HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 83 



put off until within a few weeks — and, frequently, a few days — of the Show. 

 The full value of the fair will not be realized by Exhibitors and Competitors, 

 nor will the greatest benefit accrue to spectators and students, until the 

 show, in the stead of being a scramble for premiums on chance-grown crops 

 and haply-excellent animals, shall be an exposition, in the case of every ex- 

 hibitor, of the result of a twelve month's study, care and diligence. To effect 

 this so desirable end, no instrumentality can excel the Farmers' Club. 

 And of these, there should be one in every town, — every village, — every 

 neighbourhood ; alive and at work throughout the year; drilling and instruct- 

 ing its, members against the day of Annual parade. 



The value of a club is not generally appreciated, or no town would long con- 

 sent to be deprived oi its influence. In the first place, at these conversational 

 meetings, held once a week, or twice a month, members become accustomed 

 to speak in public, and to express their views with ease. Most men, without 

 practice, are frightened at the sound of their voices. When they rise upon 

 their feet to address an audience, the thoughts that filled their minds desert 

 them. Almost every speaker will confess to a like experience. But, by 

 degrees, one acquires a self-confidence, which enables him to feel as much at 

 home on the floor and before an audience, as when seated in his own chimney- 

 corner, detailing the events of the day to the good wife and children. 



In the next place, these occasional meetings strengthen neighborly feeling. 

 Farmers live an entirely too secluded life ; they visit little among each other, 

 and seldom stray far from home, except to the store for groceries, or to the 

 town-house to vote. Consequently, they lose much of that enjoyment which 

 society affords, and unsocial (not misanthropic) habits grow upon them. To 

 go out to spend an evening with a neighour is a matter for a month's 

 discussion. News travels slowly through an agricultural district : so does in- 

 formation. Farmers get behind the times. Now, for all these evils the Club 

 offers a radical cure. 



Thirdly, no American farmer can attend to the meeting of a Club of his 

 fellows, without receiving instruction. There is no one so well posted up in 

 all that pertains to his profession, that his neighbors cannot enlighten him 

 on some points, by the narration of their successes, or their failures ; — for a 

 failure conveys as good a lesson, as the most complete success. Failures 

 warn us from following example, as successes incite us to imitation. Then, 

 again, one farmer may be an oracle on stock raising, another excels in til- 

 lage-crops, a third — (perhaps this third man may be a mechanic or a clergy- 

 man, who has joined the Club for the benefit of his garden-patch or glebe) — ■ 

 he is wise in horticultural lore. These three Yankees cannot long occupy 

 the same room without a barter of their intellectual commodities. The par- 



