Qreanisation amongst Farmers. 
“Union is strength.” In other words—“ United we stand, divided we 
fail.” The truth of these aphorisms has been demonstrated over and over 
again. By union, be it remarked, we do not imply combinations of men of any 
particular calling which bring them into antagonism with other men, which 
impel them to defy authority and set themselves up as the arbiters of the 
destinies of a country. 
The union we advocate is that which binds men of different trades and 
callings to work together not only for their own benefit but for the common 
welfare of the community at Jarge. Such unions are productive of great 
blessings to a country, and amongst no classes of workers is a union more 
desirabie thon amongst the tillers of the soil. 
Tn this colony there are, and have been for the past’ thirty years, associa~ 
tions of farmers, graziers, fruit-growers, and others whose object at the outset 
has been to benetit their members by effecting as a2 body what would be 
impossible te, or at least difficult of attainment by, each individual separately. 
Of the many associations of former years, the East Moreton Farmers’ 
Association approached nearest to the ideal union. Jarmers met regularly 
once a month, papers were read and discussed, exhibits of various kinds of 
produce were laid before the meetings, and emulation was stimulated by the 
successes of individual members. Pioughing matches were regularly held, 
and the interest taken in the meetings was such as to create a bond of real 
union, which resulted in raising the status of the farmers, and instilling into 
their minds ideas calculated to bring agriculture to its proper level amongst 
the industries of Queensland. Of late years, although we find unions under 
the name of societies in all the agricultural centres, it is regrettable to observe 
that the work of these societies tends mainly to one end—a show. 
Now, agricultural shows are very excellent things in their way ; but surely 
- thisis not the only object for which societies should exist. We hold that 
there are greater issues involved in an agricultural union than the mere holding 
of a show. : x 
The Agricultural Department has laid itself out to obtain the services of 
_ the best experts in the various fields of agriculture, in which term we include 
all the branches of the science (for agriculture is to-day recognised as a true 
science). 
The labours of these scientists, especially of the chemist, the entomologist, 
and the bacteriologist, could be made productive of the highest results if the 
- farmers were regularly organised into unions, with a regular meeting-place at 
each centre, with an efficient secretary, through whom meetings with the 
farmers might be readily arranged. 
To-day, when so many diseases, fungoid and parasitic, have to be con- 
tended with, the Government Entomologist is invited to visit a district. He 
finds himself under the necessity of visiting individual farmers and of obtaining 
from each the data upon which to found his subsequent investigations. If this 
work could be done for him by a society in the district, his labours would be 
simplified, his deductions could be placed before the society as a body, and 
thence disseminated by leaflet and pamphlet throughout the dis'rict. The 
society, union, or association—call it by what name we please-—becomes a body, 
_ as the Mackay Sugar Journal says, “ speaking for hundreds of farmers.” And, 
to again quote that journal, “The farmer who to-day does not belong to a 
union is an isolated unit, who has forgotten to insure himself against adversity ; 
and the district without a union is one that offers few attractions to the new- 
comers or to the men already in it.” 
i. 
