further improved; 

 and of the sjaecial importance of Chemistry and 

 Vegetable Physiology, and urged their study upon 

 the youth of the community. He spoke of the 

 many facilities we enjoy in the shape of improved 

 methods of cultivation, and improved agricultural 

 implements, when compared with our fathers ; and 

 ui'ged the importance of farmers availing them- 

 selves of all these facilities. He spoke of the im- 

 portance of association for mutual improvement 

 in agricultural knowledge, and the influence they 

 were exerting and of the value of the agricultural 

 literature which is growing out of the wants of 

 the times, and mentioned the names of several books 

 which every farmer should have as a part of his 

 agricultural stock. 



The lecturer then addressed the wives and daugh- 

 ters of the farmers, and pointed out the Lmpor 

 tance of their being truly helps meet for him. He 

 exhorted>?iJiem to make themselves acquainted 

 with all the [fii-ocesses of the farm ; with the na- 

 ture of different ooiis, and the crops suited to each, 

 and with u^e best times and methods of cultivat- 

 ing the various crops on the farm. He told very 

 finely, the story of Mr. Colman's visit to an English 

 landholder, whose accomplished lady claimed his 

 company for the day, took him over the broad 

 fields which her husband was cultivating, and ex- 

 plained to him the various processes of cultivation 

 which were goiffg on, and the reasons upon which 

 each was founded ; showed him the stock and the 

 dairy, answered all his inquiries respecting the 

 breeds of cattle, and swine and sheep — and the dif- 

 ferent methods pursued with each. And after hav- 

 ing thus walked with him some eight or ten miles 

 over their extensive domain, and shewed herself 

 thorouglily acquainted with both the science and 

 the practice of agriculture, she presided at the din- 

 ner-taljle with all tlie grace and elegance of a lady 

 who had spent her life in the drawing-room. So 

 our farmers' wives should be prepared to direct 

 the affairs of the fiirm in the absence of their hus 

 bands. They should take an interest in tlie em- 

 ployments of their husl>ands, and ch^ them witl 

 their smiles and co-operatiou ; and here he quoted 

 most appropriately— 



"To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east, 

 With first approach of light, we must be risen. 

 And at our pleasant labor, to reform 

 Yon flow'ry arbors, yonder meadows green." 



And Eve's beautiful reply, 



"With thee conversing, I forget all time, 



All seasons and their changes, all please alike." 



The lecturer referred to Mrs. Loudon's book on 

 gardening, and the cirsumstances under which it 

 was written, and to the scientific writings of oth- 

 er ladies, and to others still, who have aided and 

 encoui-aged their husbands in the various pursuits 

 in which they have been engaged. The moral 

 tone of the address was of a high order, and the 

 whole performance was highly creditable to its 

 author. 



After the close of the address, an interesting 

 and animated discussion took place upon the fol- 

 lowing subject; "The Home of the Farmer — 

 How can it be rendered in the highest degree 

 pleasant and attractive ? ' ' 



Mr. Wm. D. Brown read a finely written and 

 highly poetical essay of about ten minutes' length, 

 in which he described the situation and construc- 

 tion of farm buildings, their convenient arrange- 

 ment, and the neatness and order in which they 

 should be kept, as important elements in the 

 pleasantness and attractiveness of the farmer's 

 home, and then referred with great naivete to at- 

 tractions which might exist within the house, but 

 which he, as a bachelor, could be supposed to know 

 but little about. 



He was followed by Dr. Reynolds, who inquired 

 to whom the farmer's home was to be made at- 

 tractive ■? To people of the beau moude 1 To gen- 

 tlemen in gloves'? To fashionable ladies ? Or was 

 it to be rendered attractive to the farmer's sons 

 and daughters, so that they might be contented to 

 remain upon their paternal acres ? He supposed 

 the latter the most important class to be attracted. 

 It was a general complaint that our young men 

 were all going to the cities, to California, to Aus- 

 tralia. How can these young men be induced 

 to remain at home, and devote their energies to 

 the improvement of agriculture 1 He thought 'it 

 must be by giving it a more intellectual character, 

 and thus elevating it to a level with the profes- 

 sions. To this end they must be educated for the 

 business of farming, as other young men are ed- 

 ucated for other callings. They should be taught 

 Agricultural Chemistry, Vegetable Cliemistry and 

 Physiology, Geology and Botany , and all that per- 

 tains to the science and practice of agriculture. 

 Thus the craving of the youtliful mind for knowl- 

 edge will be satisfied. His labors in the field will 

 lie guided by fixed principles, and be attended 

 with more certain results. 



When agricultural education and scientific cul- 

 tivation shall Jjccome general, then the business, 

 the calling, the home of the farmer will become 



