78 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY . 
of organized, intelligent, associated effort. If the farmers of this 
country were properly united, if a close bond of union were es¬ 
tablished, from the district club or grange, up through town, 
county, state and national organizations, so that sure and reliable 
information could be secured and promptly distributed, un¬ 
told advantages and important results would follow. It is 
too late to re-open the question of educating the farming 
community for its own sake, as well as for the sake of all 
other classes. Agriculture supplies the principal material and 
support of all other forms of labor, while it renews and restores 
their waste, by an unfailing supply of fresh bodily and mental 
power. The rural population forms the substratum of society. 
From its ranks are recruited, the supply of the most reliable 
and successful business and professional men, and the most 
efficient and useful women. The necessity of keeping pure the 
fountain head is too plain to admit of argument, and every means 
should be employed to secure the highest possible development of 
that interest which forms the bed-rock upon which all others rest. 
I feel assured that it is unnecessary to attempt any extended 
argument to convince the intelligent members of this convention 
of the importance of a properly conducted agricultural society as 
V 
an educating agency, and of its beneficial influence, direct or indi¬ 
rect, upon every industry of the country. It educates socially— 
old friends meet and new acquaintances are formed. Friendly 
intercourse with neighbors lightens toil, tempers the pangs of tem¬ 
porary adversity and heightens the pleasures of prosperity. It 
educates intellectually; mind comes in contact with mind, free 
discussion is had—objections are considered and friendly emula¬ 
tion and wholesome criticisms are indulged in. Here, as in politics 
or ethics, every question has two sides, and truth can only be 
reached, or agreement secured, by a fair and honest interchange 
of opinion. The results must be seen in improved culture, better 
fruits, better stock, better implements, better methods of using 
them, higher hopes, wiser faith. It is highly encouraging to wit¬ 
ness the growing activity which is now manifest in the organi¬ 
zation of local agricultural societies. These farmers’ clubs and 
town granges are becoming a power in the land, as well as useful 
agencies in promoting and imparting agricultural science. Many 
