84 THE FI/HITST AND 



son has swapped away a remedy against peach-borers, for an idea about rais- 

 ing carrots ; the stock-breeder has given his friends a cure for garget, or 

 taught them how to pop-out " warbles;" in return for which he carries home 

 a new wrinkle about orchard-management^ or the most economical way. of 

 draining his low lands, &c, &c. 



Fourthly, the Club induces men to study and to observe with nicety, that 

 they may have something to add to the common fund, in return for what 

 they have received therefrom. This is human nature, — that is, the human 

 nature of honorable men. We are not more willing that our comrades should 

 teach us without return, than that they should feed or clothe us without pay. 

 Then our pride spurs us on to show that, we too, have a contribution for the 

 common stock, and if it does not happen to be on hand, we bestir ourselves 

 to acquire it. 



Fifthly, few enterprising men thus brought together once a week, or more 

 or less often, to discuss a subject of common interest, will not long be con- 

 tented with the narration of what they have done : they will cast about for 

 new fields of exploration, or seek to enlarge the bounds of the old. Thus 

 experiments will be suggested and agreed upon for a coming year ; or a county 

 fair will be proposed ; or the foundations of other good works be firmly laid. 



Sixthly, farmers, seeing the results of combined effort, will be gradually 

 led to value it, and to employ it in all matters interesting to them as a class. 

 One, and the only reason why the farmers of America are without power, is 

 because they have never learned to act in concert. Touch the tariff, and the 

 whole manufacturing interest is in a ferment ; meddle with the slavery ques- 

 tion, and North and South buzz like bees and hornets; impose upon artisans, 

 and every city swarms with remonstrating mechanics. But the farmers, 

 though numerous, are divided, and beaten in detail. 



Seventhly, frequent meetings of farmers will have a tendency to wear 

 away prejudices ; which now, as a class, they rather hug ? He must be an 

 unusually obstinate individual, who long resists evidence addressed to his 

 ears and eyes, and arguments that appeal to his pocket. 



Last to be mentioned, but not the least to he preferred among the means 

 of improvement, is the reading of agricultural books and journals. To little 

 purposes have I talked, or have you listened, to-day, my fellow farmers, if 

 you are yet convinced that Agriculture is not only an Art, to be acquired by 

 practice and observation, but as well a Science, to be mastered only by 

 study and thought. Books and papers are the silent instructors for the fire- 

 side, or the neighborly gathering. They contain the rich treasures of others' 

 experience, collected in small compass from many anci distant places, — the 

 tale of long years toil, told on a single page. The farmer, who undervalues 



