Education of Farmers. 503 
they promise to excel. Every branch of husbandry comes within 
the scope of their discussions; and in spring, when the labors of 
the field and garden call out their energetic services, various sub- 
jects are given to ditTerent individuals on which they are to report 
the coming autumn. For instance, A has the subject of corn 
culture assigned to him. Of course he takes notes of all his 
operations, introduces experiments as he thinks proper, and in due 
time brings in the result. Now, can any one question the benefits 
of such meetings, or doubt but they have a tendency to awaken 
"observation and thought in the minds of all who attend them? 
If they do, let them venture on the experiment for a single 
winter, and they will find their doubts removed and themselves 
refreshed in mind as well as body — wiser and better farmers the 
coming spring. Nor was the spirit of investigation allowed to 
rest satisfied with the means of improvement furnished by the 
foregoing causes. Conversation led to thought, and sought re- 
source in reading, and now every member of that club takes at 
least one, and many of them three or four agricultural publications, 
which are always fraught with instruction sufficient to counter 
balance more than ten times the cost of their procurement. 
We are well aware of the common plea, (and it is as vain as 
it is common,) that " such associations are no doubt very useful, 
but I have no time to do any thing. When the labors of the day 
are past, I am glad to stay by the fire and rest." The utter non- 
sense of such excuses is too evident to gain for them a moment's 
apology; and we have only to look into our own and other com- 
munities at the present moment of political excitement to witness 
their absurdity, with the air ringing with political huzzas, and 
party demagogues ready to offer their harangues from every stump 
and balcony; from one extremity of the country to the other, we 
see our farmers rushing with a zeal worthy of a better cause by day 
and by night, and swallowing in too many instances absurdities 
too (jross to receive a momentary indulgence from rational and 
candid men. And still the cry is '"' we have no time to read an 
agricultural publication — no time to attend the farmer's club."' Is 
there any wonder in such a state of things that the advancement 
of agricultural knowledge is so far in the back ground, or that 
no more interest is felt in improving the general condition of the 
cultivation of the soil? 
Another means of education which may become available to 
the farmer and his family, is aflTorded in the well conducted agri- 
cultural publications which are now furnished in every section of 
the country. These aflTord to the farmer and his family a cheap 
and highly beneficial source of instruction. Their contents are 
mainly filled with the researches of practical and scientific men, 
who are devoting their lives in searching out valuable facts either 
