302 Wisconsin state agricultural society. 
had been the formation of two clubs and nine granges, and that 
they were in good working order, doing much to improve the 
social, intellectual and financial condition of the members. 
Farmers, their wives, sons and daughters, were coming together 
at these society meetings. The beauties of farm life were being 
developed, and much valuable information was being acquired. 
The movement was popular, and would increase in favor as it 
was better understood and its benefits appreciated. The secrecy 
connected with the granges was no objection in his mind. He 
thought if the farmers’ profits were being reduced below a fair 
living price by the secret workings of other interests, they should 
be met on common ground. All the plans of clubs could be 
known to monopolists, while in the granges all was hidden, and 
the capitalists and monopolists feared them. He dwelt at some 
length upon the social feature of the granges, and said that the 
presence of ladies made it a more social institution than the clubs, 
and in fact he believed it to be the most ennobling and elevating 
order which had ever been instituted in this country. 
Mr. Smith of Sheboygan, thought there should be no collision 
between these two organizations; believed the farmers needed the 
aid of both to successfully carry on this great farmers movement 
and to place the pursuit of farming in the front rank of the profes¬ 
sions where it rightfully belonged. He hoped harmony would 
characterize the proceedings of each toward the other, and the gen¬ 
eral good of all be secured. 
Mr. Griswold, of Waushara county, did not belong to any soci¬ 
ety or order, but would, if he lived where he could. Thought 
these societies were doing great good, not only to the members, 
but to those who did not belong to the order. The proceedings 
of clubs and granges were published in the papers, and all read 
them, and if they did not believe and adopt all their views, they 
at least were stimulated to think of the causes which were at work 
in building up these co-operative and protective associations. He 
took six papers, and tried to keep himself posted in the improved 
methods and modes of farming, and thought no farmer could af¬ 
ford to do without an agricultural paper, every number of which 
contained a fund of information of many times its value. 
Mr. Anderson wanted to say that he was a member of a farm- 
